Ukrainian pop singer and Eurovision 2013 participant ZLATA OGNEVICH is back with new music. The “Gravity” singer has this week released her new single “Fighter”. The release of “Fighter” marks the start of a new musical era for ZLATA.
About “Fighter”
Ukraine’s Eurovision 2013 representative ZLATA OGNEVICH is back with a new single. The talented pop star has this week released “Fighter”, marking the start of a new era for ZLATA. “Fighter” blends pop and gospel influences with operatic vocals. The song is a personal anthem of artistic freedom for ZLATA, with a message of breaking free from others’ expectations and choosing your own path.
ZLATA says of the process of creating the new track:
More than a year in the making, “Fighter” was developed by an international creative team and recorded across Ukraine, the United States and the United Kingdom. Despite fear and darkness, we must continue to live, create, remain true to ourselves and believe in the light.
Speaking about the meaning behind the song on her instagram, ZLATA explained that “Fighter” is “a personal story about the power of being yourself, not playing by someone else’s rules and bravely choosing your own path”.
ZLATA OGNEVICH co-wrote the music with Ukrainian producer RUNSTAR, while Yevhen Matiushenko wrote the lyrics. The new track features gospel vocals performed by the nine-member SLS CHOIR, recorded in London under the direction of British musical director and producer Kojo Samuel. ZLATA explained:
I wanted the operatic section to feel like a quotation from a classical opera or a forgotten vintage sample. But it is entirely original and was recorded live, without Auto-Tune or artificial vocal correction. The sound comes from the natural acoustics of the studio and the honesty of the voice itself.
ZLATA recorded parts of the lead vocal at Elemental Recording in Los Angeles, a studio originally designed for Earth, Wind & Fire and later used by artists including Prince, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Quincy Jones and Barbra Streisand. Additional vocals were recorded in Kyiv with producers Vadym Lysytsia and RUNSTAR.
Listen to “Fighter” on streaming:
Spotify:
Apple Music:
YouTube:
Who is ZLATA OGNEVICH?
ZLATA OGNEVICH is the stage name of Inna Leonidivna Bordiuh, born in Ukraine in 1986. The singer has Italian ancestors on her mother’s side and Serbian on her father’s side. At age 18, ZLATA moved to Kyiv to pursue a music education at the prestigious Rheingold M. Glière Music College. Over the course of her career, ZLATA has released numerous singles and albums to great success. She has also appeared on several television shows, most notably winning the Ukrainian version of Masked Singer in 2021 as Sun. She voiced Glinda in the Ukrainian dubbing of the recently released Wicked movies. Her contribution to Ukrainian culture was recently recognized by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who awarded her the honorary title of Honored Artist of Ukraine.
ZLATA’s Eurovision journey
Making her first attempt to represent Ukraine in Eurovision in 2010, ZLATA OGNEVICH has entered the selection process for Ukraine on 3 occasions. In 2010, she placed fifth in the selection process with her song “Tiny Island”. She entered the selection again the following year, with her Ukrainian language song “The Kukushka”, which finished second. In 2012, ZLATA made her third attempt to represent Ukraine at Eurovision, entering the national final Vidbir, with her song “Gravity”. After scoring maximum points from both the jury and televote, ZLATA won the selection, earning right to represent Ukraine at the Contest in Malmö.
ZLATA performed “Gravity” in the first of the Semi-Finals at the Contest in Malmö, qualifying for the Saturday Grand Final. At the close of voting in the 2013 Contest, “Gravity” placed third. She was awarded 214 points and received the 12 points from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Croatia and Moldova. Following her success in the Contest, ZLATA hosted the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2013 in Kyiv, alongside Timur Miroshnychenko. She returned to the Contest in 2014 to announce the points awarded by Ukraine at the Contest in Copenhagen. Following Ukraine’s win in 2022, ZLATA acted as the jury spokesperson once again at the Contest the following year in Liverpool.
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News Source: ZLATA OGNEVICH / Spotify / Instagram
Image Credits: ZLATA OGNEVICH
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