Pelageya has been called "the best folk artist in Russia"

Siberian ‘Edith Piaf’ strikes a chord

Born in Siberia in 1986, Pelageya is often called "the best folk artist in Russia". She formed a band of young musicians in 2000 and has been touring the world ever since.

Pelageya says she is made of music, describing herself as ‘embroidered’ from melodies. But while some girls are made of "sugar and spice and all things nice", she isn't one of them.

Neither is she obsessed with fame.

"The fact that my face is not shown on TV a lot doesn't bother me, I don't need this kind of publicity. I don't want to be extremely popular,” she says.

At the end of the 1990s she was asked to perform at a meeting between the leaders of Russia, France and Germany. The former French President, Jacques Chirac, called her "the Russian Edith Piaf", and Boris Yeltsin, who was her big fan, said Pelageya was the symbol of a renascent Russia.

"No one has ever promoted me. No one has invested any money. All we've got we have achieved and earned working hard,” the singer says.

Pelageya's music is popular with both younger and older audiences.

“She's very original, she's got an astonishing voice with a broad range and a great repertoire,” one of her fans says.

Pelageya's songs are about the Russian soul and she hopes to popularise folk music within the country.

"There have been many offers to leave Russia and work abroad. But I've rejected all the contracts. I want to stay here. I think it's a very interesting and important period in the history of our country, and I want to witness it on the inside," she says.

Her band describes their music as ‘art-folk’. They stand alone both in the country and abroad, with performances that are both surprising and very Russian.

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