Today we’d like to introduce you to Irina Sychov.
Irina, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born in Yekaterinburg, third main city in Russia. I started singing on stage when I was three years old and it became my passion right away. Since I have been singing all songs from American Songbook – my dream was to move to the US. At first, it felt like it is completely impossible. When I was 22 years old I started my first business in Russia – it was the Talent Academy with a focus on vocal training and acting skills. The business was performing well, but I felt like I need to gain more international experience, professional skills and opportunities in music business. I knew I could not get them in Russia, so I sold my business and used that profit to pay for a music education in London.
I was blown away by the music industry in London. The musicians, singers, artists approached creative process so much different from what I observed back home. I got exposed to a different ways of thinking in almost all areas of life.
I always feel that my creative side is perfectly complemented by my business side, and I think it was obvious for others as well. I got the job offer to start the Art Director position in the famous London club in Soho – Bag’O’Nails. That was a club known for its history and heritage – Paul Maccartney and his wife met there, Jimi Hendrix did his first performance there too.
One day scouts from the famous British X Factor show came to the Institute, where I was studying. Surprisingly, I was the only one who passed all preliminary auditions. Out of 200 000 people – I was the one who went through.
The show went really well for me – I participated in 4th rounds, got accepted to Sharon Osbourne team and performed on Wembley Stadium in front of 6000 people. I was the first person with Russian origins who was ever capable to make it.
That experience brought great connections and opportunities. Soon after that, I started working as a creative producer in the international project MISS USSR UK. We did massive shows in London and Monaco.
I was lucky enough to get a US Green Card (for the aliens with extraordinary abilities). The US market was very attractive to me. I also was a fan of an entrepreneurial spirit and cross-cultural society that exists in the US. I moved to Los Angeles and started working as a singer and musician with Grammy award-winning artists. I was constantly touring and recording, opened a vocal school in Beverly Hills and started working as a VP of Music Development in a software company. In 2020 this company went public.
When Covid hit, I switched my focus to innovations and tech. I felt that the global paradigm was shifting, so I became curious – how it would affect the entertainment industry and other industries as well. My husband and I launched two startups – one was about AR/VR/XR technologies, the other one is creating solutions for businesses using the power of NFT and WEB 3.0. Right now I am very passionate about how our reality can be transformed with the help of technology and innovations. I see the brightest future at the intersection of physical and virtual and my mission is to embody people’s ideas and brands in a new space, creating the most creative identity presentation.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I could not get the UK visa, so I decided to move to the US first. After I got my green card my British visa was approved, but it took me two years to sort it out. I came to the USA with 200 dollars in my pocket and was building everything from scratch. Luckily I got my SSN very fast, but learning English, doing papers, working 7 days a week without any day off – that was tough. I was all by myself and there was no financial support at all.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a professional singer and presenter – my passion is to work with the audience and present different projects. It can be a song. New Show. New opportunity. New innovative solution or business. I love to create a special connection with the audience, to make them feel different from the moment they came to see me. Right now I feel that presenting creative projects, as well as startups and brands will enter a new chapter with the help of WEB 3.0. technologies. The future is not the future. The future is here and now.
What does success mean to you?
Success is using the full inner potential in a way that makes you happy. To achieve self-realization accompanied with the family and relationship goals.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/la.d.i_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamirinagi
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/irina_sychov
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdhqEG2XbmGA79-h8BtMO8g
Image Credits
Tasha Minn (photographer) Natalya Lee (Make up Artist) Igor Sanaev (Photograher)
