The first single released by the pop duo t.A.T.u., All the Things She Said, reached the number one spot in nineteen countries. As one half of this project, Lena Katina moved from children's performance groups to global chart success, later establishing a solo career that spans multiple languages, studio albums, and television appearances in her native Russia.
Early Career and t.A.T.u.
Born in Moscow in 1984, Katina began her musical training early, entering piano classes at age eight. She gained initial experience as a soloist in the children's group Avenue and later joined the ensemble Neposedy. In 1999, producer Ivan Shapovalov recruited her and Julia Volkova for the t.A.T.u. project. The duo achieved significant international recognition with tracks such as Not Gonna Get Us and All About Us. They represented their country in the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest, securing third place with their performance of Ne Ver', Ne Boysia.
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Following the disbandment of t.A.T.u. in 2011, Katina pursued independent projects. Her single Never Forget topped the MTV Russia Top 10 and reached number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. She expanded her repertoire through collaborations with artists like T-Killah and the band Belanova. Her debut solo studio album, This Is Who I Am, arrived in 2014, with a Spanish-language reissue titled Esta Soy Yo following two years later.
Recent Output and Television
Katina released her second full-length album, Mono, in 2019, which featured exclusively Russian-language material. Beyond music production, she has taken on roles in broadcasting. In 2020, she served as a judge on the Russian reality series All Together Now! and competed as the Spider character on The Masked Singer. Her later discography includes acoustic EPs and a steady stream of singles, such as 2023's Taksi.
Fast facts
- Born: 1984, Moscow
- Education: Lomonosov Moscow State University
- Debut Solo Album: This Is Who I Am, 2014
- t.A.T.u. Eurovision Finish: Third place, 2003
- Instruments: Piano and voice
- Genres: Pop, electronica
- Citizenship: Russia
Questions readers ask
What was Katina's first group before t.A.T.u.?
At age ten, she joined the children's group Avenue, followed by membership in the vocal ensemble Neposedy.
Did she release music in languages other than Russian?
Yes, she has recorded extensively in English, including her debut album This Is Who I Am and various singles, and released a Spanish version of that album titled Esta Soy Yo.
Achievements
- Instruments: piano and voice
- Genres: pop music, pop rock and synth-pop
