Shaman (singer): Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Russian musiciansinger-songwriter (born 1991)}}

'''Yaroslav Yuryevich Dronov''' ({{lang-ru|Ярослав Юрьевич Дронов}}; born November 22, 1991<ref name=eu_sanctions />), better known by his stage name '''Shaman''' (stylized in [[all caps]]), is a Russian [[singer-songwriter]] and [[music producer]]. He is well known for writing and producing [[Pop music|pop]] and [[Rock music|rock]] music. His style mixes contemporary music, ethnic singing and unique vocal techniques. [[Honored Artist of the Russian Federation]] (2024).

Shaman was voted the second best Russian singer of 2022 in a poll by the state-owned ''[[Russian Public Opinion Research Center]]'' (VTsIOM).<ref>[https://tass.ru/obschestvo/16213245 Россияне назвали лучших певцов и актеров 2022 года] // [[TASS|ТАСС]], 1 ноября 2022</ref> He received the honorary title of [[Merited Artist of the Russian Federation]] in 2024.

Shaman supportedexpressed his support for the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] in December 2022, and was invited to speak and perform at governmentKremlin-organized events.<ref>{{cite news |title=Власти пытаются приучить россиян гордиться войной |url=https://meduza.io/feature/2022/12/25/vlasti-pytayutsya-priuchit-rossiyan-gorditsya-voynoy |work=[[Meduza]] |date=25 December 2022 |language=ru}}</ref> In November 2022, he was criticized by the head of the Russian Media Group for not performing in [[Russian-occupied territoriesannexation of UkraineDonetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts|Russian-occupied territoriesregions in Southeastern Ukraine]], and in January 2023 he played for Russian soldiers in [[Luhansk]] and [[Mariupol]].<ref name="NYT"/>

On 17 March 2023, the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Latvia)|Latvian foreignMinistry ministryof Foreign Affairs]] imposed [[International sanctions during the Russian invasion of Ukraine|sanctions]] on him]], banning him from entering the country amongalongside other Russian artists and cultural figures who supported the war[[Russian ininvasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-03-17 |title=Латвия запретила въезд певцу Shaman, Надежде Бабкиной и Лере Кудрявцевой |url=https://www.svoboda.org/a/latviya-zapretila-vezd-shamanu-nadezhde-babkinoy-i-lere-kudryavtsevoy/32322944.html |access-date=2024-06-17 |work=Радио Свобода |language=ru}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 17, 2023 |title=Латвия запретила въезд в страну певцу Shaman, Надежде Бабкиной и Стасу Старовойтову |url=https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2023/03/17/latviia-zapretila-vezd-v-stranu-pevtsu-shaman-nadezhde-babkinoi-i-stasu-starovoitovu-news |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Новая газета Европа}}</ref> On 20 July of the same year, Dronov was placed on [[Canada]]'s sanctions list.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-20 |title=Канада ввела санкции против системы «Мир» и «большой четверки» операторов России |url=https://www.forbes.ru/society/493170-kanada-vvela-sankcii-protiv-sistemy-mir-i-bol-soj-cetverki-operatorov-rossii |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Forbes.ru |language=ru}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=Global Affairs |date=2022-02-04 |title=Sanctions – Russian invasion of Ukraine |url=https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/issues_development-enjeux_developpement/response_conflict-reponse_conflits/crisis-crises/ukraine-sanctions.aspx?lang=eng |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=GAC}}</ref>

On 24 June 2024, Dronov was [[International sanctions during the Russian invasion of Ukraine|sanctioned]] by the [[European Union]] for participating in Kremlin-organized concerts, including in the [[Russian annexation of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts|Russian-occupied regions in Southeastern Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite news|date=2024-06-24|title=EU sanctions Chechen dictator’s mom|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-sanctions-chechen-ramzan-kadyrov-mother-russia-ukraine-war/|accessdate=2024-06-28|author=Veronika Melkozerova|work=Politico}}</ref><ref name=eu_sanctions>{{cite EU law|title=COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2024/1738 of 24 June 2024 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine|eurlextag= OJ:L_202401738}}</ref> Following this, his [[YouTube]] channel and [[Spotify]] artist page were terminated.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Times |first=The Moscow |date=2024-07-05 |title=YouTube Bans Pro-War Russian Artists |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/07/05/youtube-bans-pro-war-russian-artists-a85615 |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=The Moscow Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Times |first=The Moscow |date=2024-06-28 |title=Spotify Removes Songs of Pro-War Russian Artists |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/06/28/spotify-removes-songs-of-pro-war-russian-artists-a85550 |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=The Moscow Times |language=en}}</ref> In response to the YouTube suspension of his channel, Shaman planned a protest concert near the [[Embassy of the United States, Moscow|U.S. embassyEmbassy in Moscow]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Волин |first=Денис |last2=Краснов |first2=Иван |date=2024-07-20 |title=«Тапает хомяка». Как прошел концерт SHAMAN у стен посольства США в Москве |url=https://rtvi.com/stories/shaman-tapaet-homyaka-populyarnyj-rossijskij-ispolnitel-dal-konczert-u-sten-posolstva-ssha-v-moskve/ |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=Главные новости в России и мире - RTVI |language=ru}}</ref> Kremlin secretary [[Dmitry Peskov]] praised the protest as "skillful".<ref>{{Cite web |title=«Умеет лучше всего»: Песков прокомментировал концерт Shaman у посольства США |url=https://vm.ru/news/1152899-peskov-prokommentiroval-provedenie-koncerta-shaman-u-posolstva-ssha |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=Вечерняя Москва |language=ru}}</ref>