Svetlana Toropoviene shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Svetlana, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
“Whenever I sit down to compose my songs and music, I lose all sense of time. Hours can pass like minutes when I’m exploring melodies or shaping lyrics, because it feels like I’m not just writing songs—I’m reconnecting with myself. Music gives me space to get lost in sound, but at the same time, it’s what always brings me back to who I really am.”
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I was born and raised in Vilnius, Lithuania, in an international family with Lithuanian, German, and Russian roots. This multicultural background shaped my identity and gave me the ability to speak fluently and write songs in several languages. From a very early age, music and singing became inseparable from who I am. My journey on stage began at the age of five, and after a few early performances, music teachers quickly recognized my rare talent and absolute pitch, preparing me for various local “Kids’ Voice Contests.” In 1984, I proudly won the title of “Song of the Songs” at the Kids’ Voice competition.
I later graduated from Music School with a specialization in piano. Over seven years of study, I deepened both my theoretical knowledge and practical skills, including solfeggio, song composition basics, and vocal technique—learning pitch, breath support, and control. Although family circumstances prevented me from continuing at the Music Academy, I pursued higher education at the Pedagogical University, earning a degree in English, Lithuanian, and Russian Linguistics, followed by a Master’s degree in Comparative Linguistics. After graduation, I taught ESP courses to adult students at the College.
Even during this long break from the stage, I never gave up on my dream of returning to music. The turning point came after the passing of my father in 2014, which inspired me to finally pursue my passion professionally. I began by sharing cover songs and short piano instrumentals on YouTube, before discovering DAWs and diving into songwriting and music production. My focus soon turned to Dance Pop, Electronic Pop, Synth Pop, Euro Dance, and Adult Contemporary.
On September 9, 2022, I released my debut single Raise Me High in collaboration with Danish musician Ocean of Sound. Later that year, I became an official Spotify artist and began working with Aleksej Saralidze, a highly experienced musician engineer, as well as “Mamastudios,” one of Lithuania’s top recording studios. Together, we released a series of singles, including Don’t Let Me Go, Feel, Only You, Paklausyk, Unfaded Love, Set Me Free, Last Good Bye, Only Light, Stay Away, You Lost Your Way, Love Me Now or Never, Mes Vėl Kartu, and many others.
My songs Lonely Heart and Set Me Free both won Golden Kayak Awards on indiemusicpeople.com for Best Electronic and Dance Song in 2023 and 2024. Alongside my solo work, I’ve also collaborated with musicians worldwide, including AmiR from Kenya, Tony Peter from Germany, and Fuchakid from Antigua, exploring genres such as Funk, Trance, House, and Afro-beats.
Raised on the legendary sounds of Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Toni Braxton, ABBA, Modern Talking, A-ha, Roxette, Laura Pausini, Lara Fabian, Madonna, and others, I aim to carry forward the uplifting spirit of 90s and 2000s music. My mission is simple yet powerful: to spread joy and inspire people across the world—even if only for a few minutes through a single song.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I used to believe that my voice and my songs were too small to matter — that they were just for me. Over time, I’ve learned that music has the power to reach beyond me, to touch hearts and bring joy to others. Now I believe that even the smallest melody can make a difference.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self: be patient with your journey. Every struggle, every doubt, and every setback is shaping you into the artist and person you’re meant to become. Trust your voice, because one day it will be someone else’s light — so keep singing, even in the dark.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes — the public version of me is the real me. The same heart and passion you see online is the one I carry in everyday life. My composed songs and instrumental music is simply another way of showing who I truly am.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
I understand deeply that people often see only the outcome of someone’s work and feel envy, without realizing the effort, practice, and dedication behind it. I’ll probably never fully understand that perspective, as in my opinion all people are talented in something: someone can be talented in baking the most tasty cupcakes ever or painting in Ebru technique, someone can be an award-winning photographer or very successful basketball player. People simply need to discover their talents and believe in themselves.
Contact Info:
- Twitter: https://x.com/LanaToro21
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/svetlana.toropoviene.9
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SvetlanaToropoviene
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/hello-187
Image Credits
Photographer Igoris Petinas
Selfies (home archive): Svetlana Toropoviene
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