Vika Kovabiography
The elite international DJ’s fly to Holland for the yearly edition of MysteryLand – one of the world’s leading dance festivals. The past main stage headliners Paul Oakenfold, Armand van Helden, David Guetta, Marco V, Benny Benassi, Sharam Jey, Dr. Lektroluv, Tiga, Mason, Felix da Housecat, Fedde le Grand and Johan Gielen will have one thing in common – their music will be heard by thirty thousand people, together with the vocals and the powerful hosting voice of MC-vocalist Vika Kova. Russian-Ukrainian Vika Kova has come a long musical way before she broke through in the dance-scene of Amsterdam. It is time to look back on cold Russia, nights at Central Station and the National Song Contest in her homeland.
Vika is not strange to those long hours that DJ’s make, travelling from gig to gig. Born in Vladivostok, back then she already travelled regularly with her parents: “When I was 2 years old we moved to Germany, then to Rostov, Sevastopol, Krasnodar and Moscow. My father had a high function in the Soviet Army and that meant a lot of travelling for our family”. That made her grown up quickly: “Every time new school, new friends. I’ve learned already then, that people and things come and go; and you stay inseparable only with one person – with yourself”.
The National Song Contest.
Wherever she went, performing was always her purpose and way of survival. Neighbours, friends and even her father’s soldiers, all of them were “victims” of Vika’s stage longing and soon it was clear that the wish of her mother to see her daughter as a surgeon would never come true. “I went to the piano school, ballet and folks dance; wrote songs, finished Conservatoire for classic music and finally won the National Song Contest with my own compositions. Then I was invited to work in some of the biggest shows of Russia and was on tour for two years through the republics of formal Soviet Union”.
Despite the fact that she had a great opportunity for further career developments in her country, she decided to move to Europe. Her attraction to musical happening of the dance clubs and underground brought her to Amsterdam: “New dance music, called House was totally unknown for the Russian public. The genre of songs which was dominating the popular music of my time was for me creatively not interesting enough. I’m very glad that my artistic development and gathering of performing experience started in Russia – the country of strong and firm stage traditions. But when I understood that the style of music that I wanted to do was going to be difficult there, I had no choice but to change musical environment”.
In Holland she felt at home at once. Although it took a couple of years to learn the language and to observe the culture. “That beginning period was all about learning and exploring. I had to start everything from scratch in the country where I didn’t know a soul. Even to find a place to sleep was a problem – the first night I had to stay under the roof of Amsterdam’s Central Station”.
Competition
Today MC Vika Kova is a success story in the dance-scene of Holland. For her the problem of competition doesn’t really exist: “I’m always lucky with people. Besides that, a work atmosphere in Holland is quite relaxed, self-sufficient and friendly. The profession of MC (Master of Ceremony) was originally developed by guys-rappers, so, being a female MC-vocalist, I don’t really feel much competition. There are not so many girls-MC and we are all very different from each other. In general, a good party is not all about a DJ or MC or any other ingredient of the night, but about the chemistry between them, that gives an audience a good time. The wrong combination of performing artists can blow up any party”.
Vika’s work is based on improvisation. Yet she likes to be prepared: “Figurally speaking, I “knead dough” at home and “bake a pie” with any filling you like in front of a public”. “Individual approach” is also important for Vika’s looks. Being close with some talents of Amsterdam’s fashion-scene, Vika always has the most exclusive wear on during her performances.
“For such mega events like MysteryLand, Innercity, City Parades, Tomorrowland, PleasureDome, etc. is very important to be in top form. During the whole day I work and live with such “heavy-weights” as Tiesto, Armand van Helden, Paul Oakenfold, Benny Benassi, Ferry Corsten, Darren Emerson, Erick Morillo, David Guetta, Dr.Kucho, Marco V, Johan Gielen, Mauro Picotto, Felix da Housecat, Gene Farris and many more. And of course it’s a pleasure when your work gets noticed and after the performance the DJ’s stay backstage to share experience, complements and phone numbers. The atmosphere backstage is as much important as on stage itself.”
“I love what I do and don’t mind to work hard to make the best party’s in town”.