Assia Ahhatt

Assia Ahhatt (real name Inessa Assia Balenko;[1] born June 3, 1965 in Kyiv, Ukraine) is a Ukrainian singer and violinist, Merited Artist of Ukraine (2018).

Assia Ahhatt
Ассія Ахат
Background information
Born3 June 1965
Kyiv, Ukraine
GenresClassical music, Pop
Occupation(s)Singer, violinist
Websiteassiaahhatt.com

Ahhatt gained global recognition in 2013 with her first U.S. hit single "If Only Tonight". Ahhatt's 2019 PBS concert show "A Music Extravaganza", which was recorded live at the National Opera of Ukraine, aired from June 2019 through early 2020.

Early life and education

Assia Ahhatt was born in Kyiv.

Graduated from Glier College of Music and National Music Academy, both located in Kyiv, Ukraine. After graduation, she completed an internship at The Music Academy in Nice, France (French: Academie de musique de Nice).

Career

A violin prodigy since age five, Ahatt won numerous European competitions, and was among the Ukrainian National Philharmonic’s youngest soloists ever.[2]

Ahhatt’s first solo release Homo Novus came in 1999 and introduced her favorite classical-style instrumental music set to her own arrangements, followed by a tour of major U.S. cities. The single appeared on numerous U.S. charts, including Billboard’s Hot Single Chart (#6 in Billboard’s 2014 - Singles Chart).

In 2002, Ahhatt turned her trained voice to singing and signed contracts with EMI records (Poland)[3] and then Universal Poland, where she recorded the duet "Where Are You Now?" with Polish-born Hollywood actor Bogusław Linda — who also starred in the video. The song was an instant hit in Europe.

That same year, Ahhatt signed a contract with Universal/Ukrainian Records, who released the album "Tebe, Anais" (For You, Anais).

The album Chocolad (Chocolate) was released in 2003, showcasing Ahhatt's global appeal with songs performed in Russian, Polish and French.

In her 2005 album "Душа болела" (Soul Hurts), Ahhatt included a vocal performance of Dreams in a self-created language that only she knows.

In 2005, Ahhatt co-founded music group 69, expanding her role to producer and co-writer. The group's albums "Горячий поцелуй" (Hot Kiss) and "I Like It" were released in 2006.

2007 saw Ahhatt release another solo album, "Я лучшая" (I Am the Best), followed by 2010's "Ангелы не курят" (Angels Don't Smoke).

In 2011, Ahhatt turned her creative focus to modern violin music and recorded her chart-topping U.S. debut single "If Only Tonight". The recording received recognition by DRT National Airplay in the Indie, R&B, and Hip Hop categories, reaching #6 on Billboard's singles chart, as well as being featured on their National Dance Club Chart for several weeks. A remix by DJ Ralphi Rosario was a hit in dance clubs and discos across the U.S., and was on Billboard's National Dance Club Chart for several consecutive weeks.

After the success of "If Only Tonight", Ahhatt turned her attention to Latin sounds, pairing up with Puerto Rican rapper Wisin to record Fiesta in San Juan, a dynamic, bilingual dance number with a towering violin solo. Both artists appear in the song's popular video, which was filmed in Old San Juan and produced and directed by the Jessy Terrero.[4][5] Fiesta in San Juan made Billboard's Latin Tropical Chart, and the remix is nearing the Top 10 on Billboard's National Dance Club Chart.[6]

Ahhatt's evolution continued as she transformed into a pop performer who uses both her violin and her voice. The award-winning single Disco, produced by Dmytro Monatyk of Chilibisound, was released in 2016,[7] and in April 2017 Assia debuted her single "Переплетает" to an audience in her home city of Kyiv.[8][9] Her next single was 2017's "You Will Miss Me", recorded at Hit Factory Criteria in Miami and produced by Luny Tunes.

The artist considers her 2018 album "All In" to be among the biggest achievements of her career, recorded on her own label Seize the Day Entertaining in partnership with multiple Grammy winner Humberto Gatica, who also produced the album and show of Ahhatt's PBS show A Music Extravaganza. All In's 13 international hits feature Assia's violin solos, backed by a full orchestra.[2]

Ahhatt has appeared with music icons including Robert Plant, Mark Knopfler, Jean-Luc Ponty, Pierre Blanchard, Kurt Elling, and Chris Botti, and worked with music composer Eric Serra. She records in Europe's top studios and the Westlake Studios in Los Angeles, Calif.[2]

Videography

Assia's PBS concert show "A Music Extravaganza" was recorded live at the National Opera of Ukraine, directed by producer Gene Bortnick. The show was a huge hit in national airings (June 2019 to early 2020).

Discography
  1. 1999 — Homo Novus[10]
  2. 2002 — To You, Anais
  3. 2003 — Chocolate
  4. 2005 — Soul Hurts
  5. 2006 — Hot Kisses, I Like It
  6. 2007 — I Am the Best
  7. 2010 — Angels Don't Smoke
  8. 2013 — If Only Tonight
  9. 2014 — Fiesta in San Juan
  10. 2016 — Disco
  11. 2017 — You Will Miss Me, Perepletaet, All-In
  12. 2019 — A Music Extravaganza (Live-In concert and album)
  13. 2020 — A Date at the Movies

References
  1. "Указ Президента України №80/2016" (in Ukrainian). Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  2. Jerry Doby (2017-10-17). "International superstar violinist Assia Ahhatt and Humberto Gatica go 'All-In'". The Hype Magazine. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  3. "Ассия Ахат Discography". Discogs.
  4. "Jessy Terrero Music Video Credits as Director". IMVDb.
  5. "Assia Ahhatt - Fiesta In San Juan (2014)". IMVDb.
  6. "Fiesta In San Juan. Assia Ahhatt Featuring Wisin". Billboard.
  7. "MONATIK стал продюсером новой песни Ассии Ахат" (in Russian). Русское Радио Україна. 2016-09-27.
  8. "Ассия Ахат презентовала песню "Переплетает"". Русское Радио Україна. 2017-04-12.
  9. "В клипе на песню "Переплетает" Ассия Ахат решилась на смелый эксперимент со своей внешностью".
  10. https://www.billboard.com/music/assia-ahhatt
External video
Assia Ahhatt — If Only Tonight on YouTube
Assia Ahhatt — Unbreak My Heart on YouTube
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