Alexandra & Konstantin

Early Years and Formation

Aleksandra & Konstantin is a Belarusian folk-pop duo. They became known in the early 2000s and represented Belarus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004. The group includes singer Aleksandra Kirsanova and musician Konstantin Drapezo. They are also a couple in real life.

Start of Their Music Career

The duo started working together in 1998. In the beginning, they performed cover songs of jazz, blues, and folk music. They later developed their own style, mixing Belarusian folk music with modern pop and rock. In 2000, they won second prize in a national music contest and received free studio time. This helped them record their first songs and start their professional career.

Album Releases and Musical Style

Their first album, Za likhimi za marozami, was released in 2001. It included Belarusian folk songs with modern arrangements. Two years later, they released a second album, Sojka, which helped build their reputation. Their music was different because they used traditional instruments like the domra, dombra, and ocarina, along with modern guitars and keyboards.

Eurovision Song Contest 2004

In 2004, Aleksandra & Konstantin made history by representing Belarus in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time. They performed the song “My Galileo,” which they wrote themselves. It was a folk-pop song with electronic sounds. They performed in the semi-final but did not reach the final. Still, their performance introduced Belarusian music to a wider audience. One of their backing vocalists was Petr Elfimov, who later represented Belarus in 2009.

Continued Work and Later Albums

After Eurovision, they continued to record and perform. In the same year, they released a compilation album titled My Galileo. The Best of A&K. By 2006, they followed up with Autonomous Navigation, an album with more original songs and deeper musical themes. In 2009, they released Kliuchy zlatyya, where they returned to Belarusian folk roots. Their 2013 album, M1, showed a more diverse sound, including instrumental tracks and songs in different languages. In 2011, they also released a short EP called Maslenitsa.

Live Performances and Recognition

Over the years, Aleksandra & Konstantin performed across Belarus and in countries like Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Germany. They won several music prizes and performed at big events like the Slavonic Bazaar and Astana festivals. In 2004, they were voted Best Folk Performer on Belarusian television.

Solo Projects and Music Education

Aleksandra also worked on her own. She studied at the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts and became a vocal coach. Aleksandra helped young singers, and one of her students won an award in an international music contest in 2018. She also took part in music festivals as a solo singer before forming the duo.

Konstantin studied geography but later chose music. He plays many instruments, including guitar, domra, and saz. He also works as a music teacher and arranger for other artists. His background in different music styles helped the duo shape their sound. He was inspired by artists like Al Di Meola.

Cultural Influence and Current Work

Together, Aleksandra & Konstantin have helped bring Belarusian language and culture into modern pop music. They often perform in Belarusian and use traditional sounds. Their music introduced younger audiences to folk traditions in a fresh and modern way.

Today, they still perform and work in music. They continue to inspire new artists and stay active in Belarus’s cultural life.