Fleur - Biography and discography, all albums and songs

Flёur is a Ukrainian band from Odesa, founded in February 2000. The group took its poetic name from the French word fleur — “flower”, which reflects the characteristic softness and fragility of their sound. At the heart of the project were two songwriters and vocalists — Olya Putilova (vocals, piano) and Lena Voynarovskaya (vocals, guitar), whose creative worlds complement each other in a remarkable way.

Formation and first performances (2000–2001)

The story of Flёur began when Putilova and Voynarovskaya decided to unite their original songs in a single project. Just a month after the band was formed, flutist Yulia Zemlyanaya joined the duo, and the group played its first concert at the Odesa House of the Actor in a program called “Atmosfera” (“Atmosphere”). This performance became the starting point for the band’s rapid rise.

Within a year, the line-up expanded:

• cello — Katya Sebrina,

• keyboards — Aleksei Dovgalev,

• drums — Aleksei Tkachevsky,

• double bass — Vitaly Didyk.

In the autumn of 2000, the band recorded its debut album «Prikosnovenie», released on a French label, and a month later the record was issued in Ukraine under the title «Prikosnovenie» (“Prikosnovenie” / “Touch”). It immediately attracted the attention of listeners and for the first time outlined the style that would later be called cardiowave.

Shaping a unique style

Flёur is a rare example of a band built around two fully independent songwriters, each with her own themes and vocal intonation.

• Olya Putilova’s songs often feel like diary entries: intimate emotions, mystical shadows in everyday life, fragile observations and metaphysical states hidden in simple images.

• Lena Voynarovskaya’s songs are elevated, philosophical, surreal, turned toward the inner world of experiences, memories and symbols.

These two lines are brought together by a rich acoustic toolkit: flute, violin, cello, percussion, keyboards, guitar. This instrumental palette created the recognizable sound of Flёur — gentle, chamber-like and at the same time emotionally powerful.

Expanding the discography: “Magic” and “Shining” (2003–2004)

In 2003, the second studio album «Volshebstvo» (“Magic”) was released, containing 14 new songs. The band presented it in Odesa and Kyiv, attracting an ever-growing fanbase.

A year later, Flёur released the album «Siyanie» (“Shining”) — one of the band’s brightest and most atmospheric records, which finally cemented their reputation as a leading romantic group of the Ukrainian independent scene.

New horizons: “Everything Is Out of Control” (2006)

In 2006, the album «Vsyo vyshlo iz-pod kontrolya» (“Everything Is Out of Control”) came out, marking an important stage in the group’s development. It stands out for its more cohesive sound and carefully crafted arrangements.

Flёur embarked on a major tour in support of the release, performing in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Odesa, Kyiv, Donetsk and Kharkiv.

The track «Shelkopryad» (“Silkworm”) earned the band a prestigious award and was recognized as one of the best songs of the year.

A new period and “A Thousand Light Angels” (2010)

In 2010, Flёur released their sixth studio album, «Tysyacha svetlykh angelov» (“A Thousand Light Angels”). It became one of their most mature and melodic works, bringing together Putilova’s lyrical miniatures and Voynarovskaya’s complex emotional canvases.

The “Flёurescent” live program and renewed line-up (2011)

The year 2011 was marked by a new concert program, «Flёurescent», which included rare songs that had seldom been performed live before. In spring and summer the band toured actively in Kyiv, Moscow, Saint Petersburg and across Crimea.

Over time, the line-up of Flёur changed:

• Sasha Didyk replaced Katya Sebrina on cello,

• Alla Luzhetskaya took over from Yulia Zemlyanaya on flute,

• keyboards were handed over to Katya Kotelnikova,

• violinist Nastya Kuzmina joined the band,

• percussionist Vladislav Mitsovsky also came on board.

Despite all these rotations, the style and artistic ideology of Flёur remained unchanged.

Musical style

Although the musicians themselves describe Flёur’s style as cardiowave, critics still continue to categorize the band’s work using a variety of labels:

• ethereal,

• neoclassical,

• dream pop,

• darkwave,

• acoustic art pop.

In reality, Flёur is its own world built on:

• poetic imagery,

• emotional depth,

• pure acoustic sound,

• unusual arrangements,

• dual female lyricism,

• a chamber, intimate atmosphere.

The main value of Flёur is their songs, each of which creates a small story filled with images, symbols and metaphors.

Discography

1. «Prikosnovenie / Prikosnovenie (Touch) (2000)

2. «Volshebstvo» (Magic) (2003)

3. «Siyanie» (Shining) (2004)

4. «Vsyo vyshlo iz-pod kontrolya» (Everything Is Out of Control) (2006)

5. Euvre (best-of compilation, 2007)

6. «Tysyacha svetlykh angelov» (A Thousand Light Angels) (2010)

7. «Pesni, kotorykh net» (Songs That Don’t Exist) (2012)

8. «Vsyo privedyonnoye v dvizhenie» (All Set in Motion) (2014)

(Note: over the years, various compilations, live recordings and reissues have also been released.)

Conclusion

Flёur is a unique phenomenon in Ukrainian music. Their songs combine refined poetry, emotional dramaturgy, airy melodies and intimate instrumental arrangements. Over the years, the band has created its own aesthetic universe, largely immune to time and trends.

Despite changes in the line-up and in the music industry, Flёur remains a symbol of sincerity, fragility and depth. Their music resonates with listeners of different generations, and the songs continue to live on — inspiring, comforting and awakening emotions that cannot be put into words.