"Ivanushki International" is a Russian pop group that can safely be called legendary. Throughout their history, they have achieved incredible success, amassed a massive fan base of millions around the world, become the “favorites” of all young women, and rightfully hold the title of “the most popular Russian boy band.” Over 25 years of prolific work, their discography has grown to include 9 albums and two dozen awards. And fans of their music still remember and love the hits from those days.
Star-Studded Lineup
Unlike many musical groups, “Ivanushki International” hasn’t changed its members like gloves. Two guys—Kirill and Andrei—have been with the group since day one. As for the third member, three different people—Igor, Oleg, and Kirill—have held that spot at various points in the band’s career.
Kirill Andreev is a native Muscovite, a dark-haired man with a muscular build and charming looks. From the very beginning, he embraced the macho image and broke more than a few girls’ hearts. It was precisely because of this appeal that the producer invited him to join the group. By that point, Andreev had already established a career as a model. He began studying at Slava Zaitsev’s modeling school and continued his training at the New York School of Modeling. He had no particular interest in music; he never stood out for any special talent or enthusiasm for singing. But at the audition, he surprised everyone with his natural talent and was accepted into the group.
Andrey Grigoriev-Apollonov—"that redhead from Ivanushki," as he’s affectionately known by the public. He’s very artistic, charismatic, and energetic. A vibrant personality with a lively disposition—he always lifted the spirits both on stage and within the group. He has a background in music school, a teacher’s college, GITIS, and considerable experience as a model. Back in high school, he began walking the runway at the Sochi Fashion Theater, and later worked as a fashion model. At age 22, he moved to the U.S., where he performed in a Broadway musical for two years. In his youth, he also studied choreography, learned the basics of directing, and even staged a play himself.
Igor Sorin is a calm, thoughtful romantic. He was a member of the band from its founding until 1998 (almost three years). He wrote most of the songs and was the band’s talented lead singer. His creative spirit took root in him as early as childhood. He attended a theater studio, worked as an assistant at the Ermolova Theater, and then attended music and theater schools. And then came “Ivanushki”… Three years after the band was formed, he decided to pursue a solo career. But for unknown reasons, six months after leaving the band, he took his own life.
Oleg Yakovlev—the member who took Sorin’s place—remained with the group until 2013. He was there during the height of their popularity and played a significant role in that success. His distinctive Eastern European looks, fluid stage presence, and beautiful voice were a huge draw for female fans. He had been involved in music since childhood and often performed at school events. He studied at GITIS, and after becoming a certified actor, he performed on stage at Armen Dzhigarkhanyan’s theater.
Kirill Turichenko replaced Yakovlev, who had decided to pursue a solo career. Even before joining the “Ivanushki,” this young man from Ukraine already had extensive stage experience. By that time, he already had his own album, had filmed several music videos, and had won about a dozen awards and prizes. In theater circles, he was a well-known actor who had played leading roles in cult productions (*The Canterville Ghost*, “Romeo and Juliet,” “Silicone Fool.net”). Upon joining the group, he quickly “fit right in” and performs at concerts as if he’d been working with them from day one.
Musical Career
Forming yet another pop band—of which there were plenty in the ’90s—seemed quite risky. But producer Igor Matvienko came up with a completely new format. He formed a boy band that began singing in a new, original genre that was unfamiliar to anyone. Their songs combined several styles at once: traditional Russian pop, folk motifs, and Western dance rhythms. This combination proved to be a winner, and the guys became a rising star in the world of Russian music.
Work on their debut album, *Of Course It’s Him*, took about a year and a half. Their team carefully thought through every detail, rehearsed every word, and tried out thousands of melody variations. The result was a masterpiece. After its release to the general public, everyone was talking about “Ivanushki International.” Their songs “Kolechko,” “Tuchi,” and “Vselennaya” were played on every radio station, their music videos were aired on music channels, and at concerts, the audience knew every song by heart. Fame swept over the artists and inspired them to continue their work.
In 1997, the band released two albums at once. The first—*Of Course It’s Him (Remix)*—consisted of updated versions of their already well-known songs. The second—*Your Letters*—included new songs and several cover versions of songs by other artists. Both albums repeated the success of their debut and exceeded all expectations. The guys became idols to millions. A change in the band’s lineup had no effect on their popularity.
Two years later, the musicians made another breakthrough and once again released two albums at once. “I’ll Be Shouting About This All Night” included songs such as “Snow Buntings,” “Two Oceans,” “Dunya-Dunyasha,” and the simply cosmic hit “Poplar Fluff.” These songs topped the charts and hit lists for many weeks.
The second album, released in 1999, was dedicated to the memory of Igor Sorin. His death was a painful blow to all the “Ivanushki.” After all, they had lost not just a colleague, but a true friend. “A Fragment of Life” consisted of Sorin’s previously unreleased songs, his poems, and a song dedicated to Igor.
With the dawn of the new millennium, the band presented their fans with another album, *Wait for Me*, followed in 2002 by *Oleg, Andrei, Kirill*. After the release of these new songs, they once again basked in the limelight. Unlike many other musical groups, the “Ivanushki” have consistently delivered high-quality, productive work. No other Russian pop group has yet managed to replicate this success.
In 2005, they released an album to mark their 10th anniversary on stage. It was titled “10 Years in the Universe.” From that moment on, the group’s “countdown” began—their fame and popularity gradually began to fade. There was a hiatus in their creative career.
The lull lasted nearly ten years. All this time, they continued to work, though not as intensively. The guys appeared on various television shows, went on tour, and performed at concerts. Then Kirill Turichenko joined the group. And with him, now with renewed energy, they made a sensational “comeback”: in 2015, they released the album *The Best in Our Lives*.
Today, their popularity is hard to compare to what it was in the 2000s. But the artists aren’t discouraged—people still love them, and there’s still a demand for their music. They’re getting ready to write a new chapter in the band’s history. To find out what else “Ivanushki” have in store for their fans, check out the artist directory on kontramarka.de.
Discography:
1996 — “Of Course It’s Him”
1997 — “Of Course It’s Him (Remix)”
1997 — “Your Letters”
1999 — In Memory of Igor Sorin: “Fragments of Life”
1999 — “I’ll Be Shouting About This All Night”
2001 — “Ivanushki International in Moscow”
2002 — “Oleg, Andrei, Kirill”
2005 — “10 Years in the Universe”
2015 — “The Best Things in Our Lives”
