Today we’d like to introduce you to Ksenia.
Hi Ksenia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Chapter 1. Childhood in Siberia
I was born in a distant, cold, Siberian town, called Chita, to an ordinary family. From early childhood, I loved to sing. When I was five years old my grandmother would tuck me into bed, but I demanded silence and attention! I would announce: “Silence, please, now I will sing!” and perform a song before going to bed. There were also regular rehearsals in front of the mirror singing into a hairbrush and frequent evening concerts for relatives.
Chapter 2. Creative Child
I was a very creative child in school taking painting and dancing lessons, and of course,
attended music school. I was literally obsessed with any creative impulse, but singing
was always closest to my heart. As I studied, teachers and people around me took
notice of my skills, and from the age of 12, I started performing at small school concerts,
later moving on to regional competitions, city events and festivals. Additionally, I always
felt drawn to foreign languages, so I learned English and even Chinese.
Chapter 3. Father’s Influence
I’m so grateful for my stepfather (I call him father) for encouraging my passion for music.
He played the flute and sang professionally and broadened my musical horizons. He
would show me new songs by playing them on an old record player. After his regular
job in an orchestra, my father took on an extra job performing songs for guests in
restaurants, and eventually, he started taking me with him. At first, I was just a
spectator, but soon I became a performer. I earned my very first money by singing in a
restaurant, performing with my father.
Chapter 4. Moving to Moscow and Meeting Leonid
After graduating from the Chita University of Economics and Law, I decided to try my
luck in the big city and moved to Moscow in 2011. There I met Leonid Vorobyev, a very
experienced producer, sound engineer, and multi-instrumentalist. In our country he is
simply a guru of his craft and now a recognized music maestro all over the world.
Leonid became my mentor and significantly influenced my artistic destiny. Together, we
worked on my solo career, trying to break into the big stage by appearing on various TV
shows (including The Voice Russia), competitions, and festivals, as well as international
productions. My knowledge of foreign languages, particularly Chinese, attracted
attention from abroad. China became a special part of my career — I recorded songs in
Chinese, collaborated with well-known songwriters, filmed music videos, and performed
in dozens of concerts.
In 2015, Leonid invited me to sing in his beloved tribute project Leonid & Friends
recording backing vocals for “Wishing You Were Here” by the legendary band Chicago.
To be honest, I was very surprised by the huge response from YouTube viewers
worldwide — our views grew by the thousands every day and today millions around the
world enjoy our music.
As a result, our project grew from an online experiment into a hugely successful tribute
band. In fact, in 2025, we are embarking on our 11th U.S. tour selling out in venues all
across America. Every year we play about 100 shows, attracting the attention of some
of music’s biggest stars, we even meet some of them in person at our concerts.
One of them was Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters). He loved my rendition of the
song “Superstar” and highly praised the band’s work. He not only attended one of our
shows, but he even invited me to meet his wonderful family at his home!
Music icon David Foster, who produced several of Chicago’s biggest hits attended our
concert in Agoura Hills. I grew up listening to David’s music, and he has worked with so
many of my favorite artists. Receiving words of encouragement from him was truly an
honor.
We’ve also had the pleasure of meeting (and in some cases, even performing with)
members of Chicago, Earth, Wind & Fire, Tower of Power, as well as legendary
musicians like Nigel Olsson (Elton John’s drummer), Don Randi (The Wrecking Crew),
Gregg Bissonette (Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band), and many other great musicians
who appreciate our band.
Chapter 6. Solo Career
In addition to working with the band, I am now focusing on my solo career, even though
it’s not easy with our busy schedule. While I continue to record covers of my favorite
artists’ songs and sharing them with my audience, I’m also working on original material
and solo performances. I’m honored to receive praise and also various offers to
collaborate with songwriters and producers. For example, after hearing my cover of
One Last Cry (by Brian McKnight), famous Producer/Songwriter, Brandon Barnes
reached out to me and we recorded ”Never Felt This Way”. We became friends and
continue our collaboration to this day, thinking together on some new songs.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t think any artist would say their journey was smooth, and I am no exception.
However, I try to take everything easy and with gratitude, never regret anything, and not
waste my energy dwelling on some mistakes or regretting the wrong turns in the past. I
believe that everything comes to a person at the right time, exactly when they are truly
ready for it.
For example, as a child, I quit piano lessons, throwing a tantrum at my mom. The
reason for this was a banal loss of interest, because we were a simple family, we didn't
own an instrument, and sometimes I had to go to our neighbors to practice and do my
homework, feeling very awkward. I couldn’t enjoy the process. I couldn’t enjoy the
process. But as I got older and realized that my life would be entirely connected to
music, I knew I had to master an instrument professionally. So, I started taking lessons
with teachers, colleagues, and friends, enjoying the process and improving my skills.
Of course, like any aspiring artist without serious connections, I faced challenges in
breaking onto the big stage. I tried to place my songs on radio stations, but they weren’t
particularly interested, and I realized my ambitions didn’t match reality. It was a tough
and humbling lesson, but it also showed me that I wasn’t 100% ready for the big stage.
Still, my ambitions remain strong. I’m fully immersed in music and committed to
searching for my sound and my team. My dream is to have a successful solo career, to
be heard worldwide, and to work with like-minded people — passionate and
uncompromising music lovers whose art touches the souls.
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?
During my very first trip to Los Angeles in 2010, I stayed in Marina del Rey. For a girl
from Siberia, it was especially breathtaking — the ocean, palms, hills, and perfect
weather. I walked along the Santa Monica and Venice Beach boardwalks every day, and
I always enjoy returning there.
I adore Beverly Hills. I was lucky to live there in 2024, made many friends, and I have a
new dream to live there permanently. Another special place is the Saban Theatre,
where Leonid & Friends performs annually.
I love the energy of Los Angeles — the fast pace, endless opportunities, and inspiring
atmosphere. I also like Los Angeles because it is the world center of the entertainment
industry. I visited Disneyland, Universal Studios, various concerts and sport events.
I also love to eat well, and last year, my friends introduced me to The SmokeHouse
restaurant with amazing cuisine and its world-famous garlic bread. I always want to go
back there, it was so delicious! No wonder it was a favorite spot of Frank Sinatra and other
Hollywood icons. In all, I love LA it’s the place that the little girl
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
It’s hard to imagine more global changes than those that we are living through. I’m still
amazed when I compare my childhood to today. Back then, I could only watch concerts
on local TV, and I listened to new music in poor quality on cassette tapes bought at the
market. To understand the lyrics of a foreign song, I had to write them down by ear on
paper, rewinding the tape over and over, trying to hear how exactly they were singing.
Now, we have everything — streaming services with their algorithms for recommending
new music, social media as marketing platforms, online concerts, and collaborations
between music, cinema, video games, and anything else. And of course, there's internet
access from almost every point of the planet, where you can find anything.
But even in our advanced digital era, one thing stands out — artificial intelligence.
Honestly, I’m not sure how to feel about it. On one hand, it offers new creative
possibilities, but on the other, it lacks soul, emotions, and uniqueness. AI will likely play
a bigger role in songwriting, image creation, and live shows, which is intriguing. We’ll
see what the future brings — our world is changing fast.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mevmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ksenia__buzina/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KseniaBuzinaPersonalPage
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KseniaBuzina
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/@LeonidVorobyevandfriends
Image Credits
Russell Yim
Valeria Fataeeva
Doreen Paquette
