Darja Schabad
Encyclopedia
Darja Schabad, born 6 January 1983, is a vocalist and actress originally from Riga
, Latvia
. Darja grew up in Bremen
, Germany
before moving to London
, United Kingdom
, where she visited Bradfield College
to complete her A-Level studies. Darja speaks four languages fluently due to her international upbringing - Russian, German, English and Spanish.
Darja deferred her University education to participate in the popular German reality TV Show Popstars
in the year of 2001. More than 11,000 singers attended open television auditions in Frankfurt
, Cologne
, Berlin
, Stuttgart
, Hamburg
, and Munich
, conducted by choreographer Detlef "D!" Soost, producer Alex Christensen, and singer and radio host Noah Sow. After auditioning in Frankfurt
and after multiple recalls, Darja was chosen as one of 32 contestants who immediately travelled to Ibiza, Spain to get trained in singing, dancing, and fitness. In the end three females, including Darja, and five males remained who again moved into a loft in Munich to start working on their performance and publicity skills.
During a special episode on November 11, 2001, judges Soost and Christensen eventually disclosed that Ross Antony, Hila Bronstein
, Shaham Joyce, Faiz-Kevin Mangat, Verena "Indira" Weis, and Giovanni Zarrella were chosen to become part of the multicultural group Bro'Sis
. Darja was voted out in that episode.
During Popstars
Darja gained significant publicity in Germany and started working on a solo career with Producer Tony Coutura. Darja rejected a solo record deal offer by East West Records
to pursue a BSc in International Relations
at the prestigious London School of Economics
. While still at university, in 2003 Darja participated in ITV’s Pop Idol (series 2)
, where she was selected into the last 5 groups of 10 in the competition. After her performance of Shakira's "Underneath your Clothes" Simon Cowell
stated that Darja has The X Factor
.
After graduating in 2005, Darja transferred to New York City in 2007, to pursue an Acting Degree at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Since her graduation she has appeared in films, commercials, industrials and voiceovers, representing companies such as Perkinelmer, Canon
, UBS Investment Bank and PUMA
, where she is the voice of the PUMA Perfume Animagical global commercial campaign, featuring Usain Bolt
. Darja is currently working as a Host and Executive Producer for CorporateProfile.com.
Darja is still active as a singer, most recently performing at The Master of Merriment Gallery Opening in New York City.
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
. Darja grew up in Bremen
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
before moving to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, where she visited Bradfield College
Bradfield College
Bradfield College is a coeducational independent school located in the small village of Bradfield in the English county of Berkshire.The college was founded in 1850 by Thomas Stevens, Rector and Lord of the Manor of Bradfield...
to complete her A-Level studies. Darja speaks four languages fluently due to her international upbringing - Russian, German, English and Spanish.
Darja deferred her University education to participate in the popular German reality TV Show Popstars
Popstars
Popstars is an international reality television franchise and a precursor to the Idol series. The series first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the five member all-girl group TrueBliss...
in the year of 2001. More than 11,000 singers attended open television auditions in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, and Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, conducted by choreographer Detlef "D!" Soost, producer Alex Christensen, and singer and radio host Noah Sow. After auditioning in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
and after multiple recalls, Darja was chosen as one of 32 contestants who immediately travelled to Ibiza, Spain to get trained in singing, dancing, and fitness. In the end three females, including Darja, and five males remained who again moved into a loft in Munich to start working on their performance and publicity skills.
During a special episode on November 11, 2001, judges Soost and Christensen eventually disclosed that Ross Antony, Hila Bronstein
Hila Bronstein
Hila Bronstein is a Israeli-German singer and songwriter, who rose to fame as a member of the R&B/Pop group Bro'Sis. She's currently working on a solo career.- Early life :...
, Shaham Joyce, Faiz-Kevin Mangat, Verena "Indira" Weis, and Giovanni Zarrella were chosen to become part of the multicultural group Bro'Sis
Bro'Sis
Bro'Sis were a multicultural R&B group from Germany, formed in 2001 in the second installment of the television talent show Popstars. Originally a sextet, the group eventually became a quintet, selling more than 2.2 million albums and singles worldwide...
. Darja was voted out in that episode.
During Popstars
Popstars
Popstars is an international reality television franchise and a precursor to the Idol series. The series first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the five member all-girl group TrueBliss...
Darja gained significant publicity in Germany and started working on a solo career with Producer Tony Coutura. Darja rejected a solo record deal offer by East West Records
East West Records
East West Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group, and operates under WMG's Independent Label Group.-History:...
to pursue a BSc in International Relations
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
at the prestigious London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. While still at university, in 2003 Darja participated in ITV’s Pop Idol (series 2)
Pop Idol (series 2)
The second series of British reality television show Pop Idol was broadcast on ITV in the United Kingdom during the autumn and winter months of 2003. The show was a singing competition for singers aged 16–26, with the winner receiving a £1 million recording contract to release their debut album...
, where she was selected into the last 5 groups of 10 in the competition. After her performance of Shakira's "Underneath your Clothes" Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
stated that Darja has The X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
.
After graduating in 2005, Darja transferred to New York City in 2007, to pursue an Acting Degree at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Since her graduation she has appeared in films, commercials, industrials and voiceovers, representing companies such as Perkinelmer, Canon
Canon
-Culture and arts:*Canon , material that is considered to be genuine*Western canon, the books, music, and art that have been the most influential in shaping Western cultureMusic...
, UBS Investment Bank and PUMA
Puma
The cougar , also known as puma, mountain lion, mountain cat, catamount or panther, depending on the region, is a mammal of the family Felidae, native to the Americas...
, where she is the voice of the PUMA Perfume Animagical global commercial campaign, featuring Usain Bolt
Usain Bolt
The Honourable Usain St. Leo Bolt, OJ, C.D. , is a Jamaican sprinter and a five-time World and three-time Olympic gold medalist. He is the world record and Olympic record holder in the 100 metres, the 200 metres and the 4×100 metres relay...
. Darja is currently working as a Host and Executive Producer for CorporateProfile.com.
Darja is still active as a singer, most recently performing at The Master of Merriment Gallery Opening in New York City.
External links
- http://www.russianmix.com/events/details/2246
- http://www.german-society.co.uk/previous-committees-2000-present
- http://www.german-society.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2011/08/11_0445-GermanSymposia_Bklt_Final_Web1.pdf
- http://www.theateronline.com/pb.xzc?pk=34935
- http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article151649.ece