Татьяна Буланова
Elena Vladimirovna Temnikova — is a Russian singer, songwriter and producer. She was born on 18 April 1985 in Kurgan. Her professional career began after taking part in the television project «Fabrika Zvyozd — 2» in 2003, while she gained widespread recognition as a member of the original line-up of SEREBRO, with whom she represented Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007. Since 2014, Temnikova has developed an independent solo career and released music through her own TEMNIKOVA project.
Childhood and first steps in music
Elena Temnikova was born and raised in Kurgan. She studied music from an early age, learning violin and vocals. She did not complete the full programme at music school, choosing to focus primarily on singing.
During her school years, Temnikova took part in regional music competitions and performances. At the end of 2002, she won the Grand Prix at an all-Russian competition in Moscow. Soon afterwards, her family lived in Omsk for a period of time.
In 2003, during a trip to Moscow, Temnikova successfully auditioned for the second season of the television project «Fabrika Zvyozd».
Fabrika Zvyozd — 2
The producer of the second season of «Fabrika Zvyozd» was Maxim Fadeev. Temnikova reached the final and finished third, behind Polina Gagarina and Elena Terleeva.
During the project, she performed solo songs including «Дальше всех» and «Тайна». After the show ended, Temnikova joined the graduates’ tour and continued working with Maxim Fadeev’s production centre.
In 2004, the singer also took part in the fifth season of the reality show «Последний герой».
The next major stage of her career was the formation of SEREBRO.
SEREBRO
In 2006, Maxim Fadeev formed the female group SEREBRO. The original line-up consisted of Elena Temnikova, Olga Seryabkina and Marina Lizorkina.
The group was introduced to a wide audience in 2007, when SEREBRO was selected to represent Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Helsinki.
The group’s debut song was Song #1. In the Eurovision 2007 final, SEREBRO finished in third place with 207 points. Temnikova performed the main vocal part.
After the contest, the group began developing both Russian-language and English-language repertoire.
ОпиумRoz
In 2009, SEREBRO released their debut studio album ОпиумRoz.
It included Song #1, «Дыши», «Скажи, не молчи», What's Your Problem, Under Pressure, Dirty Kiss and other tracks.
SEREBRO’s early music combined dance-pop, electropop and more lyrical Russian-language songs. Temnikova remained one of the group’s principal voices.
Mama Lover and the international period
The next stage in SEREBRO’s history was associated with the song Мама Люба / Mama Lover, released in 2011.
In June 2012, the group released their second studio album, Mama Lover. The song gained considerable exposure outside Russia and entered the charts in several European countries.
During this period, releases featuring Temnikova also included «Мало тебя», Mi Mi Mi and «Я тебя не отдам».
Mi Mi Mi, released in 2013, became one of SEREBRO’s most recognisable international releases and reached audiences beyond the Russian market.
Temnikova’s work in the group therefore covered two noticeably different periods: the early electropop era of Song #1 and ОпиумRoz, and the more internationally oriented dance-pop sound of Mama Lover and Mi Mi Mi.
Departure from SEREBRO
In 2014, Elena Temnikova left SEREBRO several months before the expected end of her existing contract.
At the time of her departure, health problems were officially cited as the reason. In later years, Temnikova spoke about serious disagreements with Maxim Fadeev and her desire to leave the group earlier. Fadeev publicly presented his own version of events.
After leaving SEREBRO, Temnikova ended her long-standing collaboration with Fadeev’s production system and began developing her solo project independently.
Beginning of her solo career
One of the first official releases of the new period was «Зависимость», released in 2014 through her own BY TEMNIKOVA structure.
Temnikova gradually developed her solo project as an independent music platform, controlling music releases, visual presentation and the organisational side of her work.
BY TEMNIKOVA later evolved into the TEMNIKOVA brand, which includes a music label and media and commercial projects associated with the artist.
Импульсы and a new sound
In her solo work, Temnikova gradually moved away from the dance-pop that had characterised a significant part of SEREBRO’s repertoire.
One of the key songs of the new period was «Импульсы», released in 2016.
The core of her solo sound in the mid-2010s became electronic pop and deep house. Some tracks also incorporated elements of progressive house, garage and contemporary R&B.
The production became more minimalist, with bass, electronic rhythms, atmospheric synthesizers and processed vocals taking on a significant role.
TEMNIKOVA I
On 30 September 2016, her first major solo release, TEMNIKOVA I, was issued.
The release is a seven-track EP. It includes «Импульсы», «Тепло», «Движения», «Счастье» and other songs.
TEMNIKOVA I established the musical direction of the first full stage of the singer’s solo career: an electronic foundation, club-oriented rhythms and minimalist pop production.
In August 2016, Temnikova also gave a special concert at the summit of Rosa Peak at the Rosa Khutor resort, at an altitude of 2,320 metres, with an online broadcast.
TEMNIKOVA II
On 29 September 2017, the second EP, TEMNIKOVA II, was released.
It contained eight tracks, including «Вдох», «Фиолетовый», «Подсыпал» and «Мне нормально».
The electronic foundation remained, although the material included more melodic pop and progressive-house elements.
The first two instalments of the numbered TEMNIKOVA series are therefore EPs.
TEMNIKOVA III: Не модные
On 27 April 2018, TEMNIKOVA III: Не модные was released — the first full-length studio album in the singer’s solo discography.
It contains 13 tracks.
The title track «Не модные» became one of the central works of the period. The album expanded Temnikova’s musical palette: alongside electronic pop and deep house, its arrangements incorporated elements of alternative R&B and more intimate electronic production.
In 2018, the singer also released the live project «Выше крыш. Акустический лайв», in which her songs were reinterpreted outside their usual electronic production.
TEMNIKOVA 4
On 5 February 2019, the studio album TEMNIKOVA 4 was released.
The record contains eight tracks, including «Бабочки», «Нет связи» and «Говорила».
Compared with previous releases, the material became calmer and more atmospheric. A significant portion of the songs centres on relationships and internal emotional states.
During this period, Temnikova also released standalone singles including «Моё любимое», «Нереальная любовь», «Жара» and other tracks.
Where You Wanna Be with R3HAB
On 13 March 2020, Temnikova released the English-language single Where You Wanna Be with Dutch DJ and producer R3HAB.
The track belongs to the dance genre and became one of the most notable international collaborations in the singer’s solo discography.
In 2020, she also released «Неон», «Как Барби в поисках Кена», «Фаталити» with KAREENA and other tracks. Temnikova also took part in the recording of PIZZA’s song «По краям».
At the same time, the TEMNIKOVA team developed live video content and experimented with a 360° VR format.
TEMNIKOVA 5 PARIS
On 14 May 2021, the studio album TEMNIKOVA 5 PARIS was released.
It contains ten tracks:
- «Влетим»
- Paris
- «Зачем»
- «По кольцу»
- «В м9се»
- «Настроение ++»
- «Бабочки и трип»
- «Хочешь»
- «Ева»
- «Стиль»
The album brought back a more pronounced dance component and was structured as a continuous relationship story.
Temnikova explained that the album’s storyline was based on real events from the lives of people close to her in Paris, while she herself took the role of observer and narrator.
The number «5» continues the overall TEMNIKOVA series, although in terms of release formats it is the singer’s third full-length studio album: TEMNIKOVA I and TEMNIKOVA II were released as EPs.
Later releases
In 2021, Temnikova released the single «Из-за тебя» with Ramil'.
In April 2023, she released the solo track «Лунная ночь».
In 2024, the singer’s official discography added the track «КАМАЗ», recorded as part of the television project «Конфетка».
As of 2026, no new full-length studio album has been released following TEMNIKOVA 5 PARIS.
Musical style
Elena Temnikova’s solo music differs noticeably from the majority of SEREBRO’s repertoire.
In the mid-2010s, deep house and electronic pop became the central directions of her sound. Later releases incorporated elements of progressive house, alternative R&B, garage and more traditional dance-pop.
TEMNIKOVA I and TEMNIKOVA II are built primarily around an electronic club aesthetic. On TEMNIKOVA III: Не модные, the range expanded through contemporary pop and R&B influences. TEMNIKOVA 4 has a more intimate and atmospheric sound, while TEMNIKOVA 5 PARIS once again strengthens the dance-oriented foundation.
Characteristic features of Temnikova’s solo production include deep electronic bass, minimalist rhythms, atmospheric synthesizers and vocal parts integrated directly into electronic arrangements.
TEMNIKOVA as an independent project
After leaving SEREBRO, the singer created an independent infrastructure around her own name.
The TEMNIKOVA project includes an independent music label, TEMNIKOVA Media Intelligence Lab and the TEMNIKOVA.SHOP concept store. Her first solo releases appeared under the BY TEMNIKOVA brand, while TEMNIKOVA later became the primary brand.
In addition to music releases, the project developed its own merchandise, digital content, AR and VR initiatives and concert technologies.
This model allowed Temnikova to independently control a significant part of the process — from releasing music and developing visual concepts to promotion and direct interaction with her audience.
Main solo discography
EPs:
- TEMNIKOVA I — 2016
- TEMNIKOVA II — 2017
Studio albums:
- TEMNIKOVA III: Не модные — 2018
- TEMNIKOVA 4 — 2019
- TEMNIKOVA 5 PARIS — 2021
In addition to the numbered series, her discography includes live recordings, acoustic releases, singles and collaborative works.
Significance of the solo period
Elena Temnikova’s career can be divided into two distinct musical periods.
The first is associated with SEREBRO — from Song #1 and third place at Eurovision 2007 to the albums ОпиумRoz and Mama Lover, the song «Мало тебя» and the international release Mi Mi Mi.
The second began after she left the group in 2014. Temnikova moved to an independent working model and developed her own discography centred on electronic pop and house music.
The numbered TEMNIKOVA series became an independent part of the Russian electronic pop scene of the second half of the 2010s, with production and aesthetics that differ noticeably from SEREBRO’s material.
