At one time, the popular project "Star Factory" released a lot of talented artists, for whom participation in the competition became a kind of lucky ticket to the world of domestic show business. Dozens of young performers toured the country, performing hits that are still well remembered by the fans of the project. Someone after the "Factory" managed to build a dizzying career, and someone disappeared from sight and began to live an ordinary life in which there was no place for glory, applause and articles in the press. StarHit decided to recall those participants in the Star Factory, whom the whole country once spoke about, but now, speaking of modern pop artists, few will name their names.
The audience remembered this girl well at a very young age. When Alexandra Chvikova appeared in the fourth season of Star Factory, almost every second teenage girl in the country looked up to her. The charming singer sang songs in a very touching manner and on the whole created the impression of a girl from a good family who got a lot of parental love. Plush toys, with which Alexa invariably appeared both on stage and at various shootings for magazines, have become a kind of hallmark of the young performer. The girl in an instant won the hearts of numerous spectators and became an example to follow. It was during the period of Alexa's participation in the vocal competition that the fashion for velor tracksuits of delicate shades, lip gloss to match skin color and a touching image of a romantic person appeared. Many people remember such hits as “Moon Path”, “Where are you” or “I live by you”, performed by 16-year-old Alexandra. In a word, back in 2004, Alexa was literally wildly popular, but after a couple of years, everything ended in an instant. The singer, who was considered promising and very talented, at some point simply disappeared from sight. A few years later, the girl again tried to make herself known in the musical field by signing a contract with Yana Rudkovskaya. With the help of a famous producer, the girl released an album and a video for the song "Vendetta", however, soon this composition, and the entire album, were forgotten by the Russian listener. Many music critics suggested that the failure was due, first of all, to a sharp change in the image of the singer. Alexa appeared before the public as a very liberated girl in short defiant outfits. In addition, the 26-year-old performer turned to the help of plastic surgeons to increase her lips. The image chosen by Alexandra Chvikova did not please the public. Now the Star Factory-4 star lives an ordinary life, which he reports in detail on Instagram. Sometimes a girl even publishes short videos in which she performs world hits, and thereby finds a certain response among subscribers.
In the fourth season of the Star Factory project, the daring Anastasia Kochetkova appeared, who instantly gained popularity among viewers. The daring manner of performing songs and a peculiar voice with a characteristic hoarseness brought Anastasia fame and recognition from the public. For the three months that the TV project lasted, Kochetkova repeatedly demonstrated strength of mind and character. Soon the girl became part of the Banda team, which successfully recorded an album, released video clips and toured the country. In addition, Nastya was the only girl in the team, which also gave her image the features of a sort of hooligan-robber. During one of her performances, the obstinate brunette drew attention to a blue-eyed man who did not take his eyes off her. It turned out to be director Rezo Gigineishvili, who by that time had become famous for his very successful film works. The couple soon formalized their relationship, and in this marriage a girl, Masha, was born. Three years later, Anastasia and Rezo divorced, and since then the girl has practically not been heard from. Not so long ago, however, Kochetkova recorded the song “I am not me” and released a video for it, but she still failed to return her former glory. Now the 26-year-old performer is raising an eight-year-old daughter and practically does not appear in public. In addition, Anastasia stopped communicating with almost all the musicians who could previously be safely called her friends.
The strong voice and piercing performance of Yulia Mikhalchik was remembered by the viewer for the participation of the girl in the third season of "Star Factory". For the sake of participating in a popular project, the young artist even dropped out of her studies at the university. The blond performer fell in love with the audience from the very first reporting concerts. The girl showed herself as a very able-bodied and gifted singer, and in an instant she gained popularity with hits of her own composition. Many visitors to karaoke clubs are still happy to order Mikhalchik's songs "With Ice", "Well hello, Peter" or "White Swan". Yulia herself, after participating in a television show, continued to actively perform at corporate parties and in various concert programs or rock operas for some time. In March 2013, the artist first became a mother, having given birth to her son Alexander, and for some time completely disappeared from sight. True, a little later she nevertheless stated that she did not intend to interrupt her singing career. At the moment, little is known about the life and work of Yulia Mikhalchik. The girl stopped appearing at major events, her songs are heard less and less on the air of domestic radio stations, and the younger generation does not know about her at all. Perhaps, in the foreseeable future, Mikhalchik will loudly declare himself again, but so far she is practically unheard of.
The blue-eyed bully Anton Zatsepin became famous thanks to his participation in the Star Factory-4 project. The blond performed songs in a special manner that set him apart from the rest of the participants, and even won third place. Anton Zatsepin remained popular for several more years, but soon he began to live an ordinary life, in which there was practically no place left for the stage. To sing Anton's hits "Shorter", "Books of Love" and "Broad River", which he presented in a duet with Nadezhda Kadysheva, perhaps everyone who once watched "Star Factory" can. However, at some point, the young artist simply disappeared. Only in 2008, Anton again reminded of himself by releasing a video for the new song "I'm Flying Away", but this did not help him regain his former glory. Zatsepin happily married, became the father of a charming girl Martha and disappeared from the charts. True, the song "Wide River" is still played on Russian Radio from time to time. By the way, in 2004 this composition took first place in the hit parade of this radio station "Golden Gramophone". Last year, Anton Zatsepin once again reminded of himself and released a new song "You Know". The 32-year-old artist signed a contract with the Good People record label and began touring with the Zatsepin. Return". Anton also records new songs, but music critics claim that he gathers at his concerts only those who were once interested in his work. Attract a new audience, according to critics, Zatsepin has not yet succeeded.
Alexandra Balakireva
The little red-haired Alexandra Balakireva was remembered by the audience for her strong voice and bright appearance. Her appearance at the "Star Factory-5" played a significant role in the career of an extravagant vocalist. It was there that the young artist won the audience's love and recognition. In addition, on the TV project, the girl met Victoria Daineko, communication with which grew into a great and strong friendship. A few years after the end of the television show, Balakireva was unable to declare herself as an independent creative unit. For some time there was still a group "Kuba", working in which the girl sang the famous "Cat and Mouse" and "About a Little Boy", but in 2009 the group ceased to exist.
Periodically, Alexandra Balakireva performs at small events, but still does not release new songs. The girl’s plans include recording the first solo album, but for many, the hits that Balakireva sang while being a member of the Star Factory - “I will do everything” or “Engaged with the wind” are still known to many. Alexandra Balakireva can most often be seen at events that are somehow connected with the work of her best friend Victoria Daineko.
At one time, at the casting of the First Channel project "Star Factory-3", Alexander Kireev was noted as a bright performer. The young man performed quite touching love songs, which were written by himself during the period of participation in the competition. The blue-eyed brunette quickly gained popularity and audience love. Images of Kireev were found on school notebooks, in magazine posters, on various key rings and stickers. A photo of this young performer hung on the wall of almost every third teenage girl who watched Star Factory. And under his songs, lovers were spinning in slow dances in children's summer camps. In a word, at the end of the popular TV project, Alexander Kireev was in sight for some time, but soon ceased to appear both at social events and on television. Only occasionally the name of the young artist could be heard when it came to new songs that he wrote for his "factory" comrades. Now Kireev performs extremely rarely. Increasingly, the 34-year-old graduate of the Star Factory declares himself more as a composer than as a singer.
The groovy blonde with a non-standard figure was not immediately noted by the jury. Elena Kukarskaya managed to pass the casting, largely due to the fact that Alla Pugacheva drew attention to her. The prima donna personally insisted that the young performer be taken and given a chance to express herself on the show. During her participation in the Star Factory, Elena performed a lot of songs that firmly entrenched in leading positions in various country charts. Many now willingly sing in karaoke or dance at events to the incendiary hits “Po little”, “Zhu-zhu” or “Pianist”. Already at the end of the project, the young artist fell under the wing of Maxim Fadeev. The famous producer signed a long-term contract with her and wrote many songs for her. For several years, Kukarskaya performed on the same stage with such eminent artists as Soso Pavliashvili, Valery Syutkin, Vitas, Professor Lebedinsky and the Prime Minister group. However, soon the girl began to look for herself in other areas of activity. So, for example, in 2007, Elena announced herself as an aspiring actress, starring in the television series of the MUZ-TV channel “Love is not show business”. And after a couple of years, Elena admitted that she would also like to try her hand at directing. In 2009, the contract of Elena Kukarskaya with the production center of Maxim Fadeev expired, and she set off on a free voyage. The girl is always willingly invited to act as a member of the jury of various beauty contests, where, in fact, most often she can be seen. In September last year, Elena became a mother for the first time, having given birth to her son Fedor. Since then, the 31-year-old artist has completely disappeared from sight. True, it is possible that soon Kukarskaya will decide to re-assert herself and release another hit.
On the radio station "Russian Radio" you can still hear hits performed by Yuri Titov. The graduate of "Star Factory-4" at one time won a special love of the audience and popularity thanks to the songs "Pretty" and "Forever". Many still remember well this modest and at the same time artistic young guy, who brightly declared himself at a popular music competition. True, the creative career of Yuri Titov was interrupted at some point. The musician from time to time made some efforts to re-assert himself, but the glory returned to him for a short time. Most recently, the singer appeared at the casting of the musical project "Main Stage". Yuri made a bet on the jazz performance of the song, which was unusual for him, but still did not pass the selection. Behind the scenes of the show, the music editor of the project Andrey Sergeev jokingly pleaded: “Yura, why do you need this? How long can you go to auditions? “I can’t do it differently, this is a way of life,” Titov answered him.
Among the former manufacturers there are many who decided to try their hand in a different direction. Young singers willingly become composers, actors and models. This happened with Maria Rzhevskaya. The graduate of the "Star Factory" at one time was remembered by the viewer for her own style of performance and a very strange appearance. The girl appeared before the public with extended fangs, thereby creating the image of a vamp girl. The hits “When I become a cat”, “Why did I wait for you” and “Bye-bye” are still well known and remembered by fans of the music competition, but nothing has been heard about Rzhevskaya’s new material for a long time. While the cousin of the "manufacturer" Ksenia Larina actively performs and tours the country as an artist of musicals, Rzhevskaya herself acts in films. Maria has been repeatedly involved in the filming of American short films, and soon the premiere of a full-length film with her participation in the title role is expected. True, the tape "Let the Die Be Cast: Initium" can be attributed more to the art-house cinema. However, like the pictures in which Rzhevskaya played earlier.
Group "Tootsi" // Photo: ITAR-TASS / fotoimedia
Tootsie
The decision to assemble a team of singing graduates of Star Factory-3 was once made by the well-known producer Viktor Drobysh. It was he who initiated the creation of the Tutsi group, which initially included five girls at once: Irina Ortman, Maria Verber, Anastasia Krainova, Olesya Yaroslavskaya and Sofia Kuzmina. True, the daughter of Vladimir Kuzmin left the team even before his debut on stage. Undoubtedly, the song "The Most-Most" has always been the main hit of the Tutsi group. It was she who brought the love and recognition of the audience to the four girls. A little later, the girls released a self-titled album, which was not as successful as expected. For several years, the voices of charming performers sounded on the air of various radio stations exclusively with the song "The Most-Most". With the same hit, singers were invited to corporate parties. Already in 2006, the Tutsi group began to lose popularity. The girls performed with new compositions, about which music critics spoke impartially. Many felt that the girls began to perform songs, the lyrics of which contained a number of jokes, as they say, below the belt. A few years later, the Tootsie group failed to repeat the success of the first hit, and in 2012 the team broke up. True, Irina Ortman and Lesya Yaroslavskaya are still trying to build a solo career, releasing songs and video clips from time to time.
Singer Date of birth April 25 (Taurus) 1987 (32) Place of birth Moscow Instagram @sasha_balakireva
Singer Alexandra Balakireva has a stunningly strong voice, although she herself looks fragile and petite. Listening to her, it is sometimes difficult to believe that she has such vocal abilities. Since childhood, Sasha dreamed of becoming a singer. She did not even think about other professions. Even as a child, the girl had a love for the stage, she liked to perform and pose for cameras.
Biography of Alexandra Balakireva
Alexandra was born on April 25, 1987 in Moscow. The singer is very proud of her date of birth because it coincides with the birthdays of Tchaikovsky and Fitzgerald. The girl was already born with vocal abilities. At the age of 8, she won a children's music competition, after this event, the girl's mother took the future artist to a music school. At a young age, she also appeared in commercials and performed in a musical production of The Canterville Ghost. Alexandra was trained in the choir named after the French musician Georges Brassens, she also took individual music lessons.
After school, the girl went to study at the pop-jazz school. A year later, fate smiled at Sasha and she got to the "Star Factory-5" under the auspices of Alla Borisovna herself. During this period, the singer became famous throughout the country and gained numerous admirers among young people. On the Star Factory project, Alexandre Balakireva became friends with Victoria Daineko, who became one of her best friends.
In the same year, Igor Matvienko created the Cuba group, which included Balakireva and Anna Kulikova. The name came up based on the first letters of the names of the girls. The soloists released several songs that became hits, and one of them received the nomination "Song of the Year". During the existence of the group, the singer wrote many songs, starred in several videos and participated in competitions. Unfortunately, the group disbanded in 2009. After a while, in one of the interviews, the singer said that she considers the Cuba project unsuccessful and regrets the spent efforts.
In October 2015, Alexandra decided to take part in the Main Stage show and compete for the main prize - a concert tour around the country. But on the project, she was faced with the dishonest policy of the show. The jury chose the participants based on outrageous personality, and not on talent. In 2016, the singer took part in the project of the first channel "Main Stage", but Sasha was not lucky in this TV show either. I had to leave in the quarterfinals.
Personal life of Alexandra Balakireva
For a long time, the singer simply did not have enough time for her personal life. She is a bright representative of people of creativity, so there is not much room in her life for the second half. But the girl is not in a hurry, she believes that everything has its time. The heart of the red-haired talented beauty is still free.
"Star Factory-5" under the direction of Alla Pugacheva was released in 2004 and presented the stage with many popular artists. One of the brightest participants in the project was the red-haired Alexandra Balakireva, who reached the final thanks to her sonorous voice and original presentation. The incendiary graduate of the TV show continued to perform hits as part of the KuBa group with Anna Kulikova, but the team broke up a few years later, disturbing fans who appreciated the compositions Cat and Mouse and About the Little Boy.
Filming in the TV show gave Balakireva a good start for development in creativity. Within the walls of the "star house" she also found friends, for example, Victoria Daineko, who supported the singer in difficult living conditions in a confined space. However, after participating in the Main Stage program in 2015, the artist disappeared from the radar. Today, the vocalist shared with StarHit how her life and plans have changed in recent years.
ABOUT MUSIC
After the tour with the "Star Factory" and the end of work in the duet "Kuba", Balakireva's popularity began to decline. Three years ago, Alexandra already “fell out” of the media space, later stating that she “specially went underground”, leaving the big stage for the sake of free creativity and recording soundtracks. The artist told what occupies her thoughts and time at the moment.
“Now I am studying at GITIS at the Faculty of Musical Theatre, that is, I am getting a professional education as an opera singer. At the same time, I give concerts, write songs, but I don’t have such ambitions here as before, ”said Sasha Balakireva.
ABOUT "MAIN STAGE"
Having reappeared on Channel One in 2015, when her mentor Diana Arbenina chose Alexandra for the “Russian X-Factor”, Balakireva spoke about her dreams of being heard. Unlike many colleagues in the "Star Factory", the extravagant singer was weakly attracted by popularity. She noted that, although she left the Main Stage early, the project helped her realize a lot.
ABOUT THE THEATER
Studying at GITIS is closely connected with work in the musical theater. Sasha Balakireva is actively developing in this direction.
“I have just a session in the active stage of completion. She played Tatiana from "Eugene Onegin", Violetta from "La Traviata". I am not yet a member of the theater, but I think everything will be soon, ”the student expects.
ABOUT PERSONAL LIFE
There was no information on the web about Balakireva's heart affairs. The singer claims that she does not have a boyfriend, but the vocalist does not suffer from loneliness, because loved ones are always nearby. "My heart is free. In all endeavors, my mother and godmother support me, ”the artist shared.
ABOUT FRIENDSHIP WITH GRADUATES OF "STAR FACTORY"
After the project, Sasha Balakireva continued to communicate with other members of the Star Factory. “We haven’t seen each other for a long time with Vika Daineko, which does not prevent us from considering each other friends. True friendship is not in the number of meetings. I met Miguel at the finals of "DANCES" on TNT, we write off the rest from time to time. We follow each other on Instagram with Anya Kulikova from KuBa, but we haven’t seen each other for a long time either: she has a family, a little daughter, a little before that, ”the singer clarified.
ABOUT OTHER PROJECTS
After the triumph of the Star Factory, many want to repeat past success. Alexandra is not against participating in other programs, but the conditions of the competition are important for the vocalist.
“I don’t know, it all depends on the nuances: what to sing, with whom and how. Under the "plywood" is definitely not interesting. In general, I am gambling, so I could agree, ”admitted Balakireva.
ABOUT PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
Sasha Balakireva knows exactly what she wants. She dreams of doing "high" creativity, not exchanging for pop music, in order to leave something significant behind. The vocalist works hard, gradually achieving what she wants.
“I'm going to sing in the theaters of Europe,” the artist briefly outlined the goal.
