Biography of Rada Rai: when everything in a woman is beautiful

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The popular chanson singer Rada Rai became recognizable thanks to the hits “Kalina” and “Soul”. She won the hearts of millions of listeners with her charm and incredible manner of performing Russian chanson.

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Childhood and youth

From a young age, Rai was interested in music and dreamed of becoming a singer. I tried to sing whenever possible, even on walks in the yard, when I played with other children. Her parents contributed in every possible way to the development of her talent.

The girl’s parents came to Magadan to work. They met on a fishing boat where they worked. Lena spent her childhood on the shores of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. The girl's father was a Gypsy by nationality, and her mother was Russian.

Already in kindergarten, the little girl took part in various productions. Probably, the girl’s dreams of the stage were influenced by her father’s passion. In his youth, he and his brothers organized a musical group, and they performed at local discos.

The parents liked the child’s hobby, and at the age of 6 they sent Lena to the vocal department of a music school.

At the age of 14, my mother decided to move to Nizhny Novgorod so that her daughter could further develop her talents. Here the girl passed the exams and entered the music school named after. Balakireva.

A couple of years later, Elena moved to Moscow. Her talent at the entrance exam so impressed the admissions committee that they immediately decided to enroll the girl in the second year of the Gnessin School. But she didn’t stay there: the institution introduced paid training, and it was unaffordable for the aspiring star.

Then she entered a jazz college, but she had to leave that too, as it was difficult to combine work and study.

Singer Rada Rai openly spoke about her personal life

Singer Rada Rai became famous largely thanks to the songs “Kalina” and “Soul”. In 2008, her debut album was released and immediately took top positions in the Russian charts. Radu Rai is called the most mysterious Russian pop singer.

– I’m glad, you have a very beautiful name.

– Rada is my stage name.

– Are there gypsy roots in your ancestry?

– My father is a gypsy, my mother is Russian. And I am proud that the blood of such great and talented peoples flows in me.

– Where did such a singer come from?

– I was born in Magadan, lived there with my parents until I was fourteen years old. They pampered me in every possible way, encouraged my musical passions and love for music. At the age of six, my mother sent me to music school.

– From whom did you inherit your musical abilities?

- Most likely from my father. He had a musical hobby: together with his brothers, he organized an ensemble that performed at various discos. But my father was a fisherman by profession and went to sea on fishing boats. He, like his mother, came to Magadan to work, and they later worked together on the same ship.

– When did you first start singing?

“Mom said that I started singing before I spoke.” For as long as I can remember, I have always liked to sing. When I was little, I sang at bus stops, at my mother’s place of work, in the yard... It became clear to my mother and me early on that I needed to continue my music studies, and we decided to go to the “mainland.” I studied in the Nizhny Novgorod music school for the first two years, then moved to Moscow, where I became a student at Gnesinka and studied in a jazz group. But it was then that a paid form of education was introduced for evening students, which turned out to be a disaster for me. I had to go to a college of improvisational music to earn a living.

– Where did you have to work?

– I sang in Moscow restaurants. Once I tried to count how many of them I had replaced, and got confused in the calculations. Working in restaurants has given me a lot. There are very few amateurs there; mostly professionals sing.

– How would you call your style and areas of creativity?

- I can’t define it at all. I sing whatever I like, and I like real Russian songs, which have absorbed all the best from folk songs, urban romance, bard music and chanson. My songs contain genuine feelings and stories about life and love.

– Were there any interesting incidents during your performances?

- Yes, anything happens. We once performed in Kamchatka in an urban village. And during the concert, the electricity in the entire village suddenly went out. We found ourselves in complete darkness. Our sound engineer happened to have a fairly powerful flashlight with him. He turned it on and pointed it at me. The concert continued. I sang romances with just an acoustic guitar without a microphone. It was an unusual concert.

– Do you sing live?

– Naturally, how could it be otherwise!

– Glad, do you have your own secret of happiness?

– I once believed that happiness is some kind of momentary moment that lasts a very short time. But now I am sure that my happiness has been constantly with me for many years. I have a loved one, my husband. Oleg is a musician, plays many musical instruments, a very educated person, and the artistic director of our group. He and I have a lot in common, but our characters are very different, which is very good, because it turns out that we complement each other.

– Was it love at first sight for you and Oleg?

- No, we were friends with him for several years and only then realized that we loved each other. I don't believe in love at first sight at all.

– Hasn’t something like this happened to you?

“It did happen one day, but it never ended.”

– What flowers do you like?

– White tulips.

– Who are you by nature: an optimist, a pessimist, or perhaps a realist?

- Most likely an optimist.

– Can I find you at the stove?

– When I have free time, I cook with great pleasure for my family and guests. I have many of my own signature dishes. I love Hungarian cuisine.

– Tell me, is there harmony in your life?

- Yes, in everything.

Our dossier

Rada Rai is the pseudonym of one of the most mysterious performers of Russian chanson. Real name: Elena. She was born on April 8, 1979. A bright, memorable voice, slightly gypsy, Indian, sometimes Russian, sometimes European folk intonations, her unusual appearance, first and last name attracted the attention of lovers of various genres to the singer. She gained fame by performing the songs “Kalina” and “Soul”. In 2008, Rada Rai’s debut album, “You are my soul...” was released in large numbers. In 2010, the singer’s second album, “Rejoice,” was released.

Leonid Gurevich.

The path to popularity

Rai's debut as a singer took place at the age of 17 - she sang in Moscow restaurants. She managed to meet influential figures in the music world who helped her break into show business.

For a long time, Rada worked as a backing vocalist for famous Russian performers. And then she met Oleg Urakov. This meeting became fateful for both young people. Oleg was a musician and was a member of Vika Tsyganova’s team. It was he who recognized the talent in Rada and advised the girl to sing in the style of a folk song, and also take a pseudonym. A few years later, Rada Rai was able to debut as a solo singer.

Together they recorded their first demo disc. Then the singer signed her first contract with a producer. Urakov, in turn, began to look for a music producer for his friend. But he couldn’t find anyone, so he decided to take this place himself, and also became one of the musicians in her group.

Personal life of Rada Rai

Thanks to mutual friends, Rada Rai met Oleg Urakov, who later became her husband. A friendship immediately began between them, which after some time turned into a love relationship.

Despite the fact that the girl spends most of her life on stage, her husband supports her in every possible way and tries not to leave her for a long time without warm hugs. Rada admitted that they have completely different characters, but they managed to find a common language and are very happy that they met each other.

First success

The girl was invited to Andrei Bandera’s concerts. She performed there as a special guest - this helped her conquer the stage and become recognizable. Later the performers began to collaborate and performed together. In 2009, they jointly held the concert program “It’s impossible not to love” at the State Kremlin Palace.

In 2008, radio “Chanson” began playing Rada’s debut album “You are my soul...”. The records sold out instantly. Many songs topped the charts. The song “Kalina” became a hit and after its performance the singer gained fame. The composition was loved by many and was repeatedly played on radio “Chanson”.

Then the Rada took part in a music festival held at the Olimpiyskiy and received recognition from the audience.

Then Rada's first solo concert took place, where she performed many lyrical compositions and folk songs. The aspiring star toured Russia a lot, went with concerts to Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and several European countries.

In 2010, the second album “Rejoice” was released, and then several more.

Career blossoming

The promotion of the Rada began with performances as a special guest at concerts of an already well-known performer at that time, a partner of the same production center, Andrei Bandera (real name - Eduard Izmestyev). An important step towards the singer’s success was also her participation in 2007 in the music festival “Ehh, Razgulay!” radio "Chanson", held at the Olimpiysky sports complex, where she brilliantly sang the soulful composition "Kalina".

Rada Rai and Andrei Bandera (2009)

Soon her first solo concert took place, where a lot of romance lyrics, folk songs in original arrangements and light ballads were performed. Urakov became a member of her musical group and producer, and Bandera applauded his talented colleague along with other spectators from the audience, standing. Then the young singer toured a lot. She performed concerts not only in Russia, but also in Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and many countries of the European Union.

The first “Chanson of the Year” award in the singer’s life

The performer’s debut album “You are my soul...”, released in 2008 and including ten compositions in the track list, created a real sensation in the domestic music world. The songs from it “Kalina” and “Soul” occupied the top lines of the charts and subsequently became the calling card of the popular vocalist. And the composition “You fly, my soul” sung with Andrei Bandera received the main award of the festival “Song of the Year”. At the same time, the singer first became the owner of the Chanson of the Year music award, the winners of which are determined by voting by Radio Chanson listeners. Rada Rai and Andrey Bandera - You fly, my soul... The secret of Rada’s success was considered not only her enviable vocal abilities, but also her sensual delivery, spectacular arrangements prepared by Oleg Urakov, and her fiery-temperamental “gypsy” guitar. Soulful and heartfelt songs were written especially for the singer by Philip Weiss, Vyacheslav Klimenkov, Olga Samatareva and other authors.

Rada Rai's height is 172 cm

In April of the following year, the 30-year-old artist already shone on the stage of the State Kremlin Palace, where her joint program with Andrei Bandera “It’s impossible not to love” was presented. Subsequently, their album “A Musical Love Story” was released, a DVD with a video of the concert. “Chanson of the Year” this time received her compositions “Forgotten” and “You and I are on two shores.” At the award ceremony, the singer was named the winner in the “Discovery of the Year” category.

The singer is half gypsy, half Russian

The release of the second album “Rejoice” did not keep us waiting long. It went on sale in the spring of 2010 and included material created as part of the unique project “People's Producer”. The point was that everyone participated in the selection of texts, musical accompaniment options, arrangement decisions and other issues that arise when writing songs. Voting, heated discussions and serious discussions using the brainstorming method were held on the official website of the project.

Festival "Eh, take a walk - 2008"

The album turned out to be very diverse artistically. His tracks were distinguished by the richness of musical solutions and emotional performance. The song of the same name on the disc became a hit, occupied the highest positions in domestic ratings for several weeks and brought the performer (together with the composition “Drunk the Night” together with Evgeniy Ross) another diploma and a statuette in the shape of a guitar neck, and the “Chanson of the Year” awards. Rada Rai and Evgeniy Ross - Drinking the Night In 2012, a joint disc by Rada and the young composer Arthur Rudenko from the “Songs Sung by the Heart” series appeared, as well as the singer’s third studio album “Let go to the sky...”, which included 11 compositions born as a result her collaboration with a team of talented people - national producers, including Rashit Kiyamov, Oleg Shcheglov, Marina Kabanova, Vitaly Ivanov and Sergei Leontyev. In this album, Rada Rai presented many genres of modern Russian music - from pop to folk rock.

Rada Rai’s performances infect with positive energy

The charming singer repeatedly took part in the Velvet Chanson music festival, held in Turkey and Greece. In September 2013, together with Katerina Golitsyna, Alexander Rosenbaum, Alexander Novikov, Alexander Dobronravov, Mikhail Shufutinsky and other popular domestic performers, she performed on the Greek Peloponnese peninsula in a gala concert dedicated to the opening of this event. During it, the Rada presented to the audience its solo program, which included the hit “Rejoice”, “In the Upper Room”, as well as a number of new compositions created while working on the next record. Fans of the singer could listen to her at the final concert of the chanson stars. Rada Rai on Magadan television In 2014, with the program “New and Best,” the artist successfully gave concerts in Germany, then in Russian cities, including Chelyabinsk, Kurgan, Zavodoukovsk (Tyumen region) and Tyumen. In November, she visited the Tyumen studio “Radio Chanson”, where she gave an interview and performed the songs “Powdered the Snow,” “Three Lilies” and “Motive.” She was accompanied by a representative of her friendly band, guitarist Alexey Konkin.

Rada Paradise in Kamchatka

At the beginning of 2020, Rada released her fourth album, “Territory of Love,” which combined new and unreleased compositions from past years. Their authors were again the participants of the People's Producer project. The title song, which gave the name to the disc, was written by Vyacheslav Klimenkov, Aytekin Atash and Soner Akalyn with lyrics by Mikhail Gutseriev. A fairy-tale video clip was shot for the same composition, where the heroine is rescued from prison by her lover. Rada Rai - Territory of Love Among the variety of genres in the singer’s repertoire, fans especially loved her romances, sung from the heart and for the soul. In support of the album, a large concert tour of the artist was organized in Russian cities. In the same year, Rada Rai successfully performed in Belarus at the Slavic Bazaar festival, performing the song “Cherry,” which was warmly received by the audience.

On the set of the video “Territory of Love”

In 2020, the sought-after performer received the “Chanson of the Year” award for the composition “Territory of Love”, the next year - for the song “Bitter Medicine”, created by Rashit Kiyamov with lyrics by Mikhail Gutseriev. In addition, she pleased her fans with the album “How delightful are the evenings in Russia (Soulful Russian songs).”

At the "Chanson of the Year 2016" award

In February 2020, her fellow Far Easterners met her in Blagoveshchensk with the “Fly, Soul” program. Even her godmother came from her mother’s hometown of Belogorsk to listen to the beauty. On the Amur stage that evening the songs “Geese-Swans”, “Raduyu”, “Kalina”, “Soul”, “Territory of Love” and others were performed.

In 2020, at the XVII award ceremony for the same award in the field of the “chanson” genre, held at the State Kremlin Palace, the audience again enthusiastically greeted the artist, who this time performed the composition “Don’t Judge Me, Darling.” During the same period, she recorded a video for the hit “You and I are on Two Shores,” released the disc “Gypsy Girl” and the fifth studio album “Music Will Say Everything for Us,” which included the duet composition “Close Hearts,” which she performed together with her named sister Natalia Dolce.

Rada Rai and Natasha Dolce - Close Hearts Among the new products of 2018, the vocalist’s repertoire included the song “Sweeping with Snow” and a piercing video for it, created with the participation of actor Andrei Andreev in the title role, Alexey Konkin, Alexander Fyrfa, Natalia Dolce, as well as collaboration with the star of Russian chanson Timur Temirov “Soul in Love”. Rada Rai - Covered with snow At the end of the year, it was announced that the singer would reunite (after eight years) with Eduard Izmestiev, who previously performed as Andrei Bandera. During their joint concert tour, they promised the audience many pleasant surprises.

Eduard Izmestyev and Rada Rai reunited

The singer's personal life

The singer does not like to talk about her personal life on camera. Her husband Oleg Urakov is also a man of few words. And also her colleague is a composer and musician. Plays several instruments.

At first the couple were friends and worked together, then the relationship turned into romance and marriage. Joint photos of the spouses can be seen on the singer’s Instagram.

Together they created a project called “Rada Paradise”, where his future wife became the singer, main character and performer. Oleg created music and played.

They complement each other, although they are very different people in character. The couple is happy together, but there are no children yet.

Rada Rai with her husband Oleg Urakov

Personal life

The singer is ready to easily reveal the details of her marriage, because she says that it is built on feelings and complete mutual understanding. In family terms, Rai is happy with her husband, who is also her producer and member of the creative team. Oleg Urakov does not let go of his beloved for a second. They create new songs together, conduct rehearsals and work on hits.

The couple's marriage is strong. As the star admitted in an interview, their friendly relationship and desire to create an interesting project eventually grew into something more. Now lovers cannot imagine a day without each other. Despite the different characters and hot temperament of Rada, Oleg loves his wife and is ready to make concessions if only she is happy.

The couple does not have a child, because due to a busy schedule and complete dedication to creativity, Rada does not yet have time for family and other concerns. Although, as Oleg claims, he has been ready for this for a long time, it just takes time. You can watch a film about Rada Rai or read interesting facts on the Internet.

Appearance

The singer has an ambiguous appearance; she is often mistaken for one of her own by Jews, Gypsies, and Armenians. Rada has oriental features, a languid gaze and a charming smile.

Rada Rai - photo gallery