Biography
Gaitana Essami (Ukrainian: Гайтана Ессамі), born on 29 September 1979 in Kyiv), is a Ukrainian singer and songwriter, the only Afro-Ukrainian celebrity in the country. Her music combines elements of jazz, funk, soul, and folk music. Gaitana will represent Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Early life
Gaitana was born in Kiev, at the time in the Ukrainian SSR of the Soviet Union (in present-day Ukraine), but subsequently moved to the Congo where her father, Klaver Essami, was born. She lived there for five years. Afterward, Gaitana moved back to Ukraine with her mother, but her father stayed in Brazzaville where he holds a transportation business. According to the Female Magazine (Ukraine) her father is a chief of the Congo telecommunications.
Career
She sings in Ukrainian, English, Russian, but she also knows French and Lingala. Gaitana has a degree in economics from a lyceum of Economics. When she was younger Gaitana finished a music school where she played on saxophone. All her music and songs she composes by herself. She is the candidate to master of sport in table tennis. Other sports that get her involved include, but not limited are fitness and mount cycling. Her full name is Gaita-Lurdes. She has a pet, the dog Pipita. Gaitana has a collection of purses.
She can be claimed a pioneer in the Ukrainian R&B, particularly in her song The Lonely Pose (youtube). In the song can traced elements of jazz and pop-music. Gaitana was a guest performer at Kvartal-95.
Gaitana will represent Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan with her song Be My Guest.
Discography
Demo
???? - Demo (Demo)
Albums
2003 - О тебе (About You) - Гайтана & Unity
2005 - Слідом за тобою (Following You)
2007 - Капли дождя (Raindrops)
2008 - Kукaбaррa (Kukabarra)
2008 - Тайные желания (Secret Desires)
2010 - Только сегодня (Only Today)
Singles
2006 - Двa вiкнa (Two windows)
2007 - Шaленій (Go Crazy)
2009 - Нeщoдaвнo (Lately) - Гайтана та Стас Конкін
Awards
Showbiz award
Best European Star (special award)
Ukrainian Music Awards
Best female singer 2000
Best album 2000
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