From Busking to Beats: Early Foundations of a Rising Star
Singer and songwriter Sasha Santa Polina Gagarina, known for her work with the Hands Up group, opened up about her teenage years spent earning money through singing in local venues. In a candid interview with WomanHit.ru, she reflected on those formative days that helped shape her artistry and stage presence.
She described those early experiences as memorable and valuable. “It was a great time”, she recalled, offering a glimpse into a period filled with hustle and learning.
“When I was 13, I started looking for a part-time job before Christmas and they took me to a small cafe called Dana’s”, she explained. The earnings were modest, yet they felt substantial to a young performer who was hungry to prove herself. Rumors quickly spread that a schoolgirl was singing in restaurants, and the invitations began to pour in to places with bigger stages and better pay. Later, during ninth grade, she ventured into DJ work in a nightclub, broadening her experience across the music spectrum.
Gagarina framed this chapter as the foundation of her career. Those days offered more than money; they provided practical vocal training, an education in performance, and the chance to explore different genres. She noted that this period helped her understand both her own voice and the audience’s tastes, while still earning meaningful sums for a teenager navigating the early music industry. This foundation, she believes, was crucial for developing the artistry that followed.
In discussions about the business side of music, she has mentioned that the pricing for hit songs can be substantial. According to a studio associate, a single hit can start at around 300 thousand rubles, with teams typically drafting songs in advance and managers later deciding which artist is the best fit for a given track. This overview highlights the realities of the industry, where talent, timing, and strategic decisions converge to determine the path a song takes—whether it resonates with a broad audience or remains more niche. These insights underline how a performer’s career can be shaped by both early experiences and later professional management.
Gagarina’s early story also reflects the influence of mentors and peers. She has previously cited how encouragement from established artists inspired her direction and trajectory in the music world, shaping both confidence and ambition as she progressed. The journey from cafe stages to larger venues illustrates the persistence and curiosity that often accompany successful musical careers.
Overall, her youth in performance served as a testing ground, where she learned to balance artistic honesty with audience appeal, and where the economics of music began to reveal themselves. The lessons from those years continue to inform her approach to songwriting, stagecraft, and collaboration in the contemporary music landscape. (source: WomanHit.ru)