@DianaGurtskayaSinger
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Diana Gurtskaya: А Woman Whose Life and Art Inspire Strength and Resilience
Behind Diana Gurtskaya’s vibrant voice and on-stage persona lies a deep inner world filled with dreams, care for loved ones, and a genuine desire to make the world a better place. In this interview, Diana opens up about how she overcomes life’s challenges, finds strength for new music, and stays grounded in the most important values – family and love. With her extraordinary charisma and unwavering belief in a brighter future, even the toughest moments become surmountable.
Diana, like in your new song «Coffee with You», let’s start our conversation with a cup of coffee. Does your morning begin with coffee?
Of course, with coffee. It’s always been that way, even in my parents’ home. And now, I’ve gotten everyone around me hooked – not just at home but at work too. Everyone drinks coffee, and it’s always in small cups. That’s just how my mornings are. I can’t do without it. So, as with every song, there’s a part of me in this one too.
For any artist, it’s very important when someone enjoys your song or music. Honestly, everything we do, we do for this. So, it’s impossible not to feel joy from it. Thank you so much for the invitation and for featuring me in your magazine.
Not long ago, your international festival «White Cane» took place, where young talents performed alongside top-tier artists. Once, Irma Sokhadze invited you to sing with her. Do you remember how that felt?
Of course! Irma invited me to a music competition. Back then, I was still in school and participating in a contest. Irma noticed me while I was performing her song and invited me to a concert. It was a big marathon in June, and I started preparing a month in advance. I was so nervous I couldn’t even sleep during that time. We had to find fabric and sew a dress. I remember my mom found this beautiful cream-colored fabric, and I got an incredible dress made. The night before the concert, I didn’t sleep at all.
That performance changed my destiny. The smell of the backstage, the flowers, the applause, the hushed anticipation of the audience – it all became a revelation, a true dream come true.
Even though I was only 10 years old, I already understood that music was my calling. I caught the «disease» of the stage and was infected with its happiness. From that moment on, I knew this was the air I would breathe. Honestly, I can’t imagine what I would do without music.
So, can you relate to how those young children felt stepping onto the stage?
Absolutely. The festival’s story began with my understanding of what I went through myself. I knew how hard it was for me back then. Society had this stereotype: if you had a life challenge, you weren’t like everyone else. I felt that firsthand.
When I lived in Georgia, it was difficult. In 1995, I came here and participated in the «Yalta-Moscow-Transit» contest. The journey wasn’t easy, but I don’t blame people – it was a different time.
Now, I want things to be easier for «my children», as I call them. These kids are incredibly talented, and I want them to pursue what they love and succeed at it.
Do you see yourself in these children?
Yes, and not only in the children but also in their parents. In every mother, I see my own mom. I remember how much she worried about me. Even the smallest kind word about me would give her hope for an entire day – or even a lifetime.
I remember the long hospital corridors where my mom and I would wait for a check-up. It wasn’t easy for her, but she always smiled and supported me.
Now, I see these amazing parents who are a pillar of strength for their children. Their well-being is also very important to me. That’s how the festival was born. I thought, why not let these children tell their stories through music? They do it beautifully. Let them be seen as professionals, not as kids with challenges.
It’s an incredible initiative. What’s your main goal?
We all live and work, doing what we love. But it’s essential for society to change, for attitudes toward children with disabilities or individuals with differences to evolve. This shouldn’t be a barrier. These children are talented, strong, and worthy.
I believe that through music and art, they can transform the world around them.
During your festival, you spoke very warmly about your husband. What helps you move forward in life?
I prefer not to impose my personal struggles and experiences on others, so I will keep my answer brief and focus on the positive. It’s essential to maintain a positive mindset in all circumstances.
Of course, I cannot fail to mention him because he is everything – he is the love of my life. I cannot and will not silence that truth. He is always with me, no matter where I am or what I do. And it will remain that way for the rest of my life. My strength comes from my son. He is 17, and I feel a deep responsibility to raise him to be a decent person, just as his father would have wanted. Everything I do now, my husband and I started together – our festival, our social integration center in Moscow. These were our shared dreams. I have no right to stop or abandon the things he believed in.
Time doesn’t heal; it simply teaches us how to keep living and how to perceive the world in new ways.
I sense that you have faith in God. Did you question your faith during the loss of your husband?
You know, that’s a very complicated question. Who am I to judge? But at that moment, the question was, «Why? Why him?». Of course, I was deeply affected. Now, I ask God for forgiveness. I understand that there are no answers to such questions. You simply accept life as it is.
Your son is 17 years old. What do you consider most important in raising a child?
Integrity, kindness, and humanity. I always tell my son, «Son, you can acquire a profession, but the most important profession in life is to be a decent human being». This is the cornerstone of my approach to parenting. I want him to grow up to be an honorable person, someone who remains honest and fair in all situations. It is these qualities that make a person strong and respected.
In an interview a few years ago, you said: «I accept life as it is and love it deeply». How do you manage this? Nowadays, many people struggle with depression and a lack of motivation, yet you always seem so positive.
You know, every person is unique. I can’t judge why someone might suffer from depression or lose their drive to move forward. We cannot truly understand what another person feels, what they are going through inside, or how they perceive life.
As for me, I always try to find the strength to move on. I firmly believe that depression won’t solve anything. I don’t have the luxury of letting myself give up – not even for something as simple as a common cold. My work, my son, and my family all require my attention. I have to do my part, support my son, and help him navigate life.
Of course, there are moments when things feel overwhelming. Even getting out of bed in the morning and starting a new day can feel like a real challenge. But I know that if I give up, it will negatively affect everyone who depends on me. So, I find the strength to rise and move forward.
Moreover, my work gives me energy and inspiration. I know that what I do matters to people, and that keeps me going. Life is a series of trials that we must face with dignity. The key is to stay strong and hold on to hope for better days.
Your brother is your producer and a close confidant. Do you ever disagree with him? Who has the final say – the producer or you?
We generally find a compromise. Of course, he is my brother, my friend, and my producer, but above all, he is my brother, and I am proud of that. We’ve always been close, even as children. We did so many things together, like going to football matches – even though at first I’d argue about why I needed to be there. He would say, «Just watch». Moments like that were countless.
He believed in me, and if it weren’t for him, none of this would have been possible. As a producer, he makes a lot of decisions, but we always argue – constructively, of course. Truth is born in argument, and that’s important. He listens to me, and I listen to him. Without mutual understanding, none of this would work. Each of us has our own perspective, and that’s normal because we are both individuals. Different viewpoints only strengthen us.
No matter how successful a person becomes, they always continue to dream. What is your greatest dream?
Right now, all my dreams are connected to my son and his life. I dream of raising him well and doing everything I can for him. This year, he is preparing for university, and I’m very anxious about it. All my dreams revolve around him at the moment.
But I’ve always been a dreamer. The motto of our social integration center is: «Everything starts with a dream.” A dream is our goal and our tomorrow. My beloved teacher Igor Nikolaev once said, «Diana, your dream has come true. But remember, life is sad without dreams. Keep dreaming – let the light of dreams burn in your heart». And that’s true.
I’ve become more thoughtful in my reflections, but I’ve never stopped dreaming. I want to bring all my plans to fruition, especially those related to my son and the children I help. One more dream I have is to host my own program. I’ve been hosting «Dear Broadcast» on Radio Russia for several years now, and it’s been an entirely new and fascinating experience for me. We’ll see what the future holds.
What do you envision for your life 10 years from now?
Diana Gurtskaya is, first and foremost, a mother – today, 10 years from now, and always. I know who I am: a loving mother, singer, and performer who adores her listeners and audience. I’m confident that new hits await me in the future. I believe my son will successfully complete his education and achieve great things.
In the future, I hope to be even more open and free for creativity. Together with my family, I’d love to open several new institutions – perhaps even beyond Moscow.