Ukraine 2012 : Gaitana

Gaitana, whose actual name is Gaita-Lurdes Essami, was born in Kyiv in 1979 to a ukranian mother and a congolese father. The exotic beauty has actually spent five years in her father's homeland. She subsequently moved back to Ukraine along with her mother, while her father remained in Brazzaville to run his succesfull transportation business. She showed an interest in music from an early age, studying the saxophone at a music school.

Since bursting onto the Ukranian music scene alomst ten years ago, she has managed to release six albums: О тебе (About You in 2003), Слідом за тобою (Following You in 2005), Капли дождя (Raindrops in 2007), a children's compilation album Kукaбaррa (Kookaburra in 2008), Тайные желания (Secret Desires in 2008) which won earned her a Golden Record award for album sales and her latest offering, Только сегодня (Only Today in 2010).

Throughout her whole career she has remained with the same record label, Lavina Music. Her nigh on ten year career has produced some truly massive hits in her homeland, most notably the single Shaleniy in 2007 which topped most national charts for nine consecutive weeks, consolidating her star status and making her the artist to aspire to. Gaitana's dedication and hard work has paid dividends, with awards being heaped upon her, such as both Best album and Best female singer at the Ukranian Music awards in 2008.

Her meteoric rise to fame has not gone unnoticed overseas either, attracting great interest and resulting in a collaboration with major producer Narada Michael Walden (who is also known for his work with another soul diva, the late Whitney Houston). The talented and dedicated artist experienced yet another career highlight, when invited to perform at Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony in 2009.

But Gaitana the woman is so much more about merely music. Did you know for example that she is multilingual, speaking both Ukranian, English and Russian in addition to French and Lingala. And just to prove furthermore (as if any proof was needed!) that she is not just beauty but brains as well, she also boasts a degree in economics. As if that wasn't enough, the dark beauty also has a philanthropic side to her too, taking part in and supoprting numerous charitable events, including an anti AIDS organisation, various children's organisations, as well as her work for UNICEF.

The versatile performer is currently working on her next album, slated for release in the not too distant future. The project is led by Narada Michael Walden, Eric Daniels, Rob Hoffman and Robert Damper, with recording taking place in the United States.