Влад Сташевский
Ruslana Stepanivna Lyzhychko (Ukrainian: Руслана Степанівна Лижичко; born May 24, 1973, in Lviv) is a Ukrainian singer, songwriter, composer, producer, conductor and public figure. She gained international fame after winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 with Wild Dances, becoming the first Ukrainian representative to win the competition. Her music combines pop and dance-oriented electronic music with elements of Ukrainian folk music, particularly the traditions of the Carpathians and the Hutsul region. Ruslana’s best-known songs include «Світанок», «Знаю я», «Аркан», «Коломийка», «Дикі танці», «Wild Dances», «Dance with the Wolves», «Wild Energy», «Moon of Dreams», «Це — Ей-форі-Я!», «Лірниця» and «Буйна».
Childhood and musical education
Ruslana was born and raised in Lviv. She studied music from childhood, learned piano and sang in children’s ensembles. She received her professional education at the Mykola Lysenko Lviv State Conservatory, graduating in 1995 with a specialization in symphony orchestra conducting. During her studies, she trained in conducting, composition, vocals and piano.
Her classical education later allowed Ruslana to work not only as a vocalist but also to participate in arrangements, orchestral programs, music production and the staging of her own shows.
Beginning of her career
Ruslana entered the professional stage in the first half of the 1990s. In 1993, she participated in the Chervona Ruta festival, and in 1996 she won the international Slavianski Bazaar festival in Vitebsk.
At the same time, she developed her own music production work together with producer and lyricist Oleksandr Ksenofontov. Their Luxen studio worked on recording, concert programs and television projects. Ruslana and Ksenofontov married in 1995 and later created a significant part of her repertoire together.
First albums
In 1998, Ruslana released her debut album «Мить весни. Дзвінкий вітер». Its sound was closer to pop and pop-rock with symphonic elements. One of the best-known songs from this period was «Світанок».
Christmas projects became a separate part of her early work. In 1999, she released the album «Останнє Різдво 90-х», followed later by «Добрий вечір, тобі!». Ruslana would repeatedly return to Ukrainian Christmas music in subsequent years.
Carpathian folklore and «Дикі танці»
In the early 2000s, Ruslana turned toward the musical culture of the Ukrainian Carpathians. Her arrangements began to feature trembitas, kolomyika rhythms, elements of the arkan dance, folk vocal intonations and powerful percussion. These folkloric elements were combined with contemporary pop and dance music, creating the style that would define the most famous stage of her career.
In 2003, she released the album «Дикі танці». It included «Знаю я», «Ой, заграй ми, музиченьку», «Аркан», «Коломийка», «Гуцулка», «Північна» and other tracks. The album achieved platinum status in Ukraine and became one of the country’s most successful pop releases of the early 2000s.
Eurovision 2004
In 2004, Ruslana represented Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest in Istanbul with the English-Ukrainian song Wild Dances. In the final on May 15, she received 280 points and finished first. It was Ukraine’s first victory in the competition.
The stage performance combined modern choreography with Carpathian motifs, stylized costumes and powerful percussion. Following her victory, Ruslana was awarded the title of People’s Artist of Ukraine.
International success of Wild Dances
After Eurovision, the international album Wild Dances was released. In addition to the contest-winning song, it included «Dance with the Wolves», «The Same Star», «Play, Musician», «Wild Passion» and other tracks.
The single Wild Dances entered European charts, while international sales earned Ruslana a World Music Award as the best-selling Ukrainian artist. In 2005, she also appeared at the Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv as the reigning winner.
The same year saw the release of Club'in, a remix album featuring club versions of songs from the Wild Dances period.
Wild Energy and «Амазонка»
Her next major project was Wild Energy, connected with the science-fiction novel «Дикая энергия. Лана» by Marina and Serhiy Dyachenko. The concept combined music, visual imagery and themes of energy, nature and a technological future.
In 2008, Ruslana released the Ukrainian-language «Амазонка» and its international counterpart Wild Energy. During this period, her sound became more electronic and showed a noticeable R&B influence.
For the international album, she recorded Moon of Dreams with T-Pain and The Girl That Rules with Missy Elliott. The song «Not for Sale», associated with an anti-human-trafficking campaign, also belongs to this creative cycle.
«ЕЙ-форі-Я» and music of the 2010s
In 2012, Ruslana released the album «ЕЙ-форі-Я», placing a greater emphasis on dance-pop and electronic music. Songs from this period include «WOW!», «ШаЛаЛа», «Рахманінов», «Давай, грай!» and «Це — Ей-форі-Я!».
In 2013, she released the Ukrainian version «Мій Брат! (Разом!)» and the international My Boo! (Together!), both based on the same musical cycle.
After this, Ruslana began releasing full-length albums less frequently and focused mainly on singles and smaller conceptual releases. In 2015, she released «Ти ще відкриєш очі»; in 2017, «Я люблю» and «It's Magical!»; and in 2018, the spiritual composition «Pater Noster».
Music of the 2020s
In 2020, Ruslana released two EPs: «Ми вітер» and «Молитва Світла». The first continued her pop and ethno-oriented direction, while the second focused on spiritual music.
In 2023, she released the Christmas EP «Різдвяний сон» and the song «Лірниця», which became part of a new project titled «Дике Серце». Later releases included «Буйна / Iron Beat», «Stone Queen / Кам’яна Діва», «Закрутила» and «Гей, Маланка».
In her later work, Ruslana once again makes active use of Ukrainian folklore, combining traditional vocal intonations and instruments with modern electronic rhythms.
Musical style
Ruslana’s work has gone through several distinct stages. Her early recordings were close to pop and pop-rock with symphonic elements. The «Дикі танці» period established her recognizable ethno-pop style with Hutsul rhythms, trembitas and dance-oriented electronics. Wild Energy added R&B and contemporary international pop production, while «ЕЙ-форі-Я» strengthened the electronic and club-oriented side of her sound.
Rhythm remains one of the defining features of Ruslana’s music. In her most characteristic songs, percussion, short vocal phrases and choreography form a single stage structure. Ukrainian folklore is used not as a museum-like reconstruction, but as material for new original music.
Public activity
After winning Eurovision, Ruslana became actively involved in public projects. In 2004–2005, she served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in Ukraine and took part in an international OSCE campaign against human trafficking.
During the Orange Revolution of 2004, Ruslana supported the protest movement. From 2006 to 2007, she served as a member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the fifth convocation representing the Our Ukraine Bloc and worked on the Committee on European Integration.
In 2013–2014, Ruslana became one of the most visible public participants in Euromaidan. She regularly appeared at Independence Square and called for nonviolent resistance. In 2014, the U.S. Department of State honored her with the International Women of Courage Award.
After the beginning of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, Ruslana continued to participate in charity performances and international events supporting Ukraine.
Awards and achievements
- 1996 — winner of the Slavianski Bazaar festival;
- 2004 — winner of the Eurovision Song Contest with Wild Dances;
- 2004 — Marcel Bezençon Artistic Award;
- 2004 — awarded the title of People’s Artist of Ukraine;
- 2004 — World Music Award;
- 2014 — International Women of Courage Award.
Main discography
Albums and major projects
- «Мить весни. Дзвінкий вітер» — 1998
- «Останнє Різдво 90-х» — 1999
- «Добрий вечір, тобі!» — 2003
- «Дикі танці» — 2003
- Wild Dances — 2004
- «Амазонка» — 2008
- Wild Energy — 2008
- «ЕЙ-форі-Я» — 2012
- «Мій Брат! (Разом!)» — 2013
- My Boo! (Together!) — 2013
Other releases
- «Найкраще» — 2001, compilation
- Club'in — 2005, remix album
- «Ми вітер» — 2020, EP
- «Молитва Світла» — 2020, EP
- «Різдвяний сон» — 2023, EP
Ruslana today
Ruslana continues to release music and develop her ethno-electronic direction, drawing on Ukrainian folk traditions in new original compositions. At the same time, she maintains her connection with Eurovision, takes part in musical and public initiatives and appears at international events.
Her career spans more than three decades — from the Lviv music scene and her first pop albums to her Eurovision victory, international releases and contemporary ethno-electronic projects. Ruslana’s most significant contribution remains the model of modern Ukrainian pop music she helped establish, in which Carpathian folklore became a fully integrated part of international stage and dance-oriented sound.
