Lana Mir
Encyclopedia
Lana Mir is a singer/songwriter born and raised in Kiev
, Ukraine
, and based now in New York
. and released her debut album on Unfiltered Records
/Independent Label Group
in 2010. Her music is vintage-tinged alternative pop, made distinctive by her Ukrainian heritage.
,20 Questions: Lana Mir, PopMatters
, Retrieved November 5, 2010 the introduction of MTV
(just 30 minutes per week) to the Ukrainian capital showed her a new world of music just arrived. The first video she saw was Nothing Compares 2 U
by Sinéad O'Connor
. Prior to Ukraine’s independence in 1991, access to Western culture
in the former Soviet republic was very limited.”
By the time she started secondary school
, she wanted to be a professional singer. She happened upon the editor of Ukraine’s only music magazine
on the subway, and he ended up co-writing a song for her. It ended up on the most commercial Ukrainian-French radio station
in the country. She was soon performing at events and doing other spokesperson duties for the station.
After coming to New York and stuggling to make ends meet, found her way to a group of local musicians at a Russian-American cafe who taught her jazz
and bossa nova
, where she eventually secured a weekly gig. She eventually was introduced to Brookville
, and suggested a collaboration with Andy Chase
. Chase ended up co-writing, co-producing and playing on her debut album, along with his frequent collaborator Bruce Driscoll
(Ivy
, Brookville, Blondfire
).
Her debut self-titled album was released in August 2010. It includes a cover of I Wanna Be Adored
by The Stone Roses
.(11 August 2010) Today's Top Tune: Lana Mir: I Wanna Be Adored, KCRW
, Retrieved November 5, 2010
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....
, 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...
, and based now in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. and released her debut album on Unfiltered Records
Unfiltered Records
Unfiltered Records is an American independent record label based in New York City, owned by producer, singer-songwriter and musical entrepreneur Andy Chase. The label is run out of his New York City loft with label manager Michael Galbe, and in late 2009 became a member of Warner Music Group's...
/Independent Label Group
Independent Label Group
Independent Label Group is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. The company was formed in 2006 as an umbrella for various Warner auxiliary labels including East West Records, Rykodisc and Cordless Recordings. Outside of the U.S., the label is distributed by WEA International...
in 2010. Her music is vintage-tinged alternative pop, made distinctive by her Ukrainian heritage.
History
Mir grew up in Kiev, and says she was "isolated from the music I loved,” which eventually led her to New York. Born the year before the Chernobyl disasterChernobyl disaster
The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine , which was under the direct jurisdiction of the central authorities in Moscow...
,20 Questions: Lana Mir, PopMatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
, Retrieved November 5, 2010 the introduction of MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
(just 30 minutes per week) to the Ukrainian capital showed her a new world of music just arrived. The first video she saw was Nothing Compares 2 U
Nothing Compares 2 U
"Nothing Compares 2 U" is a pop song written by American recording artist Prince for one of his side-projects, The Family. However, it wasn't until Sinéad O'Connor recorded her version for the album I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got when it became a worldwide hit, topping charts in 15 countries,...
by Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor is an Irish singer-songwriter. She rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion and the Cobra and achieved worldwide success in 1990 with a cover of the song "Nothing Compares 2 U"....
. Prior to Ukraine’s independence in 1991, access to Western culture
Western culture
Western culture, sometimes equated with Western civilization or European civilization, refers to cultures of European origin and is used very broadly to refer to a heritage of social norms, ethical values, traditional customs, religious beliefs, political systems, and specific artifacts and...
in the former Soviet republic was very limited.”
By the time she started secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
, she wanted to be a professional singer. She happened upon the editor of Ukraine’s only music magazine
Music magazine
A music magazine is a magazine dedicated to music and music culture. Such magazines typically include music news, interviews, photo shoots, essays, record reviews, concert reviews and occasionally have a covermount with recorded music.-Notable music magazines:...
on the subway, and he ended up co-writing a song for her. It ended up on the most commercial Ukrainian-French radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
in the country. She was soon performing at events and doing other spokesperson duties for the station.
After coming to New York and stuggling to make ends meet, found her way to a group of local musicians at a Russian-American cafe who taught her 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 bossa nova
Bossa nova
Bossa nova is a style of Brazilian music. Bossa nova acquired a large following in the 1960s, initially consisting of young musicians and college students...
, where she eventually secured a weekly gig. She eventually was introduced to Brookville
Brookville (Band)
Brookville is a solo project of Andy Chase from Ivy. Brookville toured the United States in November 2006 with pop band Tahiti 80.-Bio:Ivy co-founder Andy Chase is released Brookville's second album, Life in the Shade, on June 13, 2006, on his own label, Unfiltered Records...
, and suggested a collaboration with Andy Chase
Andy Chase
Andy Chase is a New York based musician/songwriter/producer. He is a member of the bands Ivy, Brookville, and Paco. He is also a co-owner of New York City recording studio Stratosphere sound with partners James Iha , and Adam Schlesinger .In 1995, Chase co-produced and engineered the title track...
. Chase ended up co-writing, co-producing and playing on her debut album, along with his frequent collaborator Bruce Driscoll
Bruce Driscoll
Bruce Driscoll is a Brazilian/American record producer, songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist. He first gained notoriety as one half of the indie pop band Astaire . Co-writing/Producing/Self-releasing songs with his sister, Erica, the duo quickly became iTunes darlings...
(Ivy
Ivy (band)
Ivy is a New York City band composed of a trio of musicians, Adam Schlesinger, Dominique Durand, and Andy Chase.-Lately and Realistic:...
, Brookville, Blondfire
Blondfire
Blondfire is an indie pop band from New York City composed of the brother-and-sister duo Bruce and Erica Driscoll.- Childhood :The Driscolls were born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to an American father and a Brazilian mother. They spent many summers in northern Brazil, and are citizens of...
).
Her debut self-titled album was released in August 2010. It includes a cover of I Wanna Be Adored
I Wanna Be Adored
"I Wanna Be Adored" is a song by the British rock group The Stone Roses. It was released as the third single from the band's debut album The Stone Roses in the UK, US, Germany, Japan and Canada...
by The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses are an English alternative rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s...
.(11 August 2010) Today's Top Tune: Lana Mir: I Wanna Be Adored, KCRW
KCRW
KCRW is a public radio station broadcasting from the campus of Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California, carrying a mix of National Public Radio news, talk radio and freeform music format. The general manager of KCRW is Jennifer Ferro...
, Retrieved November 5, 2010
Discography
- Goodbye Girl EP (released 16 February 2010 by Unfiltered Records)
- Lana Mir (released 23 August 2010 by Unfiltered Records)