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KOLA (real name — Anastasiia Olehivna Prudius; Ukrainian: Анастасія Олегівна Прудіус; born October 19, 1992, Kharkiv, Ukraine) is a Ukrainian singer and songwriter. She gained widespread recognition in 2022 following the release of «Чи разом?» and «Біля серця». Her other well-known works include «Ба», «Дочекаюсь», «Порічка» with YAKTAK, «Люди» with MamaRika, «Коли ми двоє» with Okean Elzy, «Тебе — собі», «Бути простим», «Зорепади», «Міліметр», «Salut papa» and «Температура».
Before her solo breakthrough, Anastasiia spent years taking part in vocal competitions and television projects. She appeared on «Х-Фактор», competed twice on «Голос країни», performed at «Новая волна», entered Ukraine’s National Selection for Eurovision and worked for several seasons as a vocalist in the musical ensemble of the television show «Танці з зірками». In 2024 and 2025, KOLA won the YUNA award for Best Female Artist two years in a row.
Childhood and education
Anastasiia Prudius was born and raised in Kharkiv. Her parents were engineers and were not professionally involved in music, but they supported their daughter’s creative interests.
Anastasiia began studying music as a child. In addition to regular school, she attended music school and a vocal studio, played piano and electric guitar, and studied ballet for several years. She later recalled that at one point she was attending four institutions at the same time: regular school, music school, ballet classes and a vocal studio.
After finishing school, Prudius entered V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. She qualified as an international economist and translator. While still a student, she took part in creative competitions and continued preparing for a professional music career.
Later, after moving to Kyiv, Anastasiia also studied show-business management at Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts.
«Х-Фактор» and early television competitions
One of her first attempts to establish herself on a major television stage was her participation in the Ukrainian edition of «Х-Фактор» in 2013. She did not win the project, but gained experience performing in front of a television audience and a professional jury.
At that stage, Prudius was seen primarily as a strong vocalist rather than an independent songwriter with a clearly defined repertoire. Finding her own material and stage identity took several more years.
«Голос країни»
In 2016, Anastasiia became a contestant on the sixth season of «Голос країни». During the blind auditions, she performed Hozier’s «Take Me to Church» and turned all four coaches’ chairs. She chose Potap as her mentor.
Prudius passed the battle round and reached the knockouts. There she performed the Ukrainian song «Коханий», but did not advance to the live shows.
Her first appearance on «Голос країни» brought her additional visibility, but did not yet lead to mass popularity. After the project, Anastasiia continued working as an independent singer and session vocalist.
«Новая волна» and the Eurovision National Selection
In the same 2016, Prudius took part in the international competition «Новая волна» and finished among the top ten performers.
In February 2017, she competed in Ukraine’s National Selection for Eurovision with her original English-language composition «Flow». She performed in the third semifinal, received three points each from the jury and viewers, and finished sixth among eight contestants, failing to qualify for the final.
Early original releases
In the second half of the 2010s, Anastasiia became increasingly active as a songwriter. In 2017, she released «Зомбі», which later appeared on her early EP Yo!yo! and on the compilation «Навколо».
Ukrainian gradually became more prominent in her repertoire. The singer experimented with pop, soul, R&B and electronic arrangements, trying to develop a sound distinct from the material she had performed in competitions.
Work on «Танці з зірками»
For several years, Anastasiia combined her solo work with participation in the musical ensemble of the television project «Танці з зірками». She worked as a guest vocalist for four seasons, performing music for the contestants’ dance routines.
The job required her to learn songs in different genres quickly and to perform regularly on live television. At the same time, her own career developed much more slowly: until the early 2020s, KOLA remained best known to the audience of televised music projects.
The KOLA stage name
The stage name KOLA was suggested by the singer’s manager, Dmytro Habanin. The surname Prudius often caused pronunciation difficulties, so the team wanted a short and memorable name.
According to the artist herself, KOLA is connected with the Ukrainian word «кола», meaning «circles». The idea behind the name was to bring people together in one circle; the pseudonym has no connection to the carbonated drink.
Return to «Голос країни»
In 2021, KOLA returned to «Голос країни», this time for its eleventh season. At the blind auditions, she performed an unexpected version of LMFAO’s «Sexy and I Know It». Once again, all four coaches turned their chairs.
KOLA chose the team of MONATIK and advanced much further this time. In the quarterfinal, her coach kept her in the competition, and she went on to reach the semifinal.
During the semifinal broadcast, KOLA performed with The Hardkiss, singing «Make-Up». She competed against Tema Pauchek for a place in the superfinal. MONATIK allocated his votes 49% to KOLA and 51% to Pauchek; the public vote was also extremely close, ending 48% to 52% in favor of her opponent. KOLA’s run on the show ended there.
«Ба»
2021 proved far more important for KOLA’s own discography. On October 22, she released «Ба», a song dedicated to her grandmother.
The track was created together with rapper SKOFKA. Instead of elaborate pop production, the focus was placed on a simple conversational tone and memories of a loved one. «Ба» topped Radio Promin’s «12–2» chart and became one of the first releases to significantly expand KOLA’s audience.
Her collaboration with SKOFKA continued on «Маленька дівчинка».
Ivan Klymenko and the development of KOLA’s sound
Sound producer and songwriter Ivan Klymenko, one of the founders of the ENKO label, played a major role in the singer’s subsequent development.
According to KOLA, working with Klymenko changed her approach to songwriting. Instead of searching for an artificial stage persona, she began relying on her natural manner of speaking, real emotions and an unforced vocal delivery.
Most of the key releases from this new phase were created with the participation of the ENKO team.
2022 and «Чи разом?»
A dramatic turning point in KOLA’s career came after the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. During the first months of the war, the singer began writing and releasing Ukrainian-language material much more actively.
On June 7, 2022, she released «Чи разом?», a song written entirely by KOLA herself. Its personal story of waiting and separation resonated with the experience of a huge number of Ukrainians divided by the war.
The track quickly spread through TikTok and YouTube and climbed to number two on the Ukrainian Apple Music Top 100. «Чи разом?» became KOLA’s first nationwide hit and transformed an artist who had spent years appearing in competitions and television projects into one of the prominent figures of the new Ukrainian pop scene.
«Дочекаюсь» and «Біля серця»
Further songs followed that were directly connected with the experience of living through wartime. «Дочекаюсь», released in summer 2022, was dedicated to women waiting for loved ones serving at the front.
On September 16, 2022, KOLA released «Біля серця». The lyrics were written by Ivan Klymenko, while KOLA delivered the song in the restrained vocal style that had become characteristic of her new period.
«Біля серця» became her second major hit of 2022. It was later selected as one of twelve songs recognized by the YUNA 2023 National Music Awards under the special format «Пісні незламної України».
«Навколо»
On September 30, 2022, KOLA released the full-length project «Навколо», bringing together material recorded over several years.
It contained 12 tracks:
- «Чи разом?»;
- «Парасолі»;
- «Україно — ми сила»;
- «Маленька дівчинка»;
- «Ба»;
- «Прохана гостя»;
- «LM»;
- «Відчуваю»;
- «НЛО»;
- «Зомбі»;
- «One Love»;
- «Синхрофазатрон».
«Навколо» documented KOLA’s transition from her early experiments to a fully formed Ukrainian-language pop project.
MEGOGO Music Awards
The results of 2022 brought the singer her first major professional awards. At the MEGOGO Music Awards, KOLA was named Artist of the Year, while the video for «Голос» won Video of the Year.
After years of competition appearances, this was the first period when her major awards and mass popularity were connected not with performing other people’s material, but with her own songs.
2023: a year of major collaborations
In 2023, KOLA became one of the most in-demand voices for collaborations on the Ukrainian pop scene.
On February 16, «Люди», recorded with MamaRika, was released. On April 5, she followed it with the YAKTAK duet «Порічка». The song became widely popular on streaming platforms and grew into one of the best-known collaborations for both artists.
Another major collaboration arrived in May: «Коли ми двоє» with Okean Elzy. The song was written by Sviatoslav Vakarchuk. Its theme centers on brief meetings between loved ones forced to spend long periods apart.
During the year, KOLA also collaborated with alyona alyona on «Небо хилиться» and with ADAM on «Зорепади». She also released the solo tracks «Тебе — собі» and «Бути простим».
«Музичний щоденник. Частина №1»
On May 25, 2023, KOLA released the EP «Музичний щоденник. Частина №1».
The release contained five short compositions:
- «Лину»;
- «По воді»;
- «Ноги збила»;
- «Думки дітей»;
- «Цінувати життя».
The title accurately reflected the concept: the songs functioned as small emotional notes about everyday life, relationships, anxiety and the value of ordinary things.
YUNA 2024
At the YUNA 2024 ceremony, KOLA was nominated in several major categories. «Порічка» competed for Best Song, while «Порічка», «Люди», «Коли ми двоє» and «Зорепади» were nominated for Best Collaboration.
The singer won the main individual award in the Best Female Artist category, ahead of DOROFEEVA, Jerry Heil, Klavdia Petrivna and ZLATA OGNEVICH.
Міліметр, Salut papa and other 2024 releases
In 2024, KOLA continued actively releasing new songs. «Міліметр» appeared in February, followed in spring by «Salut papa».
Together with Parfeniuk, she recorded «Температура». She also collaborated with KALUSH on «Пам'ятай» and «Упіймай моє серце».
KOLA was also one of the performers featured on the anniversary version «Той день (OE30 edition)» by Okean Elzy, alongside YAKTAK, SHUMEI and Jerry Heil.
First Palace of Sports concert
On October 19, 2024, her 32nd birthday, KOLA gave her first major solo concert at Kyiv’s Palace of Sports.
The show drew more than 7,000 spectators. The program included «Чи разом?», «Біля серця», «Дочекаюсь», «Люди», «Бути простим», «Порічка» and other songs. Guest artists with whom KOLA had collaborated in previous years also appeared on stage.
The concert also had a charitable component, with part of the project connected to fundraising for the Ukrainian military.
2025
The success of her first Palace of Sports show led to a repeat performance. On March 8, 2025, KOLA returned to the same venue with the program «На біс».
During the year, she released new songs including «Край», «Блюз», «Говорили», «Запитай» and «Кофеїн». Collaborative projects also continued.
One notable collaboration was «127» with MONATIK. The song premiered live in spring, while the official version later appeared on MONATIK’s album «Вічно Танцююча Людина».
Second YUNA victory
On April 23, 2025, KOLA was named Ukraine’s Best Female Artist by YUNA for the second consecutive year.
Her video for «Salut papa» was also nominated for Best Music Video, while the «Бути простим» program was recognized among the leading concert shows.
European tour
In autumn 2025, KOLA embarked on a European concert tour. The route included Warsaw, Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne, Antwerp, London and Haarlem.
By that time, her concert repertoire had become extensive enough to build full solo programs entirely around her own songs, without relying on material associated with television competitions.
KOLA in 2026
In 2026, the singer continued releasing new material. In February, together with YAKTAK, she presented «На беззвучний», a composition for the project «Мавка. Справжній Міф».
Her digital catalog also expanded with «Каблучка», a remix of «Salut papa» and the new solo single «НА БЗ», released on May 28. In June, a separate version of «Chy Razom?» appeared on international digital platforms.
The period following her 2022 breakthrough therefore did not turn into the brief success of a single hit: KOLA maintained a regular release schedule, major concert activity and a stable presence in contemporary Ukrainian pop music.
Musical style
The foundation of KOLA’s work is contemporary pop music. Individual songs also incorporate elements of soul, R&B, electronic music and hip-hop production.
One of the singer’s characteristic features is her flexible vocal style, with a slight rasp and frequent melismatic phrasing. After 2021, however, the technical showmanship associated with competition performances became much less prominent. Lyrics and emotional delivery moved to the center of her songs.
KOLA’s lyrics are predominantly written in simple, conversational Ukrainian. Her main themes include love, separation, waiting, family, memories of loved ones, inner change and the experience of Ukrainians during the full-scale war. This repertoire defined her place in contemporary Ukrainian music.
Songwriting
KOLA performs not only material written by outside authors, but also writes independently and in collaboration. She wrote «Чи разом?», contributed to the creation of «Порічка», «Музичний щоденник» and many other recordings.
Her recurring co-writers and producers from different periods include Ivan Klymenko, SKOFKA, Oleksandr Pryshliak, Mykhailo Melkumian and other representatives of the contemporary Ukrainian music scene.
Personal life
In 2023, Anastasiia Prudius married. Her husband’s name is Viacheslav; he was born in Dnipro and moved to Israel with his family as a child.
They met in 2022 during a charity event abroad that Viacheslav helped organize. The wedding took place in Prague. Her husband is 13 years older than the singer.
KOLA does not hide the fact that she is married, but usually does not make the details of her family life a central part of her public image.
Awards and achievements
- MEGOGO Music Awards 2022 — Artist of the Year;
- MEGOGO Music Awards 2022 — Video of the Year for «Голос»;
- YUNA 2023 — «Біля серця» included among the 12 «Пісні незламної України»;
- YUNA 2024 — Best Female Artist;
- YUNA 2025 — Best Female Artist;
- first solo concert at Kyiv’s Palace of Sports — 2024, more than 7,000 spectators;
- second Palace of Sports concert — 2025;
- European tour — 2025.
Major releases
- «Зомбі» — 2017;
- «Ба» — 2021;
- «Маленька дівчинка» — 2022;
- «Парасолі» — 2022;
- «Чи разом?» — 2022;
- «Дочекаюсь» — 2022;
- «Біля серця» — 2022;
- «Голос» — 2022;
- «Навколо» — 2022;
- «Люди» — with MamaRika, 2023;
- «Порічка» — with YAKTAK, 2023;
- «Коли ми двоє» — with Okean Elzy, 2023;
- «Музичний щоденник. Частина №1» — EP, 2023;
- «Небо хилиться» — with alyona alyona, 2023;
- «Тебе — собі» — 2023;
- «Зорепади» — with ADAM, 2023;
- «Бути простим» — 2023;
- «Міліметр» — 2024;
- «Salut papa» — 2024;
- «Температура» — with Parfeniuk, 2024;
- «Пам'ятай» — with KALUSH, 2024;
- «Упіймай моє серце» — with KALUSH, 2024;
- «Край» — 2025;
- «Блюз» — 2025;
- «Говорили» — 2025;
- «Запитай» — 2025;
- «127» — with MONATIK, 2025;
- «Кофеїн» — 2025;
- «На беззвучний» — with YAKTAK, 2026;
- «Каблучка» — 2026;
- «НА БЗ» — 2026.
KOLA’s path to widespread recognition took almost a decade. «Х-Фактор», two seasons of «Голос країни», the Eurovision National Selection and television work gave her professional experience, but her own audience formed around original Ukrainian-language material. «Чи разом?» and «Біля серця» became the turning-point songs, followed by major collaborations, two consecutive YUNA awards for Best Female Artist and solo concerts at the Palace of Sports. Today, KOLA continues to release music regularly and develop her career as an independent songwriter and live performer.
