Tatiana Kochkareva:
A russian voice that takes us from personal triumph and tragedy to social graces and dreams.
Tatiana Kochkareva has baggage. Hailing from Moscow, Russia, the
singer/songwriter left home at the young age of 16 and moved to sunny Miami,
Florida. Kochkareva's vocal prowess, which she honed while studying under Irina
Vladimirovna (trained by the Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich), earned her a
full scholarship to study jazz at the University of Miami. Differentiating her
the most was not her young age or powerful voice, but her "dusha," or Russian
soul.
A source of emotional, spiritual and philosophical thinking, Kochkareva's
Russian soul serves as a constant source of inspiration in her songwriting and
everyday experiences. It is this rich ideology that makes Kochkareva's songs so
dynamic and her singing so stirring.
Influenced by cultural change and transitioning to life in the U.S., Tatiana
soon began writing her first rock album, Moments. Alexander Kuzmichev, bass
player of the award-winning Russian rock band Voskreseniye recorded the
album. The collaboration proved fruitful. The resulting product included hits
"Memories," a vindictive rock ballad and Chances," a high energy rock song about
fearlessly pursuing one's goals. Indie-music.com's Beeb Aschroft lauded, "This
album vaguely reminds me of Evanescence without the Goth overtones...captivating
from beginning to end."
Capturing the attention of EMI that same year, Kochkareva was invited to
participate in the christmas-themed compilation Universidad Navidena (2006) and
was featured as a solo artist with her jazzy take on "Jingle Bells."
In 2007 Fabrika Zvezd, a musical competition similar to America Idol, which airs
weekly on National Russian TV, selected Kochkareva as a guest performer where
she performed songs off her first album.
In the summer of 2009, Tatiana completed work on her second album Dreamers, this
time inspired by her move from Miami to New York City.
It is unmistakably rock
but introduces something of a pop vibe, particularly on the title track. A
light-hearted love song, "Dreamers" reveals a softer, more hopeful side of
Kochkareva. Conversely, the powerful "What Is It?" and "Good Morning, Heartache"
reveal emotional struggles the songstress has suffered both in her personal and
professional life.
The album has earned buzz and recognition for its deep, rich
vocals and intelligent lyrics, including the scintillating "Social Standing," a
song about society life on the Upper East Side. "Dear Friend" and "Mistakes"
round out the record, as Kochkareva's philosophical side is unveiled. Reflecting
on her experiences in "Mistakes" she affirms, "In life there's lots to learn."
The Times Ledger reported "Kochkareva sings all six songs with an intensity that
is enhanced by her distinctive voice, which has a haunting, rich, textured depth
reminiscent of Nina Simone." The Miami New Times declares, "It's an ebullient,
engaging offering that suggests whimsy and reality can make a tidy meld when
imbued with passion and purpose."
From Moscow to Miami to New York and everywhere in between, Kochkareva continues
to make her mark, collecting experiences, knowledge and understanding along the
way. She has a myriad of stories and a psyche constantly inspired by the world
around her. Take off with Kochkareva, because this Russian soul has a song to
sing.