Irina "Russya" Poryvai 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 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 pianolessons 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 latter 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 "The Fortuneteller" 1989, was a major success. The follow-up album, "The Enchanted Circle" in 1989, brought her wide recognition in Ukraine. The following year 1990, she released the album "Forgive Me Mommy". This album won her the title Best Female Artist of Ukraine. In the summer and fall of 1990 Russya continued touring in support of the album, "Forgive Me Mommy". The fourth album, "Cinderella", was released in May 1991. For the second time, back to back in 1991, she won The Best Female Artist of Ukraine award. In late 1991, Russya traveled to Canada to record an album for the Yevshan Ukrainian record label in Montreal. It was her first release of an album in Canada and the United States. The album was entitled just simply "Russya". She remained in Canada to support the album release and performed at concerts in Ukrainian clubs and Churches throughout Canada and the United States. In 1993 after the untimely death of her father, she returned to the studio to record an album of classical Ukrainian pop songs, "Cheremshyna", dedicated to the memory of her parent. The album was released in 1994. It did not receive the high acclaim of her previous albums mainly due to the difference in style and genre. The same year she went back into the studio and recorded the album "Kiyv Girl". The title song made its way into the Ukrainian top 10 in 1994. The next album, "My American Guy" was released in 1997. Russya retired from recording pop music in 1997 but continued to tour, sometimes with her sister Natasha Koroleva til 1999. In 2007 she returned to the recording studio and released her CD entitled "The Best Of Russya". In 2009 she recorded new album "Small Presents". It is her first release since 1997 in presenting new songs in more than 12 years.
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photo from the official site: http://www.russya.net/