Biography
Who is Mika Newton?
Early life and background
Mika Newton was born Oksana Stefanivna Hrytsai on March 5, 1986, in the city of Burshtyn, Ukraine. She developed an interest in music during her childhood by listening to the radio and teaching herself to sing by imitating the various artists she heard. By the time she was nine years old, she began entering regional vocal competitions.
At sixteen, she moved to Kyiv to enroll in the College of Circus and Variety Arts. During her time there, she studied a variety of disciplines including voice, piano, acting, dance, and pantomime. Her stage name was created by combining Mika, which was inspired by Mick Jagger from the Rolling Stones, and Newton, an abbreviation for the concept of a new tone.
Musical career and Eurovision
While living in Kyiv, Mika signed a contract with the Falyosa Family Factory label after industry professionals noticed her work in local and international talent shows. Before her major breakthrough, she released two albums and provided theme songs for various Ukrainian and Russian films and television programs.
In 2011, she was selected to represent Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest held in Düsseldorf, Germany. She performed the song Angel, which was composed by Ruslan Kvinta and Maryna Skomorohova. During the final, she placed fourth with 159 points, accompanied on stage by sand-artist Kseniya Simonova. This performance significantly raised her international profile.
Transition to the United States
Following her Eurovision appearance, Mika moved to Los Angeles in June 2011. This relocation followed an invitation from the JK Music Group to record with songwriter Walter Afanasieff. During this period, she also performed for producer Randy Jackson and signed a contract with his Friendship Collective.
She released her first American single, Don't Dumb Me Down, in February 2012. The video for this release was directed by Marc Klasfeld. Later that year, she released the single Come Out and Play, which was remixed by Paul Oakenfold. She also made a guest appearance on the Chinese reality television program Maoren Queen.
Personal life and recent work
Mika married talent agent Chris Saavedra in December 2018 within the United States. Her family has been directly impacted by conflict in her home country, as her sister, Liliya Hrytsai, has served in the Ukrainian Army during the Russian invasion that began in 2022.
In 2022, Mika performed at the Grammy Awards alongside John Legend and other Ukrainian artists such as Siuzanna Iglidan and Lyuba Yakimchuk. This performance served as a tribute to those who lost their lives during the invasion of Ukraine and followed a recorded message from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Birthday and age
Mika Newton was born on March 5, 1986, which makes Mika 40 years old today. That birthday falls under the Pisces sign. Mika shares the date with 23 other famous people.
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