There have been many changes in the Leningrad group over the past two years. To replace Alisa Vox, Sergei Shnurov brought several girls into the team, and the fans' first rejection of the new members of Leningrad gave way to delight. The soloists fit into the male company so organically that now it seems like they have always been there. Among them is the young talented singer Florida Chanturia, a girl from Bashkortostan.
https://www.instagram.com/florida3003/
How did she dare to come from a distant Bashkir town to the northern capital? What did Florida do before she came to Leningrad? Why did Sergei Shnur pay attention to her? After all, St. Petersburg is full of beautiful girls who sing well, so why did Chanturia hook him? Does the girl have a family, children, what is known about her personal life? The young, but already unusually bright “star” of the Russian rock scene raises many questions both from fans of the group in which she sings, and from her fans.
Official biography
- Last name, first name, patronymic: Chanturia, Florida Eldarovna;
- Place of birth: Beloretsk, Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia;
- Date of birth: 1990, March 30;
- Zodiac sign: Aries; according to the eastern calendar - Horse (element of the year metal); patron planet Mars;
- Height and weight: 174 cm, 54 kg;
- Higher education; graduated from St. Petersburg State Institute of Cinematography (pop and jazz department);
- Occupation: singer, soloist of the group “Leningrad”;
- Marital status: not married, no children.
[edit] Links
| Leningrad (band) at Wikimedia Commons |
- Official website
of the group - sosimc.ru - official website
- Official page "Leningrad" on the social network Facebook
- "Leningrad" on Twitter
- Video channel “Leningrad” on the YouTube video hosting service
- 40px Official channel “Leningrad” on Vimeo
- Leningrad profile on Last.fm
- Leningrad (English) on Discogs
- Official Leningrad page (English) on Myspace
- "The Man Who Sings" - Doc. film (video, trailer)
- Biography of the Leningrad group
- Bad Music: Leningrad Group
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| [hide] Leningrad | |
| Sergey Shnurov • Igor Vdovin • Vyacheslav Antonov • Alexander Popov • Andrey Antonenko • Grigory Zontov • Roman Parygin • Denis Kuptsov • Andrey Kuraev • Ilya Rogachevsky • Konstantin Limonov • Vladislav Alexandrov • Alexey Kanev • Yulia Kogan | |
| Discography | Bullet • Mat without electricity • Summer residents • Made in ass • Bullet + • Pirates of the XXI century • Point • For millions • Babarobot • Huinya • Bread • Indian summer • Aurora • Henna • Eternal flame • Fish • Evening Leningrad |
| Other albums: | New Year • Second Magadan • Leningrad makes America • Boomer OST • (In)complete works • Buttercup |
| Related Articles | Spitfire • St. Petersburg Ska-Jazz Review • Markscheider Kunst • Ruble • Diodes |
Life before Leningrad
A beautiful girl with slanted eyes and jet-black hair was born in Beloretsk into an unremarkable family - her parents worked in a small town, sometimes, having saved money, they went on trips to the sea. On one such cruise, according to family legend, Florida's mother met a girl who had this exotic name. The woman was pregnant, and when her daughter was born, she decided to name her so beautifully.
Florida Chanturia in childhood. Photo https://www.instagram.com/florida3003/
In addition to a simple high school, she also went to a music school - a common thing for a small Russian city. Florida today shared in an interview that from an early age she wanted to break out into the “big world”: she felt that she would not be able to live an interesting life in Beloretsk. In high school, a serious thought was already born - to go to Moscow and enter a university there. Yes, the girl wanted to go to study in the capital, and get an education there and settle down forever.
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After receiving the certificate, he and his mother looked through advertisements where documents were accepted. By a lucky coincidence, it turned out that you can take exams at the University of Culture and Arts of St. Petersburg much earlier than at other “music” universities. Of course, it was happiness to try my hand and try to enter the university where Valentina Tolkunova, Leonid Agutin, Alisa Mon and other famous Russian singers studied. The exams were passed successfully, and now Florida is a student at a prestigious university.
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The building where the pop-jazz department was located was located opposite the Champs de Mars; the girl was given a place in the hostel right on the Chernaya Rechka, but she was happy about that, because not everyone even managed to get a “bed” in the hostel in the hostel. Mom couldn’t help her, because she herself wasn’t luxurious in Beloretsk, the woman’s salary was small. The daughter understood that in a big city you have to rely only on yourself.
with mom…
“Kulek” (as students call this university) accepted into its ranks a provincial girl full of great ambitions. Her classmates remember how the girl studied hard, because she set herself a goal - to achieve something more than living far from the center of Russia. Already in her first year, Florida felt what it was like to live in a big city: a five hundred ruble scholarship plus a travel card was clearly not enough even for food.
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She first got a job as a waitress, then she was promoted to bartender. In her second year at university, she was lucky enough to get a job at a karaoke club. A classmate helped her in this: his friend was looking for pretty and good-singing girls who were willing to work in the evenings. Sometimes I had to visit several establishments during the evening and night, among which were, for example, the karaoke bar “Plywood” and “Gelsomino Café”. Of course, Florida really hoped that she would not spend her entire life entertaining tipsy guests in various cafes, and planned to move on. She graduated from the university in 2013, and three years later something happened to her that she could not even imagine in her wildest dreams.
Music career
Florida began her career as a singer by performing in the cover band “Marmalade” and working in karaoke clubs, including the famous “Gelsomino Cafe” from Ginza Project.
Florida Chanturia started working in karaoke bars
In the spring of 2020, the lead singer of the Leningrad group Alisa Vox, who at one time replaced Yulia Kogan, announced her departure from the group. Soon after, a friend called Florida and said that he had given her number to one of the band members. A few days later, the girl auditioned and was accepted into the famous team. It is noteworthy that Florida is familiar with Alice Vox, who left the group - many years ago the girls started together at the Plywood bar.
Florida Chanturia became the lead singer of the Leningrad group in 2016
Chanturia says that in the karaoke crowd everyone knows each other, and calls about castings are not uncommon, while the chance to get into such a popular project is rare. After the casting, Florida introduced her mother to the work of “Leningrad” - at first the artist’s mother did not understand their music, but then she became inspired by her daughter’s new activity.
For the first time in the 18-year history of Leningrad, two girls were included in the lineup: together with Chanturia, Vasilisa Starshova, with whom Florida was also already familiar, was accepted into the group. Before the first concert, which took place on March 24 at Stadium Life in Moscow, only three rehearsals took place. According to Florida, he and Vasilisa already knew the entire repertoire of the group, because guests of karaoke clubs very often sing Leningrad songs.
Florida Chanturia and Vasilisa Starshova
In the first months of work, Florida and Vasilisa had to endure many difficulties - many fans of the group did not want to accept new soloists, called them mediocre and reproached them for lack of voice, but the girls managed to improve the situation.
In the first two years of work with the updated lineup, the singles “Kolshchik”, “Ecstasy”, “Ch.P.H.”, “Candidate”, “Voyage” and others were recorded, and Chanturia also took part in a large-scale tour in honor of the 20th anniversary "Leningrad" and the anniversary concert at the Otkritie Arena stadium, which attracted a record number of spectators.
Leningrad and Florida Chanturia - song “Kolshchik” Since July 2020, Florida has been performing without Vasilisa Starshova, who left the group for personal reasons.
How Florida Chanturia ended up in the Leningrad group
She remembers that March 2016 well: she worked like crazy, fulfilled her long-time dream, bought a car, and not some wrecked “Budyonny era” but a Peugeot! “I don’t remember the model, but in my opinion it was 296,” the singer later said in an interview. Suddenly, a friend from the university called: “There is some kind of movement going on in the Leningrad group, they are changing soloists, do you want to go to an audition?” She immediately burst out: “Me, there? Who's going to look at me..."
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The next day, there was another call on her mobile phone, from another friend, but there was the same advice - to go to an audition for Sergei Shnutov’s group. She again waved away the daring thought of going and trying: “No, no, no, I definitely won’t come.” Now no one remembers who gave him Florida's phone number, but it doesn't matter anymore. The fact is this: the third call was from Andrei Andronenko, composer and musician, old friend and colleague of Sergei Shnur. “Yes, it’s impossible to escape from what is destined,” Chanturia thought and went to the audition.
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She agreed that she would come on Sunday: karaoke clubs were busiest on Saturdays and Fridays, and previously the girl had been unable to get away from work. “For three days on wheels, driving, traveling to cafes, not getting enough sleep, sleeping on the go, but I came in the hope of at least looking at the legendary Sergei. The thought that they would take me didn’t even arise,” Florida said later. She was met by Andromedych (that’s what Andronenko is called in the group) and escorted to the studio.
One day, quite casually, Sergei Shnurov came in with a guitar, sat down opposite him, and asked to sing “On the Louboutins.” Thanks to seven years of experience in karaoke clubs, she knew this song and many other groups. Then Shnur handed her a piece of paper with the words: “I wrote something new here, try to sing it.” The girl, according to her, was not worried at all, did not panic, did not shake because the youth idol was sitting next to her: “Somehow everything went calmly, relaxed, I even forgot about why I came.”
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She sang what was given to her, everyone was silent: she, Sergei, Andromedich. And then the door opened, and the rest of the guys from Leningrad began to come in. “No, I knew there were a lot of them, but so many?” – Florida still says this with surprise. The men lined up opposite their leader, behind whose back the new girl was timidly hiding, and began to play. This is how Chanturia recalls that moment: “I was so overwhelmed with emotions that I was already shaking when the brass came in! And the only thought in my head is: this is mine, I want to go with them!”
Carier start
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/florida3003/
After graduating from university and receiving a diploma, Florida Chanturia decided to build her creative career in the Northern capital. Luck soon smiled on the talented and hardworking beauty. The St. Petersburg cover band “MARMELAD party band” was looking for a soloist. This is what Florida became. In the group, she performed popular songs of Russian and foreign pop stars, as well as the group’s original compositions.
In addition, Chanturia worked as a vocalist:
- in various karaoke clubs,
- on stage venues.
In particular, the aspiring singer performed at the famous “Gelsomino Cafe”, whose visitors know how to appreciate the talent of the performing artists.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/florida3003/
Florida Chanturia was well aware that performing at closed parties and karaoke bars was not the level she was striving for. Therefore, during this period, the aspiring singer constantly goes to various castings in order to get the opportunity to show herself and move to the next stage of her professional career. Soon her efforts were crowned with success.
Florida Chanturia in the Leningrad group from the moment of her arrival to the present day
The musicians played, leaving the girl in complete admiration: it was one thing to listen to them on the screen, in the stadium, and completely different to see them all up close. She was told as casually as they were asked to sing: “We’ll call you.” Florida was driving home, and tears were dripping onto the steering wheel: she was only going to take a walk, look at a famous person, but it turned out that she was now ready to give everything to perform with him.
https://www.instagram.com/florida3003/
And in the evening they called her (Andromedich again) with the words: “We are sending songs, tomorrow she should know them by heart.” The second time she mentally said thank you to the chance that brought her to work at karaoke - almost all the singles were familiar to her. The next day, on the stairs leading to the studio, Florida ran into Vasilisa Starshova: the girls already knew each other from work, and it turned out that Vasilisa had also successfully auditioned.
https://www.instagram.com/florida3003/
Chanturia repeated many times later that the work in the group was carried out in an orderly manner, somehow very calmly, “according to practice,” and the girls were at first surprised at how quietly and peacefully the rehearsals were going on, as if they were casually told: “On the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth you are going with us on tour." The only outburst of emotions among the male population of “Leningrad” happened when Vasilisa and Florida stood next to each other on stage: “Great, they are the same height!”
Even more surprising was that at the first concert during the tour, no one warned the audience: two new soloists appeared in the group. She remembers how the icy bewilderment of the audience washed over her when the girls took the stage. At the very least, they managed to “pump up” the performance, but after the concert Sergei warned both of them: “You shouldn’t go on the Internet and look at reviews, that’s what they wrote…”
“What are these strange women? Why did Shnur bring these wretches to him?” - this is the softest thing that Florida and Vasilisa saw on social networks the next day.
She even had a desire to give up everything, to return back to her usual work (albeit not so public, but without insults). “If it weren’t for Sergei’s attitude, if it weren’t for his faith in us, we would never have managed it!” – the singer said in an interview today. “We have to break them!” - repeated the leader of Leningrad. Three months later, as casually as everything happened in the group, he told the girls: “The probationary period is over,” and they didn’t even know that they were, it turns out, on a probationary period.
She didn’t have that “star” moment when you wake up in the morning with the thought: “Yes, I became famous.” Everything happened gradually: people began to write not only nasty things on Instagram, but also compliments; people began to recognize us on the streets and approach us with a request to take a photo together. Even now she does not perceive herself as a star, and to enthusiastic statements in direct messages on social networks she responds: “Guys, the stars are in the sky, but I walk on the earth.” And she also says: “It’s so sweet and touching when a guy or girl asks to take a photo, and their hands are shaking - I’m very pleased that Florida Chanturia, a girl from Beloretsk, is admired.”
https://www.instagram.com/florida3003/
The girl is not a gossip or an intriguer at all. She didn’t start “making eyes” at everyone in “Leningrad”, trying to find a famous guy for herself, and even more so Florida doesn’t like to “wash dirty linen in public” if she is asked to tell something scandalous about the members of the group. To the question: “Why did Vasilisa leave?” – she answers modestly: “Only she knows that. Probably, I just wanted it that way.” The girl admitted that Vasilisa shared with her the reason for leaving, but her friend refused to voice something unknown: “Most likely what happened was what they write about everywhere - she decided to pursue a solo career.”
Her modesty deserves the highest praise. Cunning journalists, wanting to get the hottest material, asked the singer many times: “Did the presence of your friend Vasilisa in the group influence the fact that you did not fully reveal your talent with her? Is her departure connected with your subsequent rise?” To this the girl replied: “Not at all! It’s just that when we sang a duet, I didn’t try to cover it or out-scream it - everything had to be harmonious, harmonious, especially since they didn’t rely on any of us as the main one. And I was left alone - well, I had to take the load on myself, and of course they began to notice me more.”
https://www.instagram.com/florida3003/
In addition to modesty, Florida has another remarkable quality - unconditional submission to discipline, obedience to the “boss”. “Vasilisa and I were equal singers, and since there were no instructions to dominate the songs, none of us made independent attempts. And when Vasilisa left, Sergei said to me: Florik, you are left alone, so burn with all your might! Well, I tried,” the girl said. There are musicians, there are (now) partners, and there is a boss, and she must listen to his every word - this is her permanent work setting at Leningrad.
Three more girls later joined her, and judging by their well-coordinated performances, they found a common language. Now she can rightfully call herself a soloist, because at all concerts she is trusted to perform most of the songs at the “front line”. The group (and Florida and the girls) were enthusiastically received on a recent stadium tour, which took place in ten arenas in major Russian cities. Kaliningrad, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan and Samara hosted the Leningrad group until the end of June; tens of thousands of fans came to each performance.
Florida Chanturia visited Fort Boyard https://www.instagram.com/florida3003/
The girl hates being asked about her earnings in the team. To the questions: “Did you buy an apartment in St. Petersburg? Do you have an expensive car? Are you denying yourself anything?” – she just nods silently with a smile. And he adds: “I have enough money now, and I don’t try to calculate how much, for example, I earned in a year or two. Money is now like a bonus for me: I work in the coolest group and I swear: if they tell me that I will continue to sing with Sergei Shnurov for less money or for nothing, I will agree, because I am happy to go on stage with these guys!”
Joining the rock group "Leningrad"
At first, Yulia Kogan was the vocalist in the Leningrad group, then she was replaced by Alisa Vox. But she also left the team in 2020. The search for a new vocalist began.
A friend of Florida, who was familiar with the Leningrad band, gave one of the musicians the girl’s phone number. Chanturia was informed of this fact, but was still incredibly surprised when she was invited to audition. Shnurov himself was involved in the audition; he asked Florida to perform first “On Louboutins”, then one of the new songs. Chanturia noted that the atmosphere at the audition was warm, simple, almost homely.
A few days later, Florida learned that she had been accepted into the team. Moreover, for the first time in the history of the group, Shnurov decided to take two vocalists at once. The second girl to join the team was Vasilisa Starshova.
See also
Composition and biography of RSAC project participants, history of development and discography
The new vocalists were immediately “thrown into the trenches”: there was very little time between joining the group and the next concert, and only 3 rehearsals were possible. Florida Chanturia “received a baptism of fire” at the Moscow Stadium Life concert.
The new singers were lucky: in the karaoke clubs where they previously worked, they often had the opportunity to perform songs by the Leningrad group, so they knew the repertoire very well.
Despite the successful first outing, both singers had a hard time at first: fans reluctantly accepted the replacement of the departed Alisa Vox and openly threw verbal mud at the new performers on the Internet. At one time, Chanturia even wanted to say goodbye to Leningrad and return to the karaoke bar, but Shnurov’s support and tutelage held her back.
With the participation of Florida, Shnurov recorded the hits “Ecstasy”, “Kolshchik”, “Candidate”, “Voyage”. Chanturia also took part in a large tour dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the rock group Leningrad, and sang at the multi-thousand anniversary concert held at the Otkritie stadium.
In July 2020, Vasilisa Starshova was forced to leave the rock band due to personal problems, and Chanturia remained the only vocalist.
About personal life
It is worth saying that the girl’s childhood was very difficult: she mentioned that at the age of nine she lost her father, and she was raised only by her mother. The father died or left the family - there is no information. The woman tried her best to raise her daughter with dignity, worked as hard as she could, and was glad when Florida went to St. Petersburg and entered a prestigious university there. At first, the girl’s mother was hostile to starting work in Leningrad, but now she has come to terms with it and is even happy about her daughter’s popularity.
Florida Chanturia with nephews
Chanturia is a Georgian surname, more precisely a Mingrelian one. But her mother (photos with her mother can be found on the singer’s Instagram) is clearly not of Georgian origin. It can be assumed that Florida's paternal ancestors are from Georgia.
https://www.instagram.com/florida3003/
Media workers managed to almost forcefully “pull” out of Florida the admission that she once had a boyfriend, but they broke up long before she came to Leningrad. “And it was not serious at all: dates, going to the movies and cafes, no joint household or living together,” she admitted reluctantly. Now she “absolutely has no one” (her words): she spends all her time working in a team.
Personal life
Florida Chanturia carefully hides the details of her personal life. She has no husband and children: the girl is still desperately developing in the creative field. Her charm and beauty are probably of interest to many men, so when the singer is ready, most likely there will be no problems with starting a family.
Florida was invited to the Little Big video for the song UNO, which was supposed to represent Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020
Interesting facts about the singer
- Yes, she bought an apartment in the northern capital, but she doesn’t even want to do this in Moscow: “Why? I live and work in St. Petersburg; I don’t need housing in Moscow. And to move there – I can’t even imagine what unthinkable circumstances would happen.”
- Shnurov, according to her statement, “saved” her from her family: “I was terribly tired of standing in heels in a cafe from ten in the evening to six in the morning, and there was a young man nearby whom I began to look closely at with the goal of marriage and the birth of a child. But then “Leningrad” happened, and as you can see, the family didn’t happen.”
- Namely, she went to St. Petersburg to enroll not only because of early exams. Mom also insisted, saying: “I once dreamed of studying there, so you, daughter, will make my dream come true.”
- She is not fond of alcohol, or rather, she basically does not like the taste of alcohol. The only thing the girl allows herself occasionally is dark beer and cider.
- The girl considers herself not just an employee in Shnurov’s team, but a member of a family called “Leningrad”. Her self-control betrays her when they ask about her boss’s divorce from Matilda: “I cried then... And now sometimes, as I remember, tears appear. And I’m very upset with her because she left her husband!”
- She says about Sergei: “Everyone asks who he is to me: father, leader, mentor? And I’m already lost for words, I can’t say it. Here was a “hero of our time”, just like that - a hero of the 21st century.”
- Her most vivid impression (excluding, of course, coming to Leningrad): “I petted a kangaroo! I hand-fed the kangaroo, can you imagine?”
- In July 2019, her childhood dream came true - to visit Fort Bayard: “I experienced excitement, delight, and crazy happiness at the same time. I didn’t think when I watched TV as a child that I would come here and take part in the filming, very cool!”
- Trips around the world filled her with unforgettable impressions, and she especially liked Berlin: “I’ve been here three times already, but each time the city opens up to me in a new way.”
- In addition to performing with Leningrad, she works in the vocal studio LENINGRADOST. Florida teaches singing to young children, preparing them for future musical excellence.
- She does not dream of a solo career, although she is often asked about it (the girls from Leningrad are steadily going free). Florida says with admiration: “I’m standing on stage next to Sergei Shnurov, and they also pay me money for this! What kind of solo career are you talking about?”
Childhood and parents
Despite the fact that the singer’s profession implies publicity, Vosk is in no hurry to please fans with stories about her personal life.
It is known that Kondratieva spent her childhood in Leningrad. As an infant, her parents noticed her talent for public speaking. Alice loved to be the center of attention: she sang well and recited poems.
The parents encouraged their daughter in such activities and soon decided to “move to the next level.” So at the age of 4 the girl found herself in a ballet studio. A year of classes showed that Alice had no predisposition to ballet, so the ballet studio had to be changed to a theater studio.
Her success in her pop activities turned out to be stunning: Kondratieva participated in productions and musicals, sang in a choir and performed solo vocal performances.
Then school started. Combining study and the stage turned out to be an overwhelming task. At the age of 8, Alisa had to leave the studio, but did not give up singing. The schedule of classes at the music school was not so intense - this allowed the future singer to find a compromise between study and dream.
Over time, dancing also joined singing - Kondratieva became a member of the Dance Sports Federation.
In one of the interviews, Alice shared a vivid memory from her childhood. Once during the summer holidays, the girl had a chance to visit Mariupol. Friends of my parents lived in this city.
The trip became significant - on one of the television channels she saw a video of Kuzma Scriabin. Vox liked the music so much that on the day of departure, the parents bought a cassette with the artist’s album as a gift for their daughter.
After graduating from school, Alisa chooses the stage - entering GITIS became a new page in her biography and, unfortunately, not the most pleasant one. Capital life required finances.
Vox willingly took on part-time jobs, but it didn’t help. The salvation was a transfer to the Academy of Theater Arts of St. Petersburg.
Career
Since 2007, vocal talent gradually began to bring good income and fame. Alisa performs at home and abroad. 2012 – start of a new stage of career. This year, the already experienced artist became a member of the Leningrad group, whose work she was well aware of since high school.
Alisa replaced Yulia Kogan on stage, the soloist of Leningrad, who went on maternity leave. Six months later, Julia returned to the group, and the girls performed together. The group did not last long in this composition, as Kogan soon left the team. Since 2013, Vox received the role of the main soloist.
As part of the group, Alisa performed several hits: “Bag”, “In Short”, “Dress”, “Patriot” and others. The song “Exhibit” increased the popularity of both the group and Alice herself. Against the backdrop of the overwhelming success of the song and video (60 million views in 2 months!) Vox leaves the group.
