Shahzoda (real name — Zilola Musaeva) is an Uzbek singer, actress, and one of the brightest stars of contemporary Eastern pop music. Her soft vocal timbre, romantic stage image, and charisma have made her a favorite with audiences in Uzbekistan, Central Asia, Russia, and across the CIS.
Early life
The future artist was born in June 1979 into an intellectual family.
Her mother taught Russian language and literature, while her father was a Doctor of Philosophy. The family spent her early years in Moscow, where her father was completing his postgraduate studies, and later returned to Tashkent.
It was in Tashkent that young Zilola met her friend Natella — a friendship that would later become the foundation of her first musical project.
From childhood, Zilola took part in concerts, studied vocals, and demonstrated remarkable artistic talent. After finishing school, she enrolled at a university in Kyiv to study “management”, but fate took a sharp turn.
Path to the stage and the group “Jonim”
Zilola’s entry into the music world happened unexpectedly. Visiting Natella one day, she spontaneously sang a few lines in place of another girl who repeatedly failed to hit the notes in front of a composer. Composer and lyricist Vagif Zakirov, hearing her voice, immediately suggested that she try herself on stage.
Thus in 1999, the duo “Jonim” was formed, consisting of Zilola and Natella. Just two months later, their debut album “Utiб ketadi” was released, followed by the music video “Karama kuzlarimga”. The project quickly became known, but did not last long: Natella moved to Moscow with her husband and went into business.
The beginning of a solo career: the birth of Shahzoda
In 2001, the music company Tarona Records offered Zilola a solo career and strongly recommended the stage name Shahzoda (“princess”). The image of an Eastern beauty suited the singer perfectly — thus a new chapter began.
From her very first solo performances, her popularity began to grow rapidly: posters with her name appeared all over Tashkent, and concert tickets sold out instantly. Her songs turned into hits, and the name Shahzoda became a symbol of romantic Eastern pop music.
Soon her fame spread beyond Uzbekistan: she was actively invited to perform in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Russia.
Awards and achievements
Shahzoda quickly became one of the most in-demand artists on the Uzbek pop scene. Each year brought new awards:
- 2003 — “Image of the Year”
- 2003 — “Best Composition of the Year”
- 2004 — “Album of the Year”
- 2005 — “Song of the Year”
Every new track received extensive radio rotation, and her music videos regularly appeared on regional music TV channels.
Shahzoda in film
Her popularity also brought her into the film industry:
- “Sevinch” — first leading role
- “Sarvinoz” — dramatic role
- “Fotima and Zukhra” — major role in a serious drama
- “Zumrad va Kimmat” — another leading role
These films strengthened her public profile, though Shahzoda herself has repeatedly emphasized:
“Songs are my heart. In films I wear someone else’s image — on stage I am always the real me.”
Tours and international performances
Shahzoda tours extensively, performing in:
- Russia
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Tajikistan
- China
One of the highlights of her touring career was a concert on 7 May 2001 at the largest club in Beijing — Las Vegas, where the venue was packed and the audience greeted the artist with great enthusiasm.
Image and influence
Shahzoda became one of the symbols of Eastern pop music thanks to her:
- soft, instantly recognizable voice
- feminine, elegant stage looks
- ability to blend national motifs with contemporary pop
- charisma and sincere emotional delivery
In Uzbekistan, many fans even named their daughters “Shahzoda” — a sign of how strong her influence became.
Rare and little-known facts about Shahzoda
These details come from interviews, backstage stories, and colleagues’ recollections and are rarely mentioned in formal biographies.
1. Her first public performance happened by accident
According to her own recollections, Zilola (the future Shahzoda) sang for the first time in front of a composer at a friend’s house, when she could no longer bear listening to another girl’s failed attempts to perform. That moment became the turning point in her life.
2. Her stage name could have been different
When choosing a pseudonym, several options connected to Eastern symbolism and fairytale-like female names were considered. She chose “Shahzoda” herself — out of three suggested variants. It was the name that “felt right” to her and immediately became part of her image.
3. As a child she secretly rehearsed in front of the mirror
As she has said in interviews, when her parents were out, she would turn on a tape recorder and imagine herself a star, recording her voice onto cassette so she could listen back and find mistakes.
4. Shahzoda can imitate other singers’ voices
In Uzbek-language interviews she has admitted that she can easily mimic the intonations of:
— Sevara Nazarkhan
— Lola Yuldasheva
— Whitney Houston
During rehearsals she would sometimes joke with colleagues by “copying” familiar artists.
5. On the set of one music video she had to work in +5°C in a summer dress
This was one of her early music videos, filmed outdoors. She later recalled that her hands were so cold she had to warm them with her breath between takes.
6. In her youth she dreamed of becoming a manager, not a singer
Studying in Kyiv looked like a solid beginning for a future career in business — until that chance meeting at Natella’s home completely changed her path.
7. She personally designed some of her stage costumes
Shahzoda has always been interested in fashion. Many of her looks — especially in the early 2000s — were created together with local designers, and she sometimes drew the sketches herself.
8. The singer collects handmade jewelry
Not gemstones and luxury pieces, but artisan-made items:
traditional Eastern bracelets, brooches, amulets, and embroidered accents for clothing.
9. She has been invited to record duets by foreign artists
Not all of these collaborations have been officially released. There are several unfinished English-language tracks sitting in archives.
10. She sings in several languages
In addition to Uzbek and Russian, Shahzoda has performed songs in:
— Tajik,
— Turkish,
— English.
She has a strong ear for phonetics and studies languages specifically for international releases.
11. On film sets she often set her own emotional tasks
Despite having no formal acting education, she approached her roles with great perfectionism and sometimes argued with directors, believing she felt the character’s psychology more accurately.
12. Her concerts bring together diaspora communities abroad
In China, the UAE, South Korea, and Turkey, thousands of people — from students to entire families missing their homeland — came to her performances.
13. In everyday life Zilola is very calm and home-loving
In contrast to her on-stage image of an Eastern princess, in real life she loves simple homemade food, quiet evenings, and time with her family. Colleagues have called her a “quiet engine” — outwardly gentle, but with great inner strength.
Complete discography of Shahzoda
Below is a complete list of albums, including early, thematic, and lesser-known releases.
Studio albums
1. “Utiб ketadi” (as part of the duo “Jonim”) — 1999
The debut album of the duo formed by Zilola and Natella. Their first professional release.
2. “Karama kuzlarimga” — 2000 (Jonim)
Included songs that became popular in Uzbekistan.
Solo discography of Shahzoda
1. “Baxodir” — 2002
The first hits that firmly established her name.
2. “Sevgi bor” — 2003
“Song of the Year” and a breakthrough in national popularity.
3. “Bilaman” — 2004
The album that earned her the “Album of the Year” award.
4. “Sevgi nidosi” — 2005
One of the best-selling releases of that year.
5. “Eski yodgorliklar” — 2006
A stylish record where Shahzoda experimented with sound and arrangements.
6. “Mening yolim” — 2007
Expansion of her musical range, including several duets.
7. “Tilla yuragim” — 2008
Emotional songs that became fan favorites.
8. “Keragimsan” — 2009
One of her most recognizable and frequently cited albums.
9. “Sevaman” — 2010
Tracks from this album received wide radio airplay.
10. “Ersizman” — 2011
A move toward more cinematic and atmospheric production.
11. “Bor edim” — 2012
A new round of popularity and renewed interest in her work.
12. “Keldi-Ketdi” — 2013
A vocally strong album, often highlighted by fans.
13. “Vatan” — 2014
A patriotic record dedicated to homeland and roots.
14. “Xayr Bevafo” — 2015
Serious, mature lyrics and emotional delivery.
15. “Oqibat” — 2016
A work deeply rooted in Eastern pop aesthetics.
16. “Yurak” — 2018
A melodramatic album with strong lyrical content.
17. “Ona Yurtim” — 2019
Dedicated to themes of homeland, memory, and tradition.
18. “Kelinchak” — 2020
A warm, family-oriented, light-in-tone record.
19. “Sevgilim” — 2022
Her most recent major studio release.
Compilations and thematic releases
- “Best Hits” (2005)
- “Qayt” (2010)
- “Shahzoda: The Greatest Hits” (2016)
- “Shahzoda: Live Collection” (2020)
Soundtracks
Shahzoda recorded songs for the following films:
- “Sevinch”
- “Sarvinoz”
- “Fotima and Zukhra”
- “Zumrad va Kimmat”
Many of the official soundtracks were later released separately as mini-albums.
Popular hits
Some of her best-known songs include:
- “Sevgi bor”
- “Keragimsan”
- “Baxtliman”
- “Mehmon”
- “Yurak”
- “Xayr Bevafo”
- “Qaytma”
- “Oqibat”
Conclusion
Shahzoda is an artist who has travelled the path from a modest, musically gifted girl from an intellectual family to one of the leading stars of the Uzbek stage.
Her songs and film roles are filled with warmth, romance, and sincerity, while her performances bring together audiences from different countries and generations.
She continues to tour actively, release new music, and remain one of the brightest faces of contemporary Eastern pop culture.
