Full Name
Jamala
Job Title
Ukrainian Singer
Speaker Bio
Jamala — Ukrainian crimean-tatar singer and songwriter, the winner of the award from the US Atlantic Council for distinguished leadership in 2022 and Eurovision song Contest 2016.
The singer started her career at the age of nine, recording an album of songs for children. She has graduated from the National Music Academy named after Tchaikovsky in Kyiv, majoring in opera singing. Jamala was going to make a career in classical music, however her stunning victory at the International Contest of young singers The New Wave festival (2009), changed her path. Since her debut album For Every Heart (2011), she has never stopped experimenting with her sound, opening herself up to the listener anew each time.
So far, she has released 7 studio albums, a number of EPs and singles, all of them inspired by her personal feelings and experiences. Whether it’s a song with DakhaBrakha, a collaboration with Brian Todd or a soundtrack to the movie Mr. Jones.
Her music blends soul, jazz, electronica and pop genres beautifully and smoothly. Her sound and her live performance are the hallmark of Ukraine’s contemporary music scene.
Her triumph at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest further reinforced this position. She brought her victory to Ukraine with her song 1944 — a personal story inspired by her great-grandmother, who lost a child during the deportation of the Crimean Tatars. Upon winning the contest, she was given the People’s Artist of Ukraine.
Among the singer’s awards are Ukrainian National Award Person of the Year (2009), the ELLE Style Award (2010, 2012), numerous awards for her music at YUNA Music Award (2016, 2017, 2019), World Influencers and Bloggers Award (2022) and the US Atlantic Council Award for Distinguished Artistic leadership (2022).
After the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Jamala became the voice of the Ukrainian people outside her homeland. Once she evacuated her children, the singer started to fight for victory by doing what she can do best. Day by day, country by country, she participates in charity events, concerts, TV shows, raising funds for refugees, children, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Wherever she may be: at a meeting with President Biden or Emine Erdogan; at the Glastonbury Festival or the Cannes Lions; at the Kennedy Center Honors or the Distinguished Leadership Awards. She speaks for her people pleading with the world to stand by Ukraine. Her words and music are her sword and shield at the battleground for the victory of homeland.
The singer started her career at the age of nine, recording an album of songs for children. She has graduated from the National Music Academy named after Tchaikovsky in Kyiv, majoring in opera singing. Jamala was going to make a career in classical music, however her stunning victory at the International Contest of young singers The New Wave festival (2009), changed her path. Since her debut album For Every Heart (2011), she has never stopped experimenting with her sound, opening herself up to the listener anew each time.
So far, she has released 7 studio albums, a number of EPs and singles, all of them inspired by her personal feelings and experiences. Whether it’s a song with DakhaBrakha, a collaboration with Brian Todd or a soundtrack to the movie Mr. Jones.
Her music blends soul, jazz, electronica and pop genres beautifully and smoothly. Her sound and her live performance are the hallmark of Ukraine’s contemporary music scene.
Her triumph at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest further reinforced this position. She brought her victory to Ukraine with her song 1944 — a personal story inspired by her great-grandmother, who lost a child during the deportation of the Crimean Tatars. Upon winning the contest, she was given the People’s Artist of Ukraine.
Among the singer’s awards are Ukrainian National Award Person of the Year (2009), the ELLE Style Award (2010, 2012), numerous awards for her music at YUNA Music Award (2016, 2017, 2019), World Influencers and Bloggers Award (2022) and the US Atlantic Council Award for Distinguished Artistic leadership (2022).
After the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Jamala became the voice of the Ukrainian people outside her homeland. Once she evacuated her children, the singer started to fight for victory by doing what she can do best. Day by day, country by country, she participates in charity events, concerts, TV shows, raising funds for refugees, children, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Wherever she may be: at a meeting with President Biden or Emine Erdogan; at the Glastonbury Festival or the Cannes Lions; at the Kennedy Center Honors or the Distinguished Leadership Awards. She speaks for her people pleading with the world to stand by Ukraine. Her words and music are her sword and shield at the battleground for the victory of homeland.
