Russya

Russya
Russya. Concert in Kiev june 1998
Background information
Birth name	Irina Volodymyrivna Poryvai
Also known as	Russya Irina Ossaoulenko
Origin	Kiev, Ukraine
Genres	Pop Dance
Occupation(s)	Singer, Musician, Choir Conductor, Artist
Instruments	Piano, Accordion, Organ.

Irina Volodymyrivna "Russya" Poryvai (Ukrainian: Руся; born June 9, 1968) is a Ukrainian singer, and musician. She released her first hit song Don't stand by my window in 1989. Russya had Top 10 hits on the Ukrainian charts in the late 1980s, and through the early and mid 1990s. She is a two-time winner in category Best Female Artist of Ukraine in 1990 and 1991. Russya retired from recording pop music in 1997 but continued to tour (sometimes with her sister, Natasha Koroleva) till 1999. In 2007, she returned to recording with an album "The Best Of Russya".

Born in the Kiev, Ukraine, Russya was raised within a family of musicians. Her father Volodymir Poryvai and her mother Ludmila Poryvai (maiden name Bystrik) were conductors of the Kiev Teachers Choir Cappella "Svitoch". From an early age, Russya had an intense interest in music, especially Ukrainian folk music and European classical music. She started her first piano lessons at age 5 and continued studying through graduation from high school. Later, she was enrolled at Kiev Music College, named after composer Glier, where she studied piano and choirconducting. Shortly before graduating from College she met and later married Konstantin Ossaoulenko, musician and songwriter. Together they formed a team and became one of the most successful performer-songwriter teams in Ukrainian pop music of late 80's and early 90's. Russya's first album, Vorozhka (The Fortuneteller), was a major success in 1989. The album contained 3 Top 10 Ukrainian hits, #1 Don't Stand By My Window, 'The Mermaid, and the title track itself, The Fortuneteller. The follow-up album, The Enchanted Circle, also in 1989, brought her wide recognition in Ukraine and another #1 title song. The following year 1990, she released the album, Daruy Meni Mamo (Forgive Me, Mommy). This album won her the title, Best Female Artist of Ukraine.