 Natalia Ionova, better known under her artist name Glukoza is a Russian singer and solo artist.
Ionova was born on June 7, 1986, in the Volga Region of Russia. Her mother and father were both computer programmers, and she has one elder sister who is a pastry chef.
As a child, her hobbies included ballet and chess, and had done some acting as a child. She was in the film "Triumph" and the film "War Of The Princesses", and also a few episodes of "Yeralash". Currently she has an interest in aviation, plus two Dobermans and a yellow Mini Cooper which she enjoys driving. She describes her favourite musical artists as Madonna, Eminem, Moby, Mumiy Troll and Agata Kristi.
Glukoza`s music career began when she was discovered in 2002 by record producer Max Fadeyev. Together they recorded her first album, "Nostra," and released her first music video, "Nenavizhu (Hate)," entirely computer animated. To begin with, the singles found little popularity in the Russian music scene. In 2003 Glukoza`s release of the single "Nevesta (Bride)," accompanied once again by a computer animated video immediately shot Glukoza onto the top of the Russian music charts.
Other popular singles released over the next 2 years were "Glukoza Nostra," "Sneg Idet (It's Snowing)," "Oi, Oi," "Malish (Little One)," "Karina," and the Verka Serduchka duet "Zheniha Hotela (She Wanted a Groom)."
Her success in music has earned her many accolades such as the MTV-EMA award for Best Russian Act, the Muztv award for Breakthrough of the Year, and her animated character was named "Character of Year" by the Russian internet search engine Rambler.
Since 2003 Glukoza has given over 500 concerts within 3 years in the Far East, Siberia, the Urals, the Volga Region, the center section of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Central Asia, the Caucasus, London, and the USA. The number of tickets sold for Gluk oza's concerts totals to over 1.5 million.
Glukoza became the face of Avon Color Trend, the spokeswoman for Motivi clothing and 'My Scene' dolls, and lends her animated image and logo to Rekondor Ice Cream. 3 perfumes were also released: G (Gloss), L (Life), and Z (Zoom). She has also been featured on the cover of notorious magazines such as Elle Girl, Hello Magazine, Seventeen Magazine, and Shape Magazine.
In June of 2005 Glukoza released her second album "Moskva (Moscow)" with hit singles "Schweine (Pigs)," "Yura," "Moskva (Moscow)," and "K Chertu (To Hell)," bringing her total album sales to over 1 million. In December of 2005 she recorded and released an English version of her popular song "Schweine" that unfortunately never took off with the public. In late June of 2006 Glukoza married Alexander Chistyakov, the manager of the power supply systems of Russia. Her engagement to Alexander inspired Glukoza's manager, Max Fadeyev, to write her most recent hit single "Svadba (Wedding)."
|
Culture and Art 