- Full name – Viktoriia Mykolaivna Leleka
- Date of birth – November 10, 1990
- City – Shakhtarske (Ukraine)
- Language – Ukrainian, English
- Occupation – singer, composer
- Genre – jazz, folk jazz, electronic music
Leléka is the folk jazz music project of Ukrainian artist Viktoriia Leleka, who has been living in Berlin since 2014. Viktoriia is also the founder of the avant-pop band DONBA₴GRL and Ukraine's representative at the international song contest «Eurovision-2026».
The Artist's Journey
The future stage star was born in the Dnipropetrovsk region, where she discovered the world of music, theatre, and creativity from an early age. Her passion for the arts was fully supported by her parents, as the family's life was deeply connected with culture. The artist's father headed the «Shakhtar» Palace of Culture for several years, led the «Viktoriia» dance ensemble for more than three decades, and named his daughter after the ensemble. Her mother worked as a lighting director and led a theatre club.
Viktoriia received her first professional education at the Kyiv National I. K. Karpenko-Karyi University of Theatre, Cinema and Television, where she studied acting. Even then, she combined her studies with work at the Young Theatre, where she not only performed on stage but also developed her vocal abilities. Her theatrical roles included performances in «Round Dance of Love» and «Matchmaking in Honcharivka».
The artist openly admits that from childhood she dreamed of becoming a singer and dedicating her life to music. Initially, she planned to apply to the Department of Folk Vocals in Kharkiv, but after an unsuccessful application attempt, she abandoned the idea. It was then that her father suggested she try acting instead, and that decision proved to be life-changing.
Later, the artist's creative biography continued to develop abroad. She earned a master's degree in composition in Dresden. As of 2026, Leléka continues her master's studies in film composition at the Babelsberg Film University in Potsdam, refining her artistic style and expanding her creative horizons as a composer, performer, and songwriter.
The Choice of the Project Name
The name LELÉKA was chosen literally on the eve of the band's first festival performance, but over time it became a true symbol for the group. According to the artist herself, a stork symbolizes the birth of new life. That is why the band's music seeks to breathe new life into Ukrainian folk songs, introducing them to contemporary audiences.
The singer also draws another meaningful parallel: just as storks return home from migration every year, she too always returns to Ukraine through her music and every new composition, regardless of the country where she lives or tours.
Changing Her Surname into a Stage Identity
Another important chapter in the artist's creative biography was changing her surname. She explains that it was a carefully considered decision that concerned not only her personal life but also the final formation of her artistic identity. Today, the artist's official surname is Leleka, and it is not merely a stage name or pseudonym. This surname is officially registered in her legal documents.
The singer has repeatedly emphasized that she consciously made this choice because the surname Leleka most accurately reflects her inner world, artistic image, and the path she has traveled together with her musical project. She admitted that she particularly values this name because she chose it herself. She fully identifies herself with the band LELÉKA and therefore considers her new surname an inseparable part of her personality.
The decision was prompted by personal circumstances, particularly her divorce. By that time, the band LELÉKA had already existed for about six years and had become something much greater than simply a music group. It is worth noting that Viktoriia's birth surname was Korniikova. After getting married, she became Viktoriia Anton, but later permanently gave up both of her previous surnames.
Musical Career
Viktoriia began her first professional performances abroad as a member of the Berlin choir Young Voices Brandenburg and also collaborated with the Flinstones big band. It was in Berlin that the folk jazz band LELÉKA was founded in 2016 and quickly attracted the attention of the European music industry. Besides the singer herself, the original lineup included pianist Robert Wienröder, double bassist Tomasz Kolarczyk, and drummer Jakob Hegner.
According to the artist, the idea of creating the band emerged from her desire to support friends in Ukraine who, after the Revolution of Dignity, regularly traveled to the ATO zone, organized creative workshops for children, and implemented numerous volunteer initiatives. That is why charity became an essential part of the band's activities from the very beginning.
After moving to Germany in 2014, Viktoriia struggled for a long time with being far away from her homeland. She repeatedly said that she wished she could be with her friends who were working in eastern Ukraine. As a result, she decided to support her country in another way – through concerts, Ukrainian music, and performances of folk songs for European audiences.
Creative Development
Following the release of the self-titled EP Leléka in 2017, the band, which was also featured in Ralph Dombrowski's book «111 Reasons to Love Jazz», continued to develop actively. In 2019, the group released its debut album Tuman, recorded with new pianist Pawel Widestrand. The next major release was the second studio album Sonce u Serci, issued in September 2021 by the GLM label. These albums brought the band international recognition, new fans, and firmly established its popularity on the European jazz scene.
«Eurovision-2026»
The decision to apply for the National Selection for «Eurovision» came almost spontaneously. The future competition single Ridnym gradually evolved from separate musical sketches and creative ideas. The composition was created in early 2022 in Berlin under the impression of numerous protests held by Ukrainians and international supporters against Russian aggression.
According to the singer, the song is dedicated to the invisible connection with loved ones and the inner strength that helps people endure even when thousands of kilometers separate them. Viktoriia paid particular attention to the wordplay between "wish you" and the Ukrainian phrase «виш'ю нову долю», explaining that it refers not to embroidery itself but to creating a new future through one's own actions, donations, sacrifice, and compassion.
The stage performance featured a restrained minimalist production, with the main focus placed on the vocalist, her charisma, and the strength of the composition itself. Jury member Kostiantyn Tomilchenko highly praised the performance, noting that sometimes a true masterpiece requires only one artist and one camera because sincerity is what matters most.
As a result, Leléka won the National Selection, receiving the maximum ten points from both the jury and the television audience. This earned her the right to represent Ukraine at the 70th anniversary «Eurovision-2026» Song Contest held in Vienna. In the grand final, the artist finished in ninth place.
New Achievements
On March 14, 2026, Leléka presented another international release. In collaboration with Italian composer Stefano Lentini, she released the joint EP Anima Mundi («Soul of the World»). The record includes three compositions featured in the sixth season of the popular Italian television series «The Sea Beyond».
Style and Song Themes
Leléka's work is distinguished by its original combination of progressive ethno-pop, contemporary electronic music, and authentic Ukrainian folklore. This unique blend of genres shapes the artist's recognizable sound, where tradition naturally intertwines with modernity.
One of the performer's defining features is her use of traditional folk vocal techniques. Her singing is instantly recognizable thanks to its combination of delicate emotionality, inner strength, and expressive intensity. Another important aspect of her artistry is her stage image: futuristic costumes harmoniously blend with Ukrainian ornaments, symbolism, and ethnic motifs, creating a complete artistic concept.
Through her songs, the artist explores themes of national identity, the memory of generations, preserving cultural heritage, and humanity's connection to its roots. At the same time, a significant part of her repertoire is devoted to personal resilience, the search for inner support, spiritual renewal after difficult trials, and faith in the future. It is precisely this depth of meaning that allows Leléka's music to resonate with an increasingly wide audience and attract listeners from different musical backgrounds.
Civic Position
Beyond the stage, Viktoriia Leleka is actively involved in volunteer work. She regularly participates in charity concerts, helps raise funds for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and uses her public profile and media platforms to draw attention to the most pressing challenges facing her homeland. For the artist, music and supporting the front have long become two inseparable areas of her life.
Following her participation in «Eurovision-2026», the singer joined the large-scale «Dronopad» charity campaign organized by the «Come Back Alive» Foundation. The initiative is aimed at strengthening protection against Russian drones over Ukrainian cities. As part of the project, military units receive pickup trucks, generators, modern radio equipment, and interceptor drones.
At the same time, Viktoriia Leleka continues promoting Ukrainian culture far beyond the country's borders, proving through her work that the Ukrainian language, folk traditions, and contemporary music can be relevant, stylish, and competitive on the global stage.
Discography:
- Leléka (EP) (2017);
- Tuman (EP) (2019);
- Sonce u Serci (2021);
- Rizdvo (2023);
- Kolysanky (2025).
Awards and Recognition:
- Grand Prix of the Lesya Ukrainka All-Ukrainian Recitation Competition (2011);
- StuVo Berlin Jazz Competition Award 2016 (category «Outstanding Interpretation of a Jazz Standard»);
- Cannes World Film Festival Award in the category «Best Music Video» («The Weapon», 2024).
Interesting Facts:
- While studying at the Karpenko-Karyi University, Viktoriia met actress Antonina Khyzhniak;
- Many of the singer's compositions gained popularity before their official release thanks to short teaser videos in which she performed them accompanied by guitar or piano;
- The band Leléka composed and produced the soundtrack for the Ukrainian drama television series «And There Will Be People»;
- In the band's earliest recordings, the performer was credited as Viktoriia Anton;
- In 2024, Viktoriia launched the art-pop and electronic project DONBA₴GRL. The following year, DONBA₴GRL became one of the participants of the prestigious Eurosonic Noorderslag showcase festival in the Netherlands, where Leleka presented a full concert set created together with German producer Jakohitsdifferent;
- Viktoriia is the only Ukrainian member of Leléka. The band's pianist represents Sweden, the drummer and producer represents Germany, while the double bassist was born in Germany but is of Polish descent.
