Jamala
Encyclopedia
Jamala - a Ukrainian
and Crimean Tatar
jazz-singer, performing the music of her own composition on the junction of jazz
, soul
, world music and rhythm&blues
with the elements of classics and gospel.
The turning point in Jamala's career path came with her performance at the "New Wave - 2009"
International contest of young pop singers in Jūrmala
. The singer was awarded with the grand prize, impressing the jury with her outstanding vocal talent and the confident singing manner in a variety of genres.
songs. Graduating from the Music school piano class in her native Alushta
, the singer entered the Simferopol
Music College named after Tchaikovsky
followed by the graduation from the National Music Academy named after Tchaikovsky
(Kiev
) as well, majoring in opera
singing. Being at the top of the class, Jamala planned to devote herself to the classical music
, envisioning her career as a soloist at the famous Milan
La Scala
Opera. Nevertheless her true passion for jazz
and experiments with soul
and oriental music has changed her plans defining the main streams of the future career.
, Russia and Europe, where she received some prestigious awards, not mentioning the 1 Concorso Europeo Amici della musica International contest in Italy. Since 2001 she was a solo in the vocal quintet "Beauty Band". The terrific performance at the Dо#Dj junior 2006 Jazz
festival of young artists brought Jamala a special award, while attracting the attention of the famous choreographer Elena Kolyadenko, who in her turn invited Jamala to perform the leading part in the "Pas" of Olena Kolyadenko multi genre musical and ballet Freedom. This part in the musical became an essential step in Jamala's performing career.
The turning point in Jamala's career path came with her performance at the "New Wave - 2009"
International contest of young pop singers in summer 2009. The contest's chief director statements regarding Jamala's "not fitting the format" did not stop her from reaching the finals and more than that receiving a grand prize of the contest.
, Jamala instantly jumped into the top artists’ category, performing at the various spots from Moscow to Berlin. Two large Jamala's concerts The Revue Show are taking place in Kiev
, where she is to reveal to public the whole range of the singer's vocal potential and the diversity of the music material.
During the few months Jamala is going to take part almost in all the main TV shows of Ukraine
, from the "TV Triumph2009" awards ceremony and One Night Only (tribute to Michael Jackson
of the Ukrainian
top artists) to "Christmas Celebration with Alla Pugacheva
". Cosmopolitan entitles her a "Breakthrough of the Year", she wins the "Singer of the Year" Elle
Style Award and the "Ukrainians’ Idol" nomination at the "Person of the Year 2009".
Being busy with the intense tour schedule, Jamala finds time to devote to classical music
. In summer 2009 she performed the leading part in "The Spanish Hour" opera
by Maurice Ravel
, and in February 2010 she took part in Vasiliy Barchatov's opera
production on Bondiana
motif, for which she was noted by Jude Law
, the famous British actor.
Early in 2011, she took part in the Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011
with the song "Smile". The song was a crowd favorite and Jamala herself managed to land a spot in the finals of the competition. However due to a controversy of miscounting votes, another finals was set for March 3. Although, Jamala would still advance into the finals she decided to withdraw from the competition on March 1 claiming that the votes would again be rigged.
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
and Crimean Tatar
Crimean Tatars
Crimean Tatars or Crimeans are a Turkic ethnic group that originally resided in Crimea. They speak the Crimean Tatar language...
jazz-singer, performing the music of her own composition on the junction of jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
, world music and rhythm&blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
with the elements of classics and gospel.
The turning point in Jamala's career path came with her performance at the "New Wave - 2009"
New Wave (competition)
New Wave is an international contest for new stars, which usually lasts for six days: 3 contest days, 2 special event days and, at the end, the day where the contest's results are announced followed by an ending concert....
International contest of young pop singers in Jūrmala
Jurmala
Jūrmala is a city in Latvia, about 25 kilometers west of Riga. Jūrmala is a resort town stretching and sandwiched between the Gulf of Riga and the Lielupe River...
. The singer was awarded with the grand prize, impressing the jury with her outstanding vocal talent and the confident singing manner in a variety of genres.
Biography
Jamala has been fond of music since her early childhood. She made her first professional recording at the age of 9 years old, singing 12 children and folk Crimean TatarCrimean Tatars
Crimean Tatars or Crimeans are a Turkic ethnic group that originally resided in Crimea. They speak the Crimean Tatar language...
songs. Graduating from the Music school piano class in her native Alushta
Alushta
Alushta is a resort town in Crimea, Ukraine, founded in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian. It is situated on the Black Sea on the road from Gurzuf to Sudak, as well as on the Crimean Trolleybus line....
, the singer entered the Simferopol
Simferopol
-Russian Empire and Civil War:The city was renamed Simferopol in 1784 after the annexation of the Crimean Khanate to the Russian Empire by Catherine II of Russia. The name Simferopol is derived from the Greek, Συμφερόπολις , translated as "the city of usefulness." In 1802, Simferopol became the...
Music College named after Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
followed by the graduation from the National Music Academy named after Tchaikovsky
Kiev Conservatory
The Tchaikovsky National Academy of Music is a Ukrainian state institution of higher music education. Its courses include postgraduate education.-History:...
(Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
) as well, majoring in opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
singing. Being at the top of the class, Jamala planned to devote herself to the classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, envisioning her career as a soloist at the famous Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
La Scala
La Scala
La Scala , is a world renowned opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the New Royal-Ducal Theatre at La Scala...
Opera. Nevertheless her true passion for jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and experiments with soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and oriental music has changed her plans defining the main streams of the future career.
Competitions and New Wave - 2009 International contest
Jamala made her first steps on the big stage at the age of fifteen. During the next few years she took part at the dozens of vocal contests of UkraineUkraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, Russia and Europe, where she received some prestigious awards, not mentioning the 1 Concorso Europeo Amici della musica International contest in Italy. Since 2001 she was a solo in the vocal quintet "Beauty Band". The terrific performance at the Dо#Dj junior 2006 Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
festival of young artists brought Jamala a special award, while attracting the attention of the famous choreographer Elena Kolyadenko, who in her turn invited Jamala to perform the leading part in the "Pas" of Olena Kolyadenko multi genre musical and ballet Freedom. This part in the musical became an essential step in Jamala's performing career.
The turning point in Jamala's career path came with her performance at the "New Wave - 2009"
New Wave (competition)
New Wave is an international contest for new stars, which usually lasts for six days: 3 contest days, 2 special event days and, at the end, the day where the contest's results are announced followed by an ending concert....
International contest of young pop singers in summer 2009. The contest's chief director statements regarding Jamala's "not fitting the format" did not stop her from reaching the finals and more than that receiving a grand prize of the contest.
- Jamala - History repeating - The-first competitive day (participants execute a world hit)
- Jamala - Vershe, miy vershe (Джамала - Верше, мій верше) - The-second competitive day (participants execute a hit of the country)
- Jamala - Mamenkin synok (Джамала - Маменькин сынок) - The-third competitive day (participants sing an original song)
Next step to success
Following the triumph in JūrmalaJurmala
Jūrmala is a city in Latvia, about 25 kilometers west of Riga. Jūrmala is a resort town stretching and sandwiched between the Gulf of Riga and the Lielupe River...
, Jamala instantly jumped into the top artists’ category, performing at the various spots from Moscow to Berlin. Two large Jamala's concerts The Revue Show are taking place in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, where she is to reveal to public the whole range of the singer's vocal potential and the diversity of the music material.
During the few months Jamala is going to take part almost in all the main TV shows of Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, from the "TV Triumph2009" awards ceremony and One Night Only (tribute to Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
of the Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
top artists) to "Christmas Celebration with Alla Pugacheva
Alla Pugacheva
Alla Borisovna Pugacheva or Pugachova , born 15 April 1949), is а Soviet and Russian musical performer. Her career started in 1965 and continues to this day...
". Cosmopolitan entitles her a "Breakthrough of the Year", she wins the "Singer of the Year" Elle
Elle
Elle may refer to:*Elle, Central African Republic*Elle , a fashion publication*Ellé, a river in France*Elle , a female given name*Elle , a Sri Lankan game similar to baseball*Ælle of Sussex, a Saxon king...
Style Award and the "Ukrainians’ Idol" nomination at the "Person of the Year 2009".
Being busy with the intense tour schedule, Jamala finds time to devote to classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
. In summer 2009 she performed the leading part in "The Spanish Hour" opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
by Maurice Ravel
Maurice Ravel
Joseph-Maurice Ravel was a French composer known especially for his melodies, orchestral and instrumental textures and effects...
, and in February 2010 she took part in Vasiliy Barchatov's opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
production on Bondiana
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
motif, for which she was noted by Jude Law
Jude Law
David Jude Heyworth Law , known professionally as Jude Law, is an English actor, film producer and director.He began acting with the National Youth Music Theatre in 1987, and had his first television role in 1989...
, the famous British actor.
Early in 2011, she took part in the Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011
Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011
Ukraine participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf, Germany and selected their artist and song through a televised national final, organised by the Ukrainian broadcaster, the NTU...
with the song "Smile". The song was a crowd favorite and Jamala herself managed to land a spot in the finals of the competition. However due to a controversy of miscounting votes, another finals was set for March 3. Although, Jamala would still advance into the finals she decided to withdraw from the competition on March 1 claiming that the votes would again be rigged.
Music videos
- "History RepeatingHistory Repeating (song)"History Repeating" is a song written by Alex Gifford and originally performed by the Propellerheads featuring Shirley Bassey in 1997.-Single release:...
" appeared on UkrainianUkraineUkraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
TV in November 2009 - "You're Made of Love" followed in February 2010
- "It's me, Jamala" appeared on Ukrainian and Russian music channels on October 18, 2010. The video was directed by Charley Stadler, while Fraser Taggart was director of photography.
- "Smile" video was directed by Max Ksenda, and the operator was Sergei Mikhalchuk. The clip is made on the basis of puppet animation. For story clip Jamal traveled to different corners of the planet on a toy car and helicopter, and is followed by an enormous cartoon smile, which helps her in all situations to make contact with people of different faiths and nationalities.
Debut album
Jamala's debut album release is planned for spring 2011. Most of the songs are of Jamala's own composition, while Evgeny is the sound producer.External links
- Jamalamusic - JAMALA Official website
- Daily Ukrainian newspaper "Day" (#34-34) (pdf) February 25–26, 2011