Katya Lel
Katya Lel | |
|---|---|
| Катя Лель | |
.png) Lel in September 2024 | |
| Born | Yekaterina Nikolayevna Chuprinina 20 September 1974 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Website | klel |
Yekaterina Nikolayevna Chuprinina (Russian: Екатерина Николаевна Чупринина; born 20 September 1974),[1] known by her stage name Katya Lel (Катя Лель),[2] is a Russian pop singer.
Early life and education
Chuprinina was born on September 20, 1974, in Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (now the Kabardino-Balkaria Republic), where she grew up. She has an older sister, Irina.[3] Her mother was an engineer; her father was a master of sports in cycling.[4]
When she was 3 years old, her father bought her a piano. At age 7, she began studying music at Children's Art School.[3] She then continued her education at the North Caucasus Institute of Arts.[3] While still a student, Katya Lel spent six years as a soloist in the "Nalchik" vocal and instrumental ensemble at the city's House of Culture.[3][4]
In 1994, she enrolled at the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music's vocal department in Moscow. There, her teachers were Joseph Kobzon and Lev Leshchenko. She won the "Musical Start - 1994" competition.[4] After giving Leshchenko a demo tape of her songs, she was offered a job and began working at the Lev Leshchenko Theater.[4][3]
In 1998, she graduated from the academy with top honors.[3]
Career
In 1998, following her graduation, she started a solo career, releasing Champs Elysee.[3]
In 2000, she chose the stage name Katya Lel and officially changed her name; the surname was borrowed from a character in Rimsky-Korsakov's opera "The Snow Maiden" - a shepherdess named Lel, personifying spring and love.[4]
In 2003, she began to work with producer Maxim Fadeev.
In February 2003, she released Moy Marmeladny (Мой Мармеладный).[3] In November 2023, a sped-up version of the song became a viral video on TikTok; people dressed in fur clothing and hats with earflaps while lip synching the song.[5]
Personal life
In 1996, 22-year-old Lel met 46-year-old businessman and restaurateur Alexander Volkov in Lev Leshchenko's dressing room. They began an eight-year romance which was never formalized as Volkov was married.[4]
From 2008 to 2023, Katya Lel was married to businessman Igor Kuznetsov. They have a daughter, Emilia.[6]
Lel says she will only marry again if the man is under 35 years old.[7]
Lel has stated that she has been abducted by aliens and has paranormal abilities. She also believes that in a past life, she was the son of Ramses II and lived in Egypt.[4]
Lel has supported the Russo-Ukrainian war and has performed for Russian troops in the battlefield.[8][7]
Awards
In 2025, she was named a Merited Artist of the Russian Federation.[9]
Discography
Studio albums
- Yeliseyskiye polya (1998)
- Talisman (1999)
- Sama (2000)
- Mezhdu nami (2002)
- Dzhaga-dzhaga (2004)
- Kruchu-verchu (2005)
- Ya tvoya (2008)
- Solntse lyubvi (2013)
- Moya tema (2019)
- Siyaniye (2020)
References
- 1 2 "Катя Лель" [Katya Lel]. Muz-TV (in Russian).
- ↑ Zorina, Vita (20 September 2019). "Суд с продюсером и погоня за мечтой: увлекательная история успеха Кати Лель" [A lawsuit against a producer and the pursuit of a dream: Katya Lel's captivating success story]. The Voice (in Russian).
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Катя Лель" [Katya Lel]. The Voice (in Russian).
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ozhogina, Natalia (September 20, 2022). "Инопланетяне, диеты и «мармеладный» муж: 10 фактов из биографии Кати Лель" [Aliens, diets, and a "marmalade" husband: 10 facts from the biography of Katya Lel]. novochag.
- ↑ "Russian Pop Song from 2004 Goes Viral on TikTok". The Moscow Times. November 22, 2023.
- ↑ "Катя Лель развелась с мужем". RIA Novosti (in Russian). 2023-12-05.
- 1 2 "Katya Lel at 51 Will Only Marry Again for a Young Man". inbox.lv.
- ↑ "Катя Лель призналась, что её тронули концерты для бойцов в зоне СВО" [Katya Lel admitted that she was touched by the concerts for soldiers in the SVO zone.]. Argumenty i Fakty. February 24, 2025.
- ↑ "Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 10 февраля 2025 года № 76 «О награждении государственными наградами Российской Федерации»" (in Russian).