Regina Spektor

Biography

Regina Ilyinichna Spektor is a Russian-born American singer, songwriter, and pianist. She was born in Moscow on February 18, 1980, to a musical Jewish family. Her father was a photographer and amateur violinist, and her mother was a music professor. Spektor began studying classical piano at the age of six. In 1989, her family left the Soviet Union and emigrated to the Bronx, New York City. She continued her classical piano training in New York and graduated from the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College with honors.

Musical Career

Spektor began writing songs in her late teens and gained recognition in New York's anti-folk scene, performing at venues like the Sidewalk Cafe in the East Village. She self-released her first three albums: "11:11" (2001), "Songs" (2002), and "Soviet Kitsch" (2003). In 2004, she signed with Sire Records, which led to greater mainstream recognition. Her first major-label release was a re-release of "Soviet Kitsch."

Breakthrough and Subsequent Albums

Her fourth album, "Begin to Hope" (2006), was a commercial breakthrough, achieving Gold certification in the U.S. The album included the popular singles "Fidelity," "On the Radio," and "Better." Her following albums, "Far" (2009) and "What We Saw from the Cheap Seats" (2012), both debuted at number 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. Later albums include "Remember Us to Life" (2016) and "Home, before and after" (2022).

Musical Style

Spektor's music is known for its eclectic style, blending elements of folk, punk, rock, pop, jazz, and classical music. Her lyrics are often based on imaginative scenarios and characters rather than being strictly autobiographical. She is also known for her unique vocal style, which sometimes includes exaggerated glottal stops and a prominent New York accent on certain words. While she primarily sings in English, she occasionally incorporates other languages like Russian and French.

Other Work and Personal Life

Spektor's music has been featured in numerous films and television shows. She wrote and performed the Grammy-nominated theme song, "You've Got Time," for the Netflix series "Orange Is the New Black." In 2019, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio proclaimed June 11 as Regina Spektor Day, and she was inducted into the Bronx Walk of Fame. Spektor is married to singer-songwriter Jack Dishel, and they have two children.