Valery Meladze

Valery Meladze is a Russian pop singer from Batumi, Russia, born in 1965. He starts his musical training with piano classes at music school, then graduates in 1983 from the Nikolaev shipbuilding institute in what is now Ukraine. His music career begins in the band Aprel (April), where he sings while his elder brother Konstantin Meladze plays keyboards and arranges music.

Early career

In 1989 Kim Breytburg invites the Meladze brothers to the rock band Dialogue. Konstantin Meladze writes several songs for the albums Posredine mira (In the Middle of the World) and Osenniy krik yastreba (Autumn Scream of the Hawk), after which he becomes the sole author of Valery Meladze’s songs.

Breakthrough and albums

His first major hit is Ne trevozh mne dushu, skripka (Do Not Disturb My Soul, Violin), which also brings him the Musical Discovery of 1994 award. Sera becomes the song that makes him widely known, and the album of the same name appears in 1995 and quickly becomes a best-seller. He follows it with Posledniy Romantik in 1996, Samba belogo motylka in 1998, Vsio tak i bylo in 1999, Nastoyashcheye in 2002, and Nega in 2003.

Collaborations and recognition

Meladze’s collaboration with the girl group VIA Gra, produced by his brother Konstantin, brings further success. The songs Okean i tri reki (Ocean and Three Rivers) and Pritiazhenja bolshe net (No More Attraction) gain wide popularity, with their videos appearing prominently on music television channels and in charts. In March 1997 he gives two solo concerts at the Olympijskiy arena in Moscow. He later performs a large show at the Kremlin Palace of Congresses in support of Nastoyashcheye.

He is listed among the 20 most popular Russian performers in Gallup Media research for 7 days magazine. He receives the Muz-TV National Music Award as best performer in 2004 and 2005, and his work with VIA Gra wins Best Duo of the Year from both the Muz-TV National Music Award and the MTV Russian Music Award.

Labels and style

His releases are associated with the labels Валерий Меладзе and Meladze Music. He is tagged as a pop artist, and his work is also associated with Russian pop, eurodance, dance-pop and estrada.