Biography of Rita Dakota
Rita Dakota(real name - Margarita Gerasimovich) was born in Belarusian Minsk on March 9, 1990. As a child, she sang compositions from the repertoire of Natasha Koroleva and Kristina Orbakaite. Mom drew attention to the fact that her daughter has a hearing and decided to send the girl to learn to play the piano. True, during the entrance exams, my mother was offered to arrange a girl for the vocal department. As a result, Rita still entered to learn to play the piano, but additionally attended vocal lessons.
Gerasimovich was accepted into the choir of the music school, with which she traveled almost all over Europe. At the end of the music school, Rita was going to enter the music school, but changed her mind and went to study at the pop vocal studio " Forte". The teacher of this studio, Gulnara Robertovna, Rita literally begged to take her ... Just during her studies there, Gerasimovich took her creative pseudonym Dakota(translated from Portuguese, the word "daktota" is multifaceted, ambiguous). So it was called by Portuguese graffiti friends who came to Minsk.
Rita Dakota in Star Factory 7
Rita Dakota tried her hand at the Belarusian analogue of "Star Factory" - the program " star stagecoach", But the casting did not pass - the girl was accused of lack of patriotism, since she sang the song in English. Rita did not give up, continued her studies in the vocal studio, and after a while she tried her hand at the casting of the seventh season of the Russian Star Factory, recorded several demo CDs and decided to do her best to hand one of the CDs to Konstantin Meladze himself. But unexpectedly for herself, Rita passed the casting and took part in the project - her voice was recognized as the best voice of the seventh season of Star Factory. The composition "Matches" written by her became the second most popular hit of this issue of "Factory". During the tour of the project, Dakota met Dominic Joker, with whom she became friends and began to collaborate.
Composer career of Rita Dakota
After the project "Factory" in the life of Dakota, not the best of times came. According to the contract, Rita could not leave the Russian capital, but at the same time she had almost no money. At some point, Rita decided to abandon her career as a pop artist. At the same time, Dakota created the Monroe group in parallel, becoming a soloist there. With the team, she performed at various rock festivals, including "Invasion" and "Kubana", toured all over the country. The popular group gathered full halls.
Rita Dakota: I had such a turning point when I absolutely clearly understood that I did not want to be a singer. Show business is alien to me, I don’t like a lot of rules. I'd rather make the music that I want, but at the same time be an author, not a performer. The Dakota project disappeared after the Star Factory, but I devoted a lot of time to self-development. I remember a funny situation. I did not have a piano in Moscow and there was no opportunity to buy a synthesizer. And a real piano, although it was inexpensive, simply did not fit in the room. Therefore, I gave 500 rubles to the watchman from a nearby music school and came at night with blankets, covered the piano with them to muffle the sound, recorded songs on a dictaphone and somehow worked on them in this form. Then it seemed to me that life was over, no one needed me and I would forever remain an unknown author.
Failures, however, became the impetus for development. The composer has ceased to be shy to call and offer her songs. A little time passed, famous artists, including such as Yolka, Ani Lorak, Anita Tsoi, Svetlana Loboda, Vlad Sokolovsky, Zara and others, began to order songs from Rita. The singer, according to her, was invited to take part in the project of the First Channel "Voice", but Rita at that time decided for herself: she is not an artist, but a musician who writes texts.
Rita Dakota on The X Factor. main stage
At the beginning of 2015 Rita Dakota nevertheless decided to take part in the casting of the first season of the musical talent show on the TV channel "Russia 1" - "Main Stage", the Russian version of the British project The X Factor, and first got into the team with Walter Afanasiev. Then her mentor was Viktor Drobysh.
Rita Dakota: This project is a big adventure for me. The competition is not the goal of my life, not a chance in a million, not a thirst for PR or something else. It's just interesting, fun, educational. I'm used to dealing with life this way. Also, to be honest, I'm a huge fan of Walter Afanasiev. I grew up with the songs he wrote.
Starting from the casting and ending with the semi-finals of the project, Dakota performed exclusively with her own compositions. The performer, according to her, considered the "Main Stage" primarily as a kind of platform, thanks to which she can show herself to the viewer as a writing and singing author. At the end of the project, and even during it, Dakota began to receive various career offers. In a word, they remembered Rita, for which she expressed her gratitude to the channel and its show, which brought her significant bonuses.
Further career of Rita Dakota
In 2016, Dakota revealed the track "Half a Human", which immediately after the release was enthusiastically received by fans of her work. This composition prompted the musician to work on new albums, clips, audio recordings, etc. Moreover, creativity was in full swing even during the performer's pregnancy. So, in the fall of 2017, literally a month before the birth Rita Dakota, without pausing in her professional activities, released a video for the song "Who", which became her third author's composition.
In the same 2017, Rita, in tandem with her husband, popular singer and dancer Vlad Sokolovsky, in addition to implementing her further musical plans, also launched a family vlog on YouTube.
Rita Dakota's personal life
In 2014, the singer began dating the ex-member of the BiS duet Vlad Sokolovsky, whom she met as part of the Star Factory television project. Then the guys had simple friendly communication, they even called each other “sister” and “brother”. However, years later, having met at one of the closed parties with their mutual friends, the young artists literally immediately imbued each other with more serious feelings.
Rita Dakota: “The spark that ran between us when we met Vlad a few years later cannot be described in words. This was physically felt by everyone around ... True, I did not recognize Vlad at first. For the first time in my life I saw him in a suit, with a short haircut. It was unusual for him to meet me in a dress, in heels, with styling and make-up. “Come on, Dakota, where are your sneakers and dreadlocks?” he asked, laughing. From that moment on, we never parted."
Vlad Sokolovsky about the appearance of his daughter: “Of course, I'm in shock! I am glad! This is an amazing event in my life, just space, I have no words! I wish such happiness to every person! This is our main task on this planet, on this earth! Love always wins, and this is it, in its original form!
On August 11, it became known that they were getting divorced. The singer announced this in her microblog on Instagram, where she admitted in a voluminous post that the reason for the gap was Vlad's numerous betrayals. According to Rita, she filed for divorce as soon as she found out about them. The couple are in the process of dividing their property. The star human rights activist will defend the interests of Dakota.
The composer, who wrote hits for many representatives of the domestic show business, made a loud debut as a solo singer with the song "Half a Person". In an exclusive interview for GR, Rita Dakota spoke about what she has been doing during all 9 years of her "silence", and what she will do after the triumph of her new song.
- Recently, your debut single literally blew up the network. Share your emotions?
I am wildly happy and exultant. But most importantly, I still do not believe that this is happening in reality. I once had such a story. When I sang “Matches” at the “Star Factory”, and this song abruptly became the most downloaded in the history of reality shows. Same thing now. It seems to me that success can be defined as: “Better cool than often.” This was said by one of the bloggers, I was hooked by the phrase. Because modern artists strive for formulaic schedules: release 4 singles a year, 2-3 clips ... This is not about me.
- How did you decide to come back after such a long break?
- Your video began to be reposted by all the stars of our stage. What was your reaction?
Yes, it was very amazing. Initially, I was reposted by those to whom I write songs. And then it started. Philip Kirkorov, Yulia Parshuta, Yegor Creed... I am not even familiar with many artists. It was very nice! It's funny for me to read the comments: some people think that this is paid PR (smiles).
- In modern realities, this is not strange ..
Agree. But I just don't have a producer or an investor. I do all the work with my own money and exclusively by myself. My two friends help me: my husband and the manager. Therefore, putting me and PR in one line is stupid (laughs). This is an absolutely creepy story. I am pleased that many people compare me with Western artists: with Sia, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga. They also wrote for someone for many years and remained in the shadows. For me, these are very flattering comparisons. And this success once again proved to me that one must always remain honest and not write according to the format.
- In one of the interviews, you said that you are not a hitmaker, but a musician. What do these two words mean to you?
There is a certain hit formula. From the series: you can take 4 chords that will 100% fall into harmony, and it will become a hit. I roughly understand how to write so that it sinks into the viewer's ear. This is not creativity. I have songs that have won various awards. But I have a different approach. I communicate well with all my customers and know who needs what. For example, Elka does not sing about love, and Anita Tsoi and Ani Lorak take songs only about happy love, Loboda loves provocation, but does not like different speech turns. I remain as honest as possible, but at the same time I write in such a way that it is close to the artist. But usually they come to me and just ask me to do cool. They trust me.
- In connection with such a resounding success, now writing songs will go by the wayside?
No, there are 24 hours in a day, I manage to do everything (laughs). And there is even time for yourself.
- What is your secret?
Boundless love for your work.
- How do you see your immediate future in music?
Everything is trite: I will record another single, shoot a video, release an album, post it on the Web. And I will be glad that people are now listening to what was so lying on my table.
She is not only an excellent vocalist, but also a very talented composer and lyricist. Today, her songs are performed by such famous artists as Ani Lorak, Anita Tsoi, Dominik Joker and others.
Childhood
Her date of birth is March 9, 1990. She was born in the capital of Belarus, the city of Minsk. As a child, Rita was not particularly interested in the typical games for girls: Barbie dolls and coloring books with princesses lay under the bed. And at that time she herself was chasing in the yard and playing war games and Cossack robbers with the boys.
But performance skills began to appear even then. In the evenings, among other peers, Rita entertained local grandmothers with yard concerts. The boys sang songs by Andrey Gubin and the Ladybug group, and the girls sang songs by Tanya Ovsienko and Kristina Orbakaite.
School of Music
As a child, my mother drew attention to her daughter's musical gift. She heard Rita sing songs purely from the point of view of intonation, read poems that she had written; heard the melodies she composed. The family decided to send the girl to study at a music school. Then, as a seven-year-old child, having come with her mother to enter the piano department, she conquered the main vocal teacher with her singing. As a result, it was decided, in addition to studying to be a pianist, also to sing in the choir. Later, thanks to the teachers and Rita's natural gift, she became one of the best members of this vocal group. Singer Dakota with her team went on tour in almost all European countries. It should be noted that the participants of this choir at different times were the singer Bianca, the pianist Vlasyuk and other famous personalities.
Tough choice
After graduating from a music school, fourteen-year-old Rita decided to enter the music school. Glinka at the faculty of composition. All documents were collected, but at the last moment, literally in front of the doors of the school, she changed her mind. As the singer Dakota herself admitted, she unexpectedly came to the conclusion that if a person studies painstakingly, she can eventually understand how the right music is written. But you can learn to write good music only if you have talent. Deciding then that the composition would be her hobby, she went to improve her vocal skills by entering the Forte pop vocal studio.
Star Factory
Having failed to pass the casting for participation in the Belarusian musical show project "Star Stagecoach", the singer Dakota (see photo below), accused by the jury of "lack of patriotism" for singing the song in English, for some time refused desire to build a solo career.
Much more at that time she was occupied with writing her own compositions. Therefore, when Rita learned from her friend Armen (a well-known singer in Belarus) about the beginning of the casting of the seventh "Star Factory", she decided to get there by all means to show her author's works to Konstantin Meladze. To do this, she made a demo of her songs, firmly intending to prove to the producer that she would make a good composer.
But things didn't work out the way Dakota had planned. The singer, whose biography proves the versatility of her talent, was accepted into the TV project "Star Factory-7" as a participant.
During the project, Rita wrote several new songs, met a lot of creative people. The teachers appreciated her vocal abilities, recognizing her voice as one of the best in the history of the Star Factory. Margarita became the finalist of the project. She recorded such popular author's songs as "Matches", "I Knew Everything", "One" and "Best Friend".
Acquaintance with Dominic Joker
At the end of the project, numerous tours of the “manufacturers” followed, in one of which the singer Dakota met Dominic Joker, also a graduate of one of the previous “Fabrics”. At that time he was a successful singer, composer and producer. Subsequently, these two creative people became close friends. But friendship is not the only thing that connected them. Dominik and Rita recorded several joint songs. Their most famous work is the soundtrack to the TV series "Mama-Moscow".
On the edge of poverty
At the end of the tour, Dakota, still bound by a contract, turned out to be unclaimed. But obligations did not allow her to leave for her native Belarus. In the absence of work, there was practically no means of subsistence. She lived in a little room outside the Moscow Ring Road, practically starving, but she did not lose her spirit. The desire to create music has not disappeared either.
Not far from the then home of Rita was a school. The girl asked the watchman to let her into the assembly hall at night to compose new songs on the old piano. There, covered with a blanket, she recorded the fruits of her creativity on a voice recorder, once donated by Konstantin Meladze. At some point, the realization came that her songs might be of interest to other artists. Dakota offered them for performance to several novice performers. When she realized that her creations were in demand, she began to cooperate with the "stars" of a higher rank.
When all difficulties are behind
Now that the difficult period in Margarita's life is over, she is a sought-after composer and lyricist. Suffice it to mention a few songs that are now heard on the waves of all radio stations. The song "I Will Remember", performed by Alexander Marshal and T-killah, "Heaven" performed by Elka, "Not Needed", performed by Svetlana Loboda.
Also, Dakota is now taking part in the Main Stage project, where she mainly performs songs of her own composition.
Singer Dakota and Vlad Sokolovsky: a love story
They met back in 2007, being members of the "Star Factory-7". It's interesting, but then they became very friends and talked a lot, jokingly calling each other "brother and sister." At the end of the project, they did not communicate for a long time. Dakota is a singer whose personal life has never been made public. But there were a lot of rumors about the stormy adventures of Sokolovsky. Among his girls were models, and singers, and dancers ... She also created an independent rock band, and then for some time she was generally on the verge of poverty.
Later, when success came to Rita, and her songs became in great demand, they met at one of the parties. By that time, Vlad had changed his shoulder-length wavy hair to a trendy haircut, and his youthful “outfit” to a suit and tie. He matured and became a man. She was no longer an ardent rebel in sneakers, obsessed with rock music. Perhaps these circumstances allowed them to look at each other in a new way. After this meeting, they no longer parted, but they hid their relationship from the general public for a long time. And after some time, their joint photos from various events began to appear in the press. It was then that the fans suspected that there was something more between them than a friendly relationship. And indeed, the couple soon admitted that they were in love and happy. And after a year and a half of relationship, Vlad and Dakota finally got married.
The singer and Vlad Sokolovsky, whose wedding took place on June 8, 2015, are now enjoying family life, jointly engaged in creative activities (Rita writes songs, and Vlad performs them). It is also known that the guys decided to go into business and opened several points of mobile fast food.
I want to believe that this beautiful couple will live happily ever after. And Dakota will write and sing many more beautiful songs that will delight her loyal fans.
« Rita- a girl with character. But, as a rule, she always hits the mark,” says (25) about his wife in our interview. And here you can not argue: do not be Rita Dakota(26) with character - how to get such success from her debut single, which blew up iTunes And YouTube(more than 2.7 million views) at the end of October last year?
“I don’t like to revel in victories for a long time”, – responds to statistics Rita, although he agrees: to finally go to the “singing authors” (“so, it turns out, now I need to call myself?”) Was the right decision.
Now Rita working on a new "bomb".
Top, Reebok; jacket, jeans, Mango
After the song took off on the charts, I have no choice: there will be an album (and more than one!). People believed me, supported me, I can't let them down. So I went back to the studio closet again.
I remember how my friends called me and shouted: “Hurrah! Track number one iTunes!"; "Hooray! We already have 2 million views in YouTube!» And I said: “Oh, you can call me back, I'm writing a song”.
Many people ask what is success "Half a Man", because my other songs did not shoot like that. But the absurdity of the situation is that "Half a Man"- indeed, my first solo work, and there were simply no “less successful” ones before it. On I sang "Matches", the composition became the most downloaded song of the entire television project from the first to the seventh season, according to "Wikipedia". And after that I went into the shadows and didn’t release anything solo anymore, there was no desire. Perhaps she remained in the field of view because she wrote songs for top artists ( Christmas tree(34),Loboda(34),(38),Anita Tsoi(46) and many others), soundtracks and even songs for Eurovision, they continued to talk about me, but only as an author and composer. So "Half a Man" This is truly a solo debut.
I didn't expect anything. I just released the song and the video, by myself, without labels, producers and rotations, and quietly freaked out about what happened to the track next. They say that this has never happened before, so that the debut broke into the first lines of the charts and did not go down for so long. This proves that miracles happen if you do something sincerely and from the heart.
Like my favorite rapper said Oxxxymiron(32) in one of the battles, “it is embarrassing for a poet to call himself a poet, he is shy and timid; and if he overcomes himself, then you are the **** eternal child, ”and I agree one hundred percent. Let others call me a poet or a musician, and preferably posthumously. And who is more in me? Man and woman. But I'm still primarily a composer and songwriter..
It seems to me that there is absolutely nothing in me from that girl 10 years ago who performed at "Factory". If a person does not grow, does not develop, does not change his views on things, then he is a fool or unhappy, stuck in a certain period. But the same devotion to my work and faith in good and holy art remained in me.
I was born in Minsk, in the most ordinary working-class family. Mom was a kindergarten teacher, and dad was a recording engineer. My grandfather played a huge role in my upbringing. He instilled in me a wild desire to become a musician: I watched him play the piano, the guitar, and dreamed the same way. He died the day I left "Factory" which is also symbolic. As if he sent me to another world, and he went to his own. Therefore, in general, "Factory" is one nightmare for me.. But there I wrote a song "I knew everything"(which I performed on the project), dedicated to my grandfather, and people on the street still stop me and thank me for helping them get over the loss. Although I sang it only once.
Top, Reebok; trench coat, ZDDZ x Legrorn (Tsvetnoy Central Market)
All people have complexes in one way or another. For example, for a long time I felt like the most stupid person in my environment.. It seemed to me that I was not erudite or educated enough, I didn’t sleep at night, I swallowed hundreds of pages, I tried to enter a serious university at the expense of my career. At some point, I looked at myself from the outside and ... I felt sorry for myself. There is no limit to perfection. You will always be stupid on a par with someone more erudite and educated, but will he be happier? Show me an incredible beauty and I will show you someone prettier than her. But which of them is happier in marriage, harmonious and loved? Everything is relative.
I try to be as sincere as possible on social media. Post real photos without enlarging your lips on them and without reducing your waist, write posts filled with real thoughts, emotions. Answer people's questions, get in touch. I think everyone who knows me does not see the difference between an artist / blogger Rita Dakota and a girl Rita from their environment. The only thing you need to know about me before going for a rapprochement is that I watch "The Battle of Psychics" and dip cheese in strawberry jam. ( laughing.)
Jacket, Adidas; jacket, ZDDZ x Legrorn (Tsvetnoy Central Market)
But my lyrical hero (who appears on stage) still exists a little apart from my physical body, so to speak. I let him suffer, die, thump and worry in every possible way, even if I myself have been in the happiest marriage for several years. Some of my "painful" songs, including "Half a Man", were written before the meeting with Vlad, some stories are simply peeped in other people's dramas and experiences, while others are simply invented. I do not want to talk a lot about creativity, its themes and subtexts. If it doesn't speak for itself, it's lousy. I want to believe that mine - says ...
I am neither for nor against plastic surgery. I have a friend who is a plastic surgeon. She says she makes the world a better place, but I think she makes silicone boobs. ( laughing.) If you hate your nose and having it redone makes you feel a little better, go ahead and redo it.. Although it's not about him at all, it's obvious. But I would vote for a bill to ban plastic surgery under 30. I think at this age you are already smart enough and spiritually oriented to make conscious decisions of this kind. I'm sure the number of people who want to remake their nose/chest/lips would be drastically reduced.
A public person should not talk about his personal life if he does not want to. For example, Lisa, better known as Christmas tree, not like in an interview, even in songs he does not mention this. Only at concerts sometimes, smiling, she says that she is loved and happy. It's very cool, I think. This is her adult conscious choice, I respect and support it. Vlad and I had another choice - to speak openly about our love.. And these two paths cannot be considered the only true ones. As dad likes to say Vlada: "Everything in the world is the way you want it." I think that other people's discussions cannot affect the adult holistic relationship of two married and married people.
Top, shorts, Adidas jacket; pants
I don't know anything about any victims. It seems to me that the concepts of "sacrifice", "sacrifice", "sacrifice" have nothing to do with love at all, any book on psychology for dummies will confirm this. For me, this is tantamount to questions like “how difficult is it to balance the need for food and going to the toilet?” Both are an integral part of the existence of any person. Relationships and work, as well as creativity, self-development, friendship and other important things are integral parts of our social and spiritual development.
Bomber, ZDDZ (Tsvetnoy Central Market); shorts, Reebok
Dreaming is very cool! I dream every day. I even have a visualization board. I believe in the power of sincere pure desire. It works, tested. There are specific goals, and all sorts of stupid dreams like "touch a whale" or "fly in a balloon."
