The performer of her songs, Yana Stanislavovna Diaghileva, better known as Yanka Diaghileva, was born on September 4, 1966 in the city of Novosibirsk. She became famous as one of the important representatives of the Siberian underground party.
The early years and the beginning of creativity
She was born in the usual Novosibirsk family of a power system and an engineer. In childhood, she was engaged in speed skating and swimming. She did not study very well at school, but nevertheless made progress in humanitarian subjects. Inspired by the poets of the silver age and Vysotsky, Yana began to write her poems in high school. In addition, in her school years she learned to play the piano and guitar.
After graduating in 1983, she wanted to enter the Institute of Culture, but because of her mother’s difficult condition she entered the Institute of Water Transport, where she didn’t like studying at all. But participation in the ensemble of political songs helped to dilute student everyday life, although it did not last long, and the girl dropped out of her second year at school.
In 1986, Janka nearly married her musician friend Dmitry Mitrokhin, but quickly realized that everyday life was not for her. In the same year, her mother died, which greatly affected the emotional state of the girl.
Creative biography
In 1985, Janka began to give acoustic performances, met with Alexander Bashlachev and Vadim Kuzmin, known as Cherny Lukich, who played a big role in her life. The first performances in the youth club gave way to concerts at other venues in the city, and later evenings began to take place in other cities. On one of these trips in 1987, Yana makes one of the most important acquaintances in her life with Yegor Letov. For some time Letov had to flee from the secret services throughout the country, and Diaghilev wandered with him. During this time, she wrote her most famous and brightest works, and also learned from Egor the rules of studio work, recorded several songs with "Civil Defense" and "Communism". In 1989, their paths diverged as couples.
Time passed, and the songs of Yanka Diaghileva began to appear on the radio. There was even an offer from Melody to record a record, but in the absence of profanity. The actress did not go for it, and refused the offer. At the same time, Sergey Firsov, a St. Petersburg producer, tried to promote her, making attempts to give concerts in Europe, but in vain.
All the following time, Yana lived in Novosibirsk, periodically speaking at festivals and concerts, but more often at apartment houses. He writes his material at Letov’s studio, unsuccessfully performs with the Great October Bands, and then decides to never give electric concerts again. This is what happens. Until his death, Janka plays only acoustics.
Relations with Bashlachev and Letov
It is difficult to say unambiguously about the relationship between Yana and SashBash. Of course, the musician had a great influence on the creative path of Diaghileva, made a huge and unforgettable impression on her. It was rumored that Alexander was in love, but did not receive reciprocity. There, at least one of the most famous lines of the song "On the tram rails" is dedicated to him. And it is also believed that the suicide of Bashlachev was the starting point for the Yankina depression.
The relationship of the poetess with Letov was specific. He himself said that they are to each other as husband and wife, but with a free life. Perhaps it was, only the characters of both did not allow them to get along. Both of them were complex people with radical thoughts. However, everything radical in Yegor came from his all-consuming hatred, and in Yanka - from great love. So, in the end, the girl completely ceased to put up with the divergence of points of view and left Letov. Despite this, the musicians remained friends, Janka continued to record her material at the "Defense" studio and tour with the group around the country.
The death of Yanka Diaghileva
The spring of 1991 dragged Diaghilev into ongoing depression. She cut off all contacts, stopped giving concerts. Last time I met my friends in March, and already in April I stopped communicating with all my relatives. On May 9, 1991, she left the parent's dacha, and after that no one else saw her until May 17, when her body was pulled out of the Inya River. The official cause of death is drowning as a result of an accident, but Yana's friends and relatives talk about suicide and murder. Letov talked for some time about the suicide note, but later said that he had invented it. Some friends said that they knew exactly who killed the girl. But the case is closed, and nothing is confirmed. The girl was buried at the Zaeltsovsky cemetery in the city of Novosibirsk, where many admirers of her work came. The grave is still a place where people come, they remember the texts of Yanka Diaghileva and think about life.
Discography
The following albums were released:
- “Not Allowed” (1988).
- The Declassified Elements (1988).
- "Sales!" (1989).
- "Anhedonia" (1989).
- "Home!" (1989).
- "Shame and Shame" (1991).
- "The Last Acoustics" (2009).
Memory
The poetess became a symbol of her era, a sign of protest against an unjust life and the struggle with the system. Her work is still remembered and loved, and the chords of Yanka Diaghileva play in warm meetings with friends. There are no official films dedicated to the singer. Part of the film "Healthy and Forever" about "Civil Defense" is dedicated to her, as well as part of the film "Footprints in the Snow" about the entire Siberian underground. Among unofficial paintings, there are short films by novice directors.
Songs dedicated to Janka are considered to be "Ophelia" by Yegor Letov, "Died, died" of the team "Umka and Bronevichok." Also in 2014, a memorial plaque was installed on Diaghileva’s house, and in 2017, the project began to promote the creation of Siberian punk house there.