Mika Newton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mika Newton
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| Background information | |
| Native name |
Мiка Ньютон
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| Birth name | Oksana Stefanivna Hrytsai |
| Born | March 5, 1986 |
| Origin | Burshtyn, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Ukraine) |
| Genres | Pop, soul, pop rock, Eurodance, Europop |
| Occupation(s) | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1995–present |
Mika Newton (born Oksana Stefanivna Hrytsai on March 5, 1986) is a Ukrainian singer. She was born in the city of Burshtyn, Ukraine. Today, she lives in Los Angeles, California, in the United States.
Her stage name has a special meaning. "Mika" was inspired by Mick Jagger, the lead singer of the Rolling Stones. "Newton" stands for "new tone," showing her fresh sound in music.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Music
Mika Newton was born on March 5, 1986, in Burshtyn, Ukraine. From a young age, she loved to sing. She taught herself by listening to the radio and copying the artists she heard.
When she was only nine years old, she started to take part in local singing contests. This was the beginning of her journey into the world of music.
At 16, Mika moved to Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. She went to a special school called the College of Circus and Variety Arts. There, she studied singing, piano, acting, and dancing. She kept entering talent competitions, and soon, people in the music industry noticed her. At just 16, she signed a contract with a record label.
Music Career
Mika's career grew quickly in Ukraine. She released two albums and her songs were used in many Ukrainian and Russian movies and TV shows.
Representing Ukraine at Eurovision 2011
In 2011, Mika Newton was chosen to represent Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest. This is a huge international music competition where countries from all over Europe (and beyond) compete. The event was held in Düsseldorf, Germany.
She performed the song "Angel." To win the spot, she competed against 18 other singers on a TV show. The winner was decided by votes from the public and a jury. Mika received the most points and won the honor of singing for her country.
At the Eurovision final, Mika gave a powerful performance. She was joined on stage by Kseniya Simonova, an artist who creates amazing pictures using sand. Mika finished in fourth place, which was a great achievement.
Moving to the United States
After her success at Eurovision, Mika was invited to Los Angeles to work with famous music professionals. She met with songwriter Walter Afanasieff and producer Randy Jackson.
In June 2011, she signed a new contract and moved to Los Angeles to start a new chapter in her career. She began making pop-rock music for an American audience.
In 2012, she released her first U.S. single, "Don't Dumb Me Down." The music video was shown on MTV. A year later, in 2013, she released more music, including the songs "Come Out and Play" and "Magnets."
Grammy Awards Performance
In 2022, Mika Newton took part in a very special performance at the 2022 Grammy Awards. She sang on stage with John Legend and other Ukrainian artists.
Their performance was a tribute to the people of Ukraine. It happened after a message from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was shown during the awards ceremony.
Personal Life
In December 2018, Mika Newton married Chris Saavedra, who works as a talent agent. A talent agent helps artists manage their careers.
Mika's sister, Liliya Hrytsai, has served in the Ukrainian Army.
See also
In Spanish: Mika Newton para niños
