Singer SHAMAN will represent Russia at Intervision 2025: what is Yaroslav Dronov famous for

The international music competition "Intervision-2025" will be held in Moscow on September 20. Russia will be represented by Yaroslav Dronov, better known by his stage name SHAMAN. The artist will compete in a musical duel with vocalists from 23 countries, performing the lyrical song "Straight to the heart." For more information about the artist's biography and competitive composition, see the Izvestia article.

Who is SHAMAN: the biography of Yaroslav Dronov

Yaroslav Yuryevich Dronov was born on November 22, 1991 in Novomoskovsk, Tula region, into a creative family. Yaroslav's father is a professional guitarist, and his mother is a singer. The musical atmosphere at home has shaped the boy's interest in musical creativity since childhood.

At the age of four, Yaroslav began studying in the Assorted vocal and variety group, with which he performed on stage and participated in concert tours. Together with the ensemble, he became a laureate of numerous regional, national and international competitions, winning first places and the Grand Prix.

Yaroslav's educational path is also connected with music: he graduated from a music school with a folk singing class, then from the Mikhail Glinka Novomoskovsk Music College with a degree in folk choir director. In 2012, Dronov moved to Moscow and entered the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music at the Faculty of pop and Jazz Singing, where he received a professional musical education.

Contest of the Year: where and when will Intervision 2025 take place, who will participate

Performers from more than 20 countries will compete.

Creative path and participation in TV projects

In 2013, Yaroslav became a participant in the show "Factor A", where he took third place and was highly appreciated, he was predicted to have a successful future in music.

In 2014-2017, he was the lead singer of the cover band Rush Hour. In 2016, Dronov, on the recommendation of colleagues, applied to participate in the show "The Voice", where, choosing singer Pelageya as a mentor, he reached the finals and took second place.

The beginning of a solo career

In 2017, Yaroslav left the Rush Hour group and started working under his own brand. Since 2020, the artist has been performing under the pseudonym SHAMAN, independently producing the entire creative process — from composing songs to directing music videos.

The artist's first major popularity came in 2021 with the track "Fly Away", which went viral on TikTok and brought SHAMAN a huge audience of fans. In 2022-2023, he released several successful singles and albums, including "Stand Up" and "I am Russian", which received acclaim from the public and music critics. In addition to concert tours in Russia, the artist is actively developing his own musical project, collaborating with producer Viktor Drobysh.

Why Yaroslav Dronov took the pseudonym SHAMAN

Yaroslav Dronov took the pseudonym SHAMAN in 2020, when he decided to start a solo career and separate his stage life from his personal one. In an interview, the artist explained that he had been looking for a long time for a sonorous and capacious name that would reflect his creative essence. He drew inspiration from comments from fans who called his vocals "magical" and "hypnotic," comparing his performances to shamanic worship, a mystical rite with deep energy.

Yaroslav himself emphasized that SHAMAN is not just a name, but a special stage image that helps him express on stage the energy and strength that is not present in ordinary life. He noted that Yaroslav Dronov and SHAMAN are like two different people: the first is the artist himself off stage, and the second is his creative alter ego, a "superhero" who fascinates the audience.

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The personal life of singer SHAMAN

The author of the hit "I am Russian" was married twice. Yaroslav's first wife was Marina Roshchupkina, a vocal teacher from his hometown of Novomoskovsk. In 2012, the couple officially married, and two years later their daughter Varvara was born.

After Yaroslav moved to Moscow and began an active career, his wife was unable to adapt to life in the capital, preferring to stay in Novomoskovsk. In 2016, the official divorce took place. Yaroslav now maintains a warm relationship with his daughter and is actively involved in her upbringing.

Elena Martynova, Deputy General Director for Strategic Communications at Megafon, became the singer's second wife. The marriage was concluded in 2017. However, in 2024, the couple announced their divorce.

In 2025, during one of the concerts, SHAMAN publicly announced his relationship with Ekaterina Mizulina, head of the Safe Internet League. The actor does not rule out the possibility of formalizing the marriage in the future, but for now the couple prefers to focus on living together and working together.

What song will SHAMAN perform on "Intervision"?

Singer SHAMAN will represent Russia at the international music competition "Intervision-2025". The artist will perform at number nine with the song "Straight to the heart." The song became one of the most discussed music releases of the summer of 2025 and has already gained popularity among listeners.

"Straight to the Heart" is a soulful lyrical ballad about difficult and painful love, written by producer Maxim Fadeev, who is also responsible for the arrangement and overall musical style of the track. In the lyrics, the hero asks his beloved to forgive him or let him go, admitting that this love has shattered his dreams and brought pain.

The Intervision 2025 Program

Intervision 2025 will take place on September 20 in Moscow on the stage of the Live Arena. The program of the final promises to be a large-scale and spectacular event, including an introductory number, a colorful parade of cultures and video visuals of the participants, revealing the features of national traditions and achievements.

The artists will perform by drawing lots, presenting live songs that reflect either national culture or modern musical trends. An international jury consisting of music industry professionals from different countries will evaluate the vocals, stagecraft and originality of each number, ensuring objectivity by prohibiting voting for representatives of their own country.

The winner will receive a crystal cup and a cash prize of 30 million rubles, while the rest of the participants will be awarded with diplomas.