Alya Michelson

Alya Michelson (born July 4, 1983) is a Russian-born singer, songwriter, and philanthropist. Formerly a special correspondent for Russia's international news agency, RIA Novosti,[1] and a reporter for Vesti,[2] she is currently the co-chair of Michelson Philanthropies.[3]

Alya Michelson
Born
Alevtina Schepetina

July 4, 1983
Oryol, Russia
NationalityRussian
Alma mater
Occupation(s)Philanthropist, artist, singer, songwriter
OrganizationMichelson Philanthropies
Board member of
  • Found Animals Foundation
  • Michelson Medical Research Foundation
  • Michelson 20MM Foundation
SpouseGary Michelson
Websitehttps://www.alyamichelson.com/

She released her independent debut album, Ten Years of Solitude, in February 2019.[4]

Early life and education

Michelson (b. Alevtina Schepetina, 1983) was born in Oryol, Russia. While in high school, she worked at Russkoe Radio and as a freelance journalist for local publications.[5] In addition to attending a traditional high school, she studied vocal technique at Oryol Musical School.[5]

Michelson attended Moscow State University, where she received a degree in journalism.[5] She earned a master's degree in economics from Moscow State Institute of International Relations.[6]

Career

Journalism and public relations

While in Russia, Michelson covered breaking news as well as business, politics, and the military as a special news correspondent for RIA Novosti.[2] Fluent in Japanese, she was initially based in Moscow, and later reported from Tokyo. As a journalist, she reported on stories such as the Kursk submarine disaster and the Beslan school siege.[7] She also contributed to the independent newspaper, Kommersant, and served as a freelance correspondent for the state TV channel, Vesti (Russia 24).[8]

Michelson enrolled at Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 2006. She graduated with a Master's Degree in Economics in 2008, and subsequently served as the press secretary for the vice chairman of a State legislative body in the ruling assembly of Russia, leaving in 2012 to pursue music.[9][10]

Music

Michelson continued to compose music and sing while working as a journalist and public relations officer. In Tokyo, she co-founded and performed with the experimental group Japanica.[11] In 2018, while living in Los Angeles, she independently released her first single, "Animals",[12] and directed the music video for the song, which won a Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood Award.[13] She followed "Animals" with two additional singles, “Half of the Sun"[14] and "Puppet Strings."[15] "Puppet Strings" hit the Top 10 on the Euro Indie Music Chart and the Independent Airplay Chart.[16] "Animals" won a Best Music Video award at the California Women's Film Festival in January 2019.[17] She independently released her debut album, Ten Years of Solitude, in February 2019, produced and mixed by David J. Holman.[18] In April, it was nominated for four 2019 Independent Music Awards, including Best Electronic Album.[19]

Michelson released the single "American Beauty" in October 2019, also directing the song's music video.[20] Produced by Bill Schnee, a Dave Aude remix of the track charted on the Billboard dance club charts, peaking at #15 in February 2020.[21][22] In September 2021, she released the single "Pleasure is Mine", which was also produced by Schnee. It was the most added song on the November 23, 2021 Billboard Pop Airplay/Mainstream Top 100 chart.[23]

In 2022, Alya provided vocals to White Sun's Grammy-award winning album Mystic Mirror.[24][25]

Philanthropy

Michelson is the co-chair of Michelson Philanthropies, and serves on the board of directors for the Michelson Found Animals Foundation, Michelson Medical Research Foundation, Michelson Center for Public Policy, and The Michelson 20MM Foundation.[26] She and her husband signed the Giving Pledge in 2016, committing to donate the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes,[27] and in 2017 donated $50 million to found the USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience at the University of Southern California.[28] In 2022, she was a recipient of the Inner City Law Center's Humanitarian Award.[29]

Personal life

Alya, who is fluent in four languages, lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Dr. Gary Michelson, and their three children.[30][11]

References
  1. "Иванов: сокращение службы не снизит обороноспособность". РИА Новости (in Russian). February 4, 2005. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
  2. Ведомости (7 October 2010). "Владимир Ресин может остаться руководить Москвой еще на пару лет". www.vedomosti.ru.
  3. "In Los Angeles, Wellness Is Going to the Dogs". Town & Country. 2022-05-13. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
  4. McCall, Mindy (September 25, 2018). "Alya Michelson – Puppet Strings". No Depression.
  5. "В МГУ им.М.В.Ломоносова прошел День первокурсника". www.msu.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2019-03-31.
  6. "Международное радио Китая". russian.cri.cn. Retrieved 2019-03-31.
  7. "Алексей Березин, Алевтина Щепетина. Психологи призывают родителей как можно скорее привести побывавших в заложниках детей к специалистам, даже если сами родители не видят изменений в психическом состо". old.memo.ru. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
  8. "Великая багдадская стена". Коммерсантъ. Retrieved 2019-04-01.
  9. "Сообщение пресс-службы - Фракция "ЕДИНАЯ РОССИЯ"". www.er-duma.ru. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
  10. "Мэрская измена". Газета.Ru. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
  11. "Alya Michelson – Puppet Strings – Gashouse Radio". Retrieved 2019-04-01.
  12. Roberts, Mary (22 June 2018). "ALYA Brings Out the "Animals"". No Depression. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  13. "2018 Winners (Fall)". www.hollywoodcff.com.
  14. "ALYA Experiments with Cinematic Mystique on "Half of the Sun" (premiere)". PopMatters. 2 July 2018.
  15. "Alya Michelson - Puppet Strings". Indie Source.
  16. "APCCHART.COM © 1988 APC-stats EU/UE". www.euro200.net. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  17. "Winners". calwomensfest.com. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  18. "Buzz Music". BuzzMusic. 3 March 2019. Retrieved 2019-03-31.
  19. "The 17th Independent Music Awards Nominees". Independent Music Awards. Retrieved 2019-04-15.
  20. Brungardt, Leah (1 December 2020). "All Access Music An Interview With Russian Songstress ALYA On Her Newest Music and More! | All Access Music". All Access Music. All Access Music Group. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  21. Hollywood Life Staff (2019-10-11). "ALYA Delivers Powerful Message To Women Immigrants With New Song 'American Beauty'". Hollywood Life. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
  22. "Dance Club Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
  23. "Pop Singer Alya Ties Adele For Most Adds In A Single Week - And Makes History As The First Russian Born Artist To Hit The Top 100 Pop Radio Airplay Charts With Her Latest Single "Pleasure Is Mine"". Top40-Charts.com. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  24. "Mystic Mirror - White Sun | Release Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  25. Tagat, Anurag (2023-02-06). "American Group White Sun on Winning the New Age Album Grammy Award". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  26. "World Open Education Week With Dr. Gary Michelson and Alya Michelson". www.adweek.com. 10 March 2014. Retrieved 2019-03-31.
  27. "Alya and Gary K. Michelson, M.D." Giving Pledge. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  28. Tong, Sabrina (2017-11-02). "USC celebrates opening of largest building on campus". Daily Trojan. Retrieved 2019-03-31.
  29. "Inner City Law Center's 2022 Awards Luncheon". giving.innercitylaw.org.
  30. Pfferman, Naomi (2016-03-31). "Dr. Gary K. Michelson: Inventor and life-saver". Jewish Journal. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
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