Things started happening fast for Olga Osipova after the launch of her all-original debut CD "Velvet & Lace". Not even a month after the Canadian release, the CD has already topped the smooth jazz charts in her native Russia, added to rotation on Couleur Jazz 91.9 in Montreal and many Campus/Community stations, played on CBC's Hot Air, and received rave reviews on a number of TV stations and local papers; Olga's picture appeared on the cover of BC Musician Magazine in August, Madeleine Magazine in November, she won the BCIMA for Best Jazz Artist of the Year, and most recently, Olga was announced Finalist in the 8th Annual Independent Music Awards.
Olga's story is quite unique; after living in two different countries and going through two immigrations, she has chosen Canada as her home and music as her career.
Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Olga grew up in a musical family. Her uncle, a famous concert pianist, recognized her talent from an early age and made sure that Olga received classical piano lessons from the best instructors in the country. At fourteen, she was already an accomplished pianist, winning awards and performing complex arrangements well beyond her years.
As she became more fascinated with the art of composition, she began writing instrumental pieces, later adding lyrics to her compositions, as her skill improved.
A passionate student, Olga felt like she needed to expand her writing beyond her first language and completed a Masters degree in Linguistics; now fluent in Russian, German and English, she moved to Germany and continued her performance career and musical training at Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg.
It was in Germany that Olga joined a popular jazz a-cappella group Point 7. With Point 7, she toured Germany and Switzerland, performing in front of crowds of 500+ people. At that time, Olga began to write in German; soon her original song "Wieder und Wieder" ("Again and Again") was receiving local radio play, with Olga's voice and musical style being compared to the late, smoky Marlene Dietrich.
From Germany Olga moved to Canada where she released her debut CD in July 2008. She performs regularly for the fans and music lovers world-wide and continues to enchant audiences from British Columbia to Russia, and many points in between.