Jamala

• Real name – Susana Alimivna Jamaladinova
• Date of birth – August 27, 1983
• Place of birth – Osh (Kyrgyz Republic)
• Language – Ukrainian, Crimean Tatar, English
• Activity – singer, songwriter
• Genre – funk, soul, pop, folk, electro

Becoming an artist

Jamala (real name – Susana Jamaladinova) is a Ukrainian singer and songwriter, People's Artist of Ukraine. The future star of the music industry was born in the city of Osh (Kyrgyz SSR) in the family of a Crimean Tatar and an Armenian. Shortly after the birth of her daughter, the family moved to Melitopol. Later, she settled in the Crimea, in the village of Malorichenskoye near Alushta.

The singer grew up and was brought up in an atmosphere of creativity. Her mother taught at a music school, and her father, a conductor by education, was also directly involved in music and supported Susana's first creative steps. At the age of nine, the girl recorded her first professional album. The album included twelve children's and Crimean Tatar folk songs.

From an early age, Jamala participated in various children's competitions, including "Starry Rain" (1992) and "Living Sources" (1993). The first stage of professional education for the artist was studying piano at a music school in Alushta. Then Susana entered the Simferopol Music School, which she graduated in 2001. Later, she continued her education at the National Music Academy of Ukraine in Kyiv, where she received thorough academic training.

Jamala said that while studying at the conservatory, she sang jazz in secret from her teachers. Although she officially studied at the Faculty of Academic Vocals and was supposed to focus exclusively on opera singing, her soul yearned for freedom. Jazz, soul and other genres were strictly prohibited, but this did not stop the young singer. At that time, concerts and jam sessions were held in the Mariinsky Park, in the "Shell". And once Jamala made a real sensation on stage with her performance. The audience was delighted, unlike the teachers. The girl literally had to take an "exam" in the opera class. Such an unofficial creative test ended in favor of the performer. Susana won the right to sing not only opera parts, but also her favorite jazz.

Creative path

Jamala made her debut on the big stage at the age of fifteen. This was followed by participation in dozens of vocal competitions in Ukraine and other European countries. The young owner of bright talent and natural charisma won many awards. Among the most prestigious was an award at the international competition Concorso Europeo Amici della musica in Italy.

The creativity of the young performer attracted the attention of choreographer Olena Kolyadenko. The artist invited Jamala to the main role in her own musical "Pa". It was Kolyadenko who became the artist's first producer.

A real breakthrough in the singer's career, which brought her wide popularity and recognition, was her participation in the International Competition of Young Performers "New Wave-2009". Susana Jamaladinova's performance brought the bright singer the Grand Prix. At that time, the artist had already appeared before the audience under the stage name Jamala. So the first part of the surname became a recognizable creative pseudonym.

After winning the competition, Jamala worked together with Elena Kolyadenko for some time. However, the collaboration later ceased due to differences in creative views. In 2010, Igor Tarnopolsky became the new producer of the singer Jamala (the collaboration lasted for more than ten years - until May 2021). On April 12, 2011, Jamala's first solo concert took place. On the stage of the October Palace, the singer presented the album release For Every Heart.

Creative development of the performer

After the triumph at the competition in Jurmala, Jamala confidently established herself as a top performer. She performed on stages from Astana to Amsterdam, and Jamala's name appeared more and more often in the press. Cosmopolitan magazine called the singer "Discovery of the Year". The artist received the ELLE Style Award in the nomination "Singer of the Year" and the "Person of the Year 2009" award as "Idol of Ukrainians".

During the preparation for Euro 2012, UEFA approached Jamala with a proposal to create a special song for the Championship. This is how the track Goal appeared, which was played during the final draw. The performance was broadcast in 150 countries around the world, and the name of the performer and her composition became trends on Twitter.

In addition to participating in Euro 2012, Jamala has repeatedly represented Ukraine at other international events. Among them are the Venice Biennale and a ceremony in Berlin dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Nazi invasion. In 2012–2013, the singer actively participated in festivals. Jamala became the headliner of Alfa Jazz Fest 2013 in Lviv and the International Festival of Opera, Operetta and Musical O-Fest in Kyiv, where she performed twice - in 2013 and 2014.

Triumph at Eurovision

Jamala's story at Eurovision began in the fall of 2010. Then the singer took part in the national selection for the 56th song contest with the composition Smile. She won in the first semi-final. However, in the finalnali took third place according to the voting results.

January 26, 2016 was a landmark for the artist and her loyal fans. It was then that the singer announced her participation in the selection for Eurovision-2016. Jamala's performance took place on February 6. The artist performed her own song "1944", dedicated to the tragedy of the Crimean Tatar people and the theme of deportation. The composition impressed both the jury and fans. Jamala confidently made it to the final of the national selection and won the right to represent Ukraine in Stockholm.

In May 2016, Jamala became the undisputed favorite on the stage of the international song contest. The song "1944" brought her victory. 534 points from the audience and the professional jury secured first place. After returning to Ukraine, the singer received the title of "People's Artist of Ukraine" and became an "Honorary Citizen of the City of Kyiv".

Social activity

In December 2013, Jamala joined the protesters on Euromaidan, expressing her support for the people. Since February 2014, the singer has participated in events dedicated to the unity and solidarity of Ukraine. In the spring of the same year, she presented the song "Why?", in which she addressed the tragic events of the early 1930s in the history of Ukraine. And in the summer, at the 13th international competition "New Wave" she called for peace in Ukraine and in the world from the stage.

As part of the MTV EXIT campaign aimed at combating human trafficking, Jamala acted as a narrator in the documentary film "Life for Sale". The artist told about the fate of three labor migrants from Ukraine.

In 2017, the singer joined the humanistic initiative UAnimals. She took part in the All-Ukrainian March for Animal Rights and spoke out for a ban on the use of animals in circus performances. In 2018, she joined the charitable photo project "Sincere. Holidays", the purpose of which is to popularize the Ukrainian folk costume.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, $90 million has been raised in support of Ukraine thanks to charity concerts and initiatives with Jamala's participation.

Discography (studio albums):

• For Every Heart (2011);
• All or Nothing (2013);
• "Breath" (2015);
• "1944" (2016);
• "Kryla" (2018);
• "My" (2021);
• QIRIM (2023).

Famous singles:

• "Kryla";
• "Vdyachna";
• "Samga";
• Solo;
• "1944" and others.

Awards and honors:

• “Singer of the Year” by ELLE Style Award (2010, 2012);
• “Best Album” (“Breath”), “Best Song” (“Zliva”) and “Best Solo Artist” by YUNA Award (2016);
• “Best Song” (“1944”), “Best Duet” and “Best Solo Artist” by YUNA Award (2017);
• “Pride of the Country” by “Viva! The Most Beautiful!” (2017);
• “Best Female Performer” at the YUNA Awards (2019);
• Atlantic Council of the United States Award for “Outstanding Leadership”;
• Taras Shevchenko National Prize of Ukraine (2024) for the album QIRIM;
• Jäger Music Awards in the “Video of the Year” nomination for the music video for the song ARAFAT DAĞINDAN and other awards.

Interesting facts about the singer:

• Jamala has a vocal range of 4 octaves;
• At her final exam, Jamala performed the role of Violetta from Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “La Traviata”. Her performance received the highest mark, and the result was a diploma with honors.;
• during her creative career, the singer has repeatedly amazed fans with a change of style;
• in 2021, the artist received a personal star on the Walk of Fame in Kyiv;
• the first video clip from the Crimean Tatar album for the song ARAFAT DAĞINDAN became one of the longest in the history of Ukrainian music. The duration of the video work is almost seven minutes.