Sasha Gradiva (entertainer)

Sasha Gradiva
Background information
Birth name	Alexandra Antonova
Born	(1984-02-05) February 5, 1984
Genres	Pop
Occupations	Singer, Performer, Songwriter
Years active	2005–present
Website	www.sashagradiva.com

Sasha Gradiva (born February 5, 1984), known from 2005 to 2011 as SASHA, is a Russian-born, New York City-residing recording artist, songwriter, and actress. Her music is a blend of pop dance with strong electronic flavor.

With her growing U.S. popularity, having predominantly performed under her mononym, Sasha had chosen her surname in 2011, inspired by the mythical character Gradiva, the muse of Surrealism.

Early life

Sasha Gradiva was born in Moscow, Russia, the daughter of a pilot and a flight attendant. At a young age, her parents divorced and Sasha moved with her mother to Syktyvkar, Komi Republic, located west of the foot of the Ural Mountains.

It was there where she started taking music lessons and choreography classes at the College of Arts. Her versatility also thrust her into figure skating at the age of 8, where she achieved legitimate success, reaching the professional level.^{[citation needed]}

As a child, Sasha turned to singing, dancing, and listening to the music of her idols: Michael Jackson, Pink Floyd, George Michael, Dionne Warwick, En Vogue, Janet Jackson, Madonna and Lenny Kravitz.

“I’ve always had a very versatile taste in music. I enjoyed and appreciated anything from folk to contemporary; from classical to techno.

My dad was a pretty sophisticated music fan, and being a pilot he traveled the world, bringing back records of popular music from around the world, and thus I was being exposed to things that were inaccessible for the rest of the country. Any foreign influences were considered harmful to socialist mentality, especially in a small town in Siberia. We didn’t have any access to overseas television programming, MTV, VH1 or any other advanced music channels. I was hanging out with a small circle of music-addicted hackers who provided me with bootleg recordings – and that, along with my dad’s overseas treasures was the core of my childhood musical education.

Listening to my idols, I was mesmerized and endlessly inspired by their showmanship, magnetism, and drive. I was enthralled and filled with fierce inner excitement that I’ve never experienced before.

This was a form of escapism for me. And it was then that I realized what I want to become in the future. I wanted to inspire people and make them happy.”

And so, at the young age of 15, determined to become a professional performer, Sasha organized her first performing group, named “Diamond”, which consisted of herself and four backup dancers, with Sasha acting as lead singer and choreographer.

Sasha created stage outfits for herself and her loyal backup team by cutting-up curtains and even her mother’s clothes.^{[citation needed]}

“Having lost hope of finding a sparkling shiny fabric for our costumes, I committed the Crime of the Century – I cut our iridescent silk screens to make amazing outfits. Mother was beyond herself, she almost killed me and didn’t talk to me for a week after that.”

SASHA confidently began conquering 1/6th of the planet with “Diamond,” starting with her hometown - dominating local venues^{[citation needed]}and setting state competitions on-fire with her extravagant, dynamic performances^{[citation needed]}, gradually achieving recognition and respect from DJ’s on local radio stations^{[citation needed]}.

Sasha performed in front of teenagers, in hospitals, parks, orphanages, even in jails^{[citation needed]} - anywhere where there was an audience ready to listen.

“I always knew I could do something grand and never thought otherwise. I wanted to make my childhood dream a reality; I wanted to move from small provincial town into wild and chaotic Moscow. From the street environment I came from there are usually only two roads: one leading nowhere, and one to the top. I chose the latter.”

Dreaming of a bigger stage, Sasha returned to Moscow in the winter of 2000.

Professional career

“I found myself in the midst of a depressed gray mass, but instead of being discouraged I remember taking it as an advantage… I had nothing but ambitions and desire to make music different from what was out there at that time in Russia, and by doing it I wanted to make people smile.”

After just a few months of performing in Moscow nightclubs, Sasha attracted the attention of famed Russian producer and mogul Uriy Aizenshpis, along with top hit-maker Vladimir Matetskiy^{[citation needed]}.

Their first collaboration resulted in a dance track called Night City, accompanied by a music video^{[citation needed]}. In February 2001 Night City simultaneously debuted on TV and radio stations, becoming a hit single with its African jungle beats^{[citation needed]}.

“I was in 7th Heaven with excitement. I was just a seventeen-year-old girl from a small town. I couldn’t believe I was in a huge professional studio, recording with show biz legends; I was beyond inspired and beyond thrilled”.

Meanwhile backstage, Aizenshpis didn’t rush to describe Sasha as his most obedient protégé. In many interviews, Aizenshpis admitted that working with Sasha wasn’t easy. He is quoted saying: “Sasha is a wild child with an incredible musical database in her head, but she’s forcing us, multi-platinum hit makers, onto her pro-American inspirations. How the hell, are we supposed to market that in Russia?”^{[citation needed]}

Sasha remembers: “I was so happy to work with them, but they were all in shock. I could tell that the sound engineers were annoyed with me because I was demanding a modern sound. No one else did it at the time. It was a total breakthrough. All I wanted was to make it sound contemporary and new”.

Sasha’s allegiance to her creative vision was reflected in her second single It’s Just a Rain. In the spring of 2001 It’s Just a Rain could be heard on every electrical device that could be plugged in^{[citation needed]}. Its success brought Sasha well-deserved creative independence. Rain peaked on the charts in the spring of 2001 and remains one of Sasha’s most successful singles to date^{[citation needed]}.

MTV Russia called Sasha and her new sound “long-awaited and refreshing”^{[citation needed]}.

“Sasha” album CD (2003)

2003 marked the release of her debut solo album, self-titled “Sasha,” by ARS Records – leading record label at the time led by Igor Krytoj. The album generated six hit singles including Night City, It’s Just a Rain, Love is War, It Didn’t Work Out, Beyond the Fog, and Turn You On^{[citation needed]}.

Turn You On hit peaks on various charts, staying on for a record 8-weeks^{[citation needed]}.

The video for Turn You On was filmed by Russian director Fyodor Bondarchuk, director of the famous feature film “9th Company”. Deemed outrageous, even by European standards, the video caused much controversy immediately after its premiere.^{[citation needed]} Teenage girls bombarded hair salons demanding “Jaguar hair, just like Sasha’s”^{[citation needed]}.

Sasha quickly became a fashion icon whose unique hair styles, hats, and dresses were adorned by young women around the country^{[citation needed]}. She has graced the covers and pages of major publications including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Maxim, and OK^{[citation needed]}. She also became the first Russian celebrity to appear in the Vogue Magazine Special Photo Edition, exclusively photographed by singer Bryan Adams^{[citation needed]}.

Despite widespread piracy, the album had sold over 3 million official copies in Russia and Post Soviet counties^{[citation needed]}.

In ____ (add year) MTV Russia included her into best top 10 Artists on the Rise^{[citation needed]}.

The release of Sasha’s first solo effort received great media reviews and critical praises^{[citation needed]}for her combination of electro-pop sound merged with meaningful lyrics and energized choreography, all of which would later become her trademark.

In the summer of 2004, following the success of “Sasha”, ARS Records released MEGAMIX - a re-mixed and re-mastered compilation of three of Sasha’s biggest hits to date. Megamix promotional videos featured footage from Sasha’s concert tour throughout Russia and Europe.

In the Spring of 2006 Sasha released her second studio album, “Say My Name with Love”

“Say My Name with Love” CD (2006)

With the new album release, Sasha changed her look entirely, transforming from long-haired techno diva, into a West-inspired pop dancer with short hair.

On her second studio album, Sasha introduced new acoustic ballads.

Please Forgive Me – a ballad, was accented by a video shot in one long single take.

Sasha’s image drew a interest from the art world^{[citation needed]}. Famed fashion house “Fresh Art”, inspired by her transformation, unleashed iconic images with her, turning her into a muse for other designers and artists^{[citation needed]}. Following this exposure, Sasha was sasked participate in various fashion and art projects^{[citation needed]}. In 2006 (enter year) also named one of 100 Most Beautiful People (enter magazine/publication)^{[citation needed]}. That same year, Sasha performed The Man I Love at the annual GQ Awards Ceremony (insert location)^{[citation needed]}.

In 2007, Sasha conceptualized, produced, and starred in the MTV hit documentary “Girl Power”. The documentary highlighted the female revolution in the Russian music industry, culminating with a live concert broadcasted by MTV Russia, featuring major Russian female performers: Nadezhda Babkina, Valeria, A- Studio, LIMA, Maksim, Reflex, Anastasiya Stockaya, Anastasia Podol’skaya, and many others.

The concert was held at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow and was attended by over 15,000 people, topping the rating charts^{[citation needed]}.

Sasha performs during “Girl Power” (2007)

During the filming of “Girl Power,” Sasha interviewed Gwyneth Paltrow and Kelis, both of whom were visiting Moscow at the time. “Girl Power” emerged a widespread national acclaim, consolidating Sasha’s celebrity status^{[citation needed]}.

By the end of 2008, Sasha had earned numerous awards and accolades^{[citation needed]}. Her music videos became a fixture on MTV Russia^{[citation needed]}.

In the Summer of 2008, Sasha began working on her first English-speaking album. Having ended her 5-year contract with ARS Records , Sasha recorded a song in English: Fly like a Dove.

She self-directed the entire video for Fly Like a Dove.

Fly Like a Dove was awarded "Video of the Year" by World Fashion channel^{[citation needed]}, propelling her to the Top 10 Most Popular Female Singers in Post-Soviet Russia^{[citation needed]}.

Sasha began working with renowned American producers^{[citation needed]}in the Winter of 2009, and started spending more time in the U.S.

She soon joined forces with hip-hop producer Channel 7, (formerly known as 7 Aurelius, who had produced hits such as Jennifer Lopez’s I'm Real (remix feat. Ja Rule), Always on Time, and Ashanti’s Foolish), Toni Deniro, and Jack Knight - hit urban songwriter and producer.

USA

In the Fall of 2009, she had received American Citizenship for Extraordinary Talent.^{[citation needed]} Shortly thereafter, Sasha was invited to attend the 52nd annual Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, becoming the first Russian celebrity to receive an official Grammy invitation^{[citation needed]}.

Sasha’s exotic personal style resulted in her becoming a spokesperson for CAVI Clothing, lead by Alex Bize, Jay-Z former business partner^{[citation needed]}.

INSERT IMAGE from GRAMMY in Cavi dress. Sasha is wearing a CAVI gown, exclusively designed for her, on 53rd Annual Grammy Awards.

Inspired by working with new original material in a fresh environment, Sasha reinvented her look yet again, and the underground music culture continued to buzz with reports of a bionic superwoman…^{[citation needed]}

Following a career in her native Europe, Sasha has begun her U.S. invasion.^{[citation needed]}

Sasha is currently based predominantly in the U.S, dividing her time between Los Angeles, Miami, and New York City.

Sasha’s styleis a blend of European musical sensibility infused with progressive American elements. Many of her ardent followers in the U.S. are gay men^{[citation needed]} – an audience that historically has been the first indicators of pop culture^{[citation needed]}. Performing in gay clubs, continuously collaborating with emerging avant-garde fashion designers, and working with celebrity photographers such as Julie Dennis Brothers and Mike Ruiz have contributed to making Sasha into a gay icon^{[citation needed]}.

Sasha performing her hit Pandemonium at Mike Ruiz party on ….

Images from a photo-shoot with Julie Dennis Brothers, taken at Russia's astronaut training ground, aka Star City, have been documented by World Fashion Channel, and have generated media speculations about Sasha’s supposed training for a real-life mission as an astronaut^{[citation needed]}.

At the end of 2010, Sasha premiered her new song Pandemonium, performing at Mike Ruiz’s birthday bash. Ruiz himself performed the role of Sasha’s Emcee that evening (and again on subsequent evenings).

The release of Sasha Gradiva’s English speaking album is due to drop in the Fall of 2011.

Discography

Studio Albums

• Sasha (2003)
• Pozovi Lyubya (2005)

Singles

• Fly Like a Dove (2009)