Bianka (real name Yana Lipnitskaya), born on September 17, 1985 in Minsk, is rightfully considered one of the brightest and most distinctive singers on the post-Soviet scene and one of the pioneers of the style that would later be called “Russian R’n’B”. Her sound blends Black music, Slavic nuances, folk motifs, sincerity and powerful emotional delivery.
Early years and musical education
From childhood, Yana grew up in a creative environment and showed strong musical abilities. She:
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played the cello,
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studied folk dance,
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won international competitions «Malva» and «Belaya Rus»,
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took 3rd place at the Ogiński Competition.
Her talent was noticed very early, and while still at school Yana became a soloist of the State Symphony Orchestra of Belarus, where she performed for four years. However, the symphonic stage could not overshadow her desire for contemporary pop: she secretly wrote songs and dreamed of a solo career.
At the age of 17 she went on tour in Germany for the first time — this became her first real step towards the big stage.
Choosing a path: Eurovision or Seryoga’s project
At one of the turning points of her youth, Yana received two offers at once:
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to represent Belarus at Eurovision,
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to take part in a new project by rapper Seryoga.
Bianka chose the second option — and this decision turned out to be pivotal. In tandem with Max Lawrence, the song «Lebedinaya» (“The Swan” / “Swan Song”) was released and brought her first wide recognition across the CIS.
The birth of a unique style
From the very beginning, Bianka thought boldly and unconventionally. She decided to fuse:
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R’n’B,
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Slavic motifs,
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folk sonorities,
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emotional lyricism,
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elements of street culture.
This experiment turned into a real breakthrough: her style would be dubbed “Russian folk R’n’B”.
Her early work already included hits such as:
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«Lyublyu» (“I Love”),
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«Neschastnaya lyubov» (“Unhappy Love”),
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«Byli tantsy» (“There Were Dances”).
Bianka’s music stood out so strongly that listeners instantly recognized in her a new star unlike any other singer of that era.
First music videos and rising popularity
The video for «Byli tantsy» became a breakthrough for the singer and cemented her status as an important player in the new wave of pop and R’n’B culture.
In January 2007 the music video for «Neschastnaya lyubov» was released — a kind of Slavic-gypsy interpretation of “Romeo and Juliet”. The work gained wide recognition and solidified Bianka’s image as the “Queen of R’n’B”.
The next video, «Pro leto» (“About Summer”), rapidly climbed the charts and remained in heavy rotation on leading TV channels for a long time.
New albums and artistic growth
In August 2008 the album «38 zamkov» (“38 Locks”) was released — an emotional, diverse and honest record reflecting the singer’s personal experiences.
In the summer of 2009, the video for «Za toboy» (“After You”) was filmed in Kyiv, where Bianka performed complex dance routines.
In 2010 she caught the attention of the Cala Records studio, which signed her to a two-year contract — a natural step after several high-profile hits.
Duets and experiments
In March 2011 a duet with Stim was released — the song «Ty moyo leto» (“You Are My Summer”). The track became popular, and the singer increasingly integrated elements of hip-hop and the new wave of R’n’B into her sound.
Bianka has always been drawn to experimentation — from folk romance to club dance aesthetics. Her music remains instantly recognizable thanks to her signature delivery, raw emotion and sincerity.
Bianka’s discography
Studio albums
1. «Pro leto» (“About Summer”) (2006)
Debut album that defined the singer’s signature style — a blend of R’n’B, folk motifs and contemporary pop.
Notable tracks:
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«Lebedinaya»
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«Byli tantsy»
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«Pro leto»
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«Krysha» (“Rooftop”)
2. «38 zamkov» (“38 Locks”) (2008)
An emotionally intense and more mature album revealing the singer’s personal reflections.
Popular songs:
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«Za toboy»
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«Glupy malchik» (“Silly Boy”)
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«Odinokaya» (“Lonely”)
3. «Sochinyai menya» (“Compose Me”) (2011)
A commercially successful album where Bianka continued to evolve her signature “folk R’n’B” sound.
Hits:
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«Ty moyo leto» (feat. Stim)
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«Malysh» (“Baby”)
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«Osen» (“Autumn”)
4. «Nashe pokolenie» (“Our Generation”) (2013)
An album with a more electronic sound, combining pop music, dance energy and R’n’B.
Tracks:
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«Shtrikh-kod» (“Barcode”)
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«OMFG»
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«Ty i ya» (“You and I”)
5. «Karma» (2016)
One of Bianka’s most hit-packed albums, which firmly cemented her status as a star of Russian-language R’n’B.
Hits:
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«Karma»
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«Belye rozy» (“White Roses”, cover)
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«Vse dlya tebya» (“All for You”)
6. «SuperBYANKA» (2018)
A high-energy album focused on modern pop-R’n’B and electronic arrangements.
Popular tracks:
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«Melodiya» (“Melody”)
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«Traktor»
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«Ashka»
7. «Kray» (“Edge”) (2020)
A more lyrical and atmospheric album featuring songs about love, lived experience and growing up.
Tracks:
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«Kray»
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«Sinonimy» (“Synonyms”)
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«Leti» (“Fly”)
8. «Tumany» (“Fogs”) (2021)
An album where Bianka leans into deep electronic arrangements and contemporary pop aesthetics.
Singles:
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«Tumany»
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«Chuzhaya» (“Stranger”)
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«Strely» (“Arrows”)
EPs (mini-albums)
EP «Bezumiye» (“Madness”) (2014)
An experimental work combining pop, hip-hop and R’n’B.
EP «Karma Remixes» (2017)
A remix collection of tracks from the album «Karma».
Selected singles
Hits and cult tracks:
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«Lebedinaya»
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«Byli tantsy»
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«Neschastnaya lyubov»
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«Pro leto»
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«Za toboy»
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«Ty moyo leto» (feat. Stim)
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«Karma»
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«Malysh»
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«Vse dlya tebya»
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«Krysha»
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«Suchka»
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«Belye rozy» (cover)
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«Melodiya»
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«Ashka»
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«Kray»
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«Traktor»
Collaborations and duets
With key artists:
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Max Lawrence — «Lebedinaya»
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Sergey Parkhomenko (Seryoga) — early projects
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Stim — «Ty moyo leto»
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Maks Korzh — unofficial joint live performances
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DJ Noiz — remixes
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Timati / Black Star — live and concert collaborations
Soundtracks and special releases
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soundtracks for TV shows (Russkoye Radio, MUZ-TV)
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participation in «Russian R’n’B» compilations
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numerous remixes of her hits (both official and club versions)
Conclusion
Bianka is an artist who has managed to build her own musical universe unlike anyone else’s. She became one of the founders of “Russian folk R’n’B” by blending bold experimentation, vocal mastery, folk motifs and genuine emotion. Her work remains a striking phenomenon on the music scene, and she continues to delight fans with new releases while maintaining her reputation as one of the most individual and charismatic performers in the post-Soviet space.
