Artists - Biography and discography, all albums and songs | Pages: 47

“Faktor 2” is a Russian–German music group formed in the late 1990s that became one of the most notable pop-rap acts of the early 2000s. The project is known for its blend of pop-style lyrics, dance music and melodic rap, as well as for a series of bright hits that firmly established themselves in radio charts across Russia, Germany and the CIS. The group gained popularity thanks to sincere lyrics, simple yet memorable melodies, and the contrasting delivery of its two members — Ilya Podstrelov and Vladimir Panchenko. Early years and formation (1998–2002) The story of “Faktor 2” begins in 1998 in the city of Vorkuta, where young musician Ilya Podstrelov lived. From childhood he was passionate about music, graduated from music school and wrote his…

Jennifer Lynn Lopez (also known as J.Lo; born July 24, 1969, in the Bronx, New York, USA) is an American singer, actress, dancer, producer, fashion designer, and entrepreneur. She became one of the first Latina artists to achieve global stardom in Hollywood and worldwide pop music, combining directing, film, pop and R&B, dance, business, and fashion into one large-scale career. Jennifer Lopez is recognized as one of the most successful entertainers in history: her films have grossed billions of dollars at the box office, and her music releases have sold more than 80 million copies worldwide. Early life Jennifer Lopez was born into a Puerto Rican family and grew up in the working-class New York borough of the Bronx. In this environment she was drawn to the arts from an early age,…

Lada Dance (real name Lada Yevgenyevna Volkova; born 11 September 1966, Kaliningrad, RSFSR, USSR) is a Soviet and Russian pop and jazz singer, actress, songwriter and performer of many popular hits of the 1990s. She is best known for the songs “Devочка-ночь” (“Girl-Night”), “Жить нужно в кайф” (“You’ve Got to Live for Pleasure”), “Аромат любви” (“The Scent of Love”), “Танцы у моря” (“Dancing by the Sea”), as well as for her roles in films and TV projects. Early years Lada Volkova was born in Kaliningrad. She graduated from a music school in piano, and later from a music college: first from the academic department and then from the jazz and pop department. Her first performances took…

Viktor Robertovich Tsoi (21 June 1962, Leningrad, USSR — 15 August 1990, 35th kilometer of the R-126 Sloka — Talsi highway, Tukums District, Latvia) was a Soviet rock musician, songwriter, poet, artist and actor of Korean-Russian origin. He was the founder and frontman of the rock band «Kino», which was part of the Leningrad Rock Club and originally performed under the name «Garin i Giperboloidi» («Garin and the Hyperboloids»). Before that he played in the bands «Palata No. 6» («Ward No. 6») and «Avtomaticheskie udovletvoriteli» («Automatic Satisfiers»). Tsoi is regarded as one of the most influential and well-known rock musicians of the USSR. He wrote the lyrics and the music, was the…

Ramazanova Zemfira Talgatovna — a Russian singer, composer, musician, and songwriter, known by her stage name Zemfira. Her name became a symbol of the new wave of Russian rock music of the late 1990s and 2000s. Zemfira’s work is distinguished by depth, sincerity, and raw emotional power. She is an artist who has always followed her own path — combining intellect, inner freedom, and artistic expression. Early Life Zemfira was born on August 26, 1976 in Ufa (Bashkortostan, Russia) into an educated family. Her father, Talgat Talgatovich Ramazanov, was a history teacher, and her mother, Florida Khakimovna, was a physician specializing in therapeutic exercise. Zemfira is ethnically Bashkir and often speaks fondly of her native Ufa region. Her older brother tragically died…

Uma2rman is a Russian music group founded in 2003 by brothers Vladimir and Sergey Krestovsky. The band’s name is a wordplay and a reference to actress Uma Thurman, reflecting the musicians’ ironic and free-spirited character. The group became famous for its unique style, combining pop rock, light jazz, chanson-style lyricism and urban romance, creating a special atmosphere of warmth and philosophical ease. Formation and early years Sergey Krestovsky was born on 18 November 1967, and Vladimir Krestovsky on 19 August 1975. Both showed interest in music from an early age: Sergey in guitar and lyrics, Vladimir in singing and composing melodies. They grew up in an intellectual family and were involved in creativity from their youth, performing in small clubs and experimenting…

Zhanna Vladimirovna Friske (née Kopylova; 8 July 1974, Moscow — 15 June 2015, Balashikha) was a Russian singer, TV presenter and actress. A former member of the girl group Blestyashchie (1996–2003), she was a multiple music award winner, a laureate of the “Song of the Year” festival, a recipient of the “Golden Gramophone” and several MUZ-TV Awards. She became widely known not only as a pop singer, but also as an actress in the cult films “Night Watch” and “Day Watch”, where she played one of the most striking characters — the witch Alisa Donnikova. Early years and family Zhanna was born in Moscow to Vladimir Friske and Olga Kopylova. She was one of twins — her twin brother died shortly after birth due to a…

Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer, actress and producer, widely regarded as one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century. Her unique tone, powerful range and emotional delivery made her a true icon of her era. Over the course of her career, she sold more than 200 million records worldwide and set records that remain unmatched to this day. Early life and family Whitney was born in Newark, New Jersey, into a family where music was present from day one. Her mother, Cissy Houston, was a renowned gospel singer and backing vocalist for Aretha Franklin. Her cousin was Dionne Warwick, and her godmother was none other than Aretha Franklin herself. Growing up in such an environment virtually predetermined her musical path.…

Vanessa-Mae (Vanessa-Mae Vanakorn Nicholson) is a world-renowned British violinist and composer, celebrated for her bold fusion of classical music, electronic elements and pop influences. Her signature style has been described as «violin techno-acoustic fusion» or, in her own words, «violin pop». Thanks to her virtuoso technique, experimental approach to sound, and striking stage image, Vanessa-Mae became one of the most recognizable violinists in the world and a symbol of the modern reinvention of classical music. Early years Vanessa-Mae was born on 27 October 1978 in Singapore. She is of mixed heritage: Thai (father) and Chinese (mother). After her parents’ divorce, her mother took her to the United Kingdom, where she grew up and received her musical…

Sogdiana (real name — Oksana Vladimirovna Nazarova) is a singer, songwriter, and composer known for her distinctive vocals, oriental color, and unique blend of pop music, ethnic elements, and neoclassical influences. Her work unites gentle lyricism, Eastern philosophy, and modern arrangements. Early Life Sogdiana was born on February 17, 1984, in Tashkent, into the family of an engineer and a medical worker. There were no professional musicians in the family, but her grandmother sang in a church choir — from her, Sogdiana inherited her musical ear and love for melody. From childhood she showed vivid creative abilities: she sang, drew, danced, and staged home performances. Her parents supported her interest in music and enrolled her in a music school, where she graduated in…

“Boombox” is a Ukrainian band formed in 2004 in Kyiv. The group became a landmark phenomenon in contemporary Ukrainian culture, blending funk, hip-hop, rock, soul and pop into a vivid, instantly recognizable sound. Their songs combine honest lyrics, street philosophy and strong melodies, while the charisma of frontman Andrii Khlyvniuk has made the band a cult act across the post-Soviet space. Formation and Early Years The band was formed in the spring of 2004, when three musicians — Andrii Khlyvniuk, Andrii “Mukha” Samoilo and Valentyn Matiyuk (DJ Valik) — gathered at Khlyvniuk’s apartment and recorded several demo tracks. This is how “Boombox” was born — a name symbolizing street culture, vinyl aesthetics and musical freedom.…

“140 Beats Per Minute” is a Russian dance-pop project that emerged in the late 1990s and helped shape the domestic pop-dance scene. Over its career, the act became one of the symbols of early-2000s club culture, delivering a string of hits and a signature sound built on an energetic 140 BPM pulse—the source of its name. Founding and the Name The group formed in November 1999. Initially the members used the moniker “140 BPM,” but dropped the English version due to perception issues. The Russian name “140 ударов в минуту” (“140 Beats Per Minute”) proved recognizable and conceptually reflected the style: most tracks were indeed produced at that tempo. From day one the project focused on club-ready dance music with elements of…

Xzibit (birth name — Alvin Nathaniel Joiner IV) is an American rapper, actor, TV host, producer, and one of the key figures in the rise of West Coast hip-hop in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He earned major prominence for his hard-hitting street narratives, charismatic flow, and as the host of MTV’s cult show “Pimp My Ride”, which became a global television phenomenon. Early life Alvin Joiner was born on September 18, 1974, in Detroit, Michigan. His childhood was difficult: at the age of 9 he lost his mother, after which he moved with his father and stepmother to Albuquerque, New Mexico. At 10, the future artist began writing lyrics and trying his hand at rap, drawing inspiration from the local street culture. As a teenager, he actively took part in battles…

ZAZ (birth name — Isabelle Geoffroy, fr. Isabelle Geoffroy) is a French singer-songwriter and one of the most recognizable European artists of the 21st century. Her signature style blends folk, jazz, acoustic elements with a street-music aesthetic. ZAZ’s timbre is instantly recognizable — slightly husky, warm, and emotionally “alive.” Early Life Isabelle was born on May 1, 1980 in the city of Tours (France) to an energy-sector engineer and a schoolteacher. She has a brother and a sister. Her childhood unfolded in a musical atmosphere — her parents listened to classical music, chanson, and Romani motifs, and she showed vocal talent early on. At age 9 her parents divorced, which shaped her independence and character. From 1990–1995…

Bomfunk MC’s — a Finnish electronic hip-hop group that became one of the cult acts at the turn of the 1990s and 2000s. The crew earned fame for its unique blend of old-school hip-hop, electro-house, funky breaks, and for one of the most recognizable tracks in European club history — “Freestyler”. The group formed in 1997 in Helsinki when vocalist Raymond Ebanks (also known as B.O. Dubb) met DJ Gismo at a club where he was spinning. Their shared passion for breakbeat culture, old-school hip-hop, and electro-funk grooves laid the foundation for future success. Later, the duo linked up with electronic producer JS16, who became the key architect of the Bomfunk MC’s sound. Early lineup and first releases When the live lineup took shape, the group…

«Chay Vdvoem» — one of the most recognizable male pop duos in Russia and the CIS in the late 1990s and 2000s. The act became a unique phenomenon on the pop stage, blending romantic lyricism, velvety vocal timbres, a signature arranging palette, and charismatic delivery. The duo’s music became a memorable soundtrack to an entire era. Founding and First Steps The story of «Chay Vdvoem» began in 1994, when two young professional musicians — Stas Kostyushkin and Denis Klyaver — met. Both had formal musical training, performed in various groups, and had solid professional backgrounds. Shared musical tastes, a knack for vocal harmony, and the desire to create a duo with original material led to a project unlike other offerings in Russian show…

“Infinity” («Инфинити») — a Russian pop group known for melodic dance tracks that blend heartfelt lyrics with a club-ready sound. Formed at the turn of the era — in the late 1990s — the act kept listeners’ attention for many years thanks to a distinctive vocal style, modern production, and a romantic aesthetic. Early years and formation The story begins in 1999, when singer Tatyana Bondarenko (stage name Malta) and sound producer Aleksey Kutuzov teamed up under the name “Black and White”. Tatyana performed her own songs while Aleksey handled the arrangements. By the early 2000s, the project had shaped a signature style — gentle electronic pop music with lyrical themes. In 2002, they created the track “Gde ty”…

Pavlyky International is a Ukrainian music project founded by producers Vlad Sotnikov and Mykhailo Yasinskyi in late 2007. The group became one of the most unusual phenomena on the domestic pop scene of the late 2000s thanks to a combination of international lineup, club-dance aesthetics, and the legacy of popular Ukrainian artist Viktor Pavlik. Concept and project idea The core concept was to adapt Viktor Pavlik’s hits for a new audience — generations raised on club culture, remixes, and modern production. The producers bet on fresh energy, young voices, and dance-floor arrangements. The word International wasn’t a marketing ploy but a statement of fact: from the outset, members came from different countries: Michael Bans — Poland (vocals), MC Cupid…

Tina Karol (birth name — Tetyana Hryhorivna Lieberman) is a Ukrainian singer, songwriter, actress, TV host, talent-show mentor, public figure, and producer. People’s Artist of Ukraine. One of the most influential and recognizable stars of the contemporary Ukrainian scene. Date of birth: January 25, 1985 Place of birth: Orsha District, Byelorussian SSR Citizenship: Ukraine Genres: pop, soul, dramatic ballads Education: Kyiv Glier State Music College — pop/jazz vocal department Early years and formation From childhood, Tanya grew up in a family of engineers where music wasn’t a profession but was always present at home. In 1991 the family moved to Ukraine, settling first in Ivano-Frankivsk and later in Kyiv. At school she actively took part in vocal contests and…

Pitbull (birth name — Armando Christian Pérez) is an American rapper, singer, producer, and entrepreneur of Cuban descent. One of the most successful artists of the 2010s, his hits fuse rap, Latin fire, and pop sensibility. He’s defined by charisma, a signature switch between English and Spanish in his songs, and an upbeat image that embodies a “from nothing to something” success story. Early life and background Armando Pérez was born on January 15, 1981, in Miami, Florida (USA) to a family of Cuban immigrants. His parents left Cuba after the revolution, and he grew up bilingual, surrounded by both English and Spanish. From an early age he was drawn to poetry and music, influenced by Cuban rhythms as well as American hip-hop of the ’80s and…