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Russian Red
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Key Information
Lourdes Hernández González (born 20 November 1985),[1] known professionally as Russian Red, is a Spanish indie and folk singer-songwriter.
Life and career
[edit]Hernández is from Madrid, but writes and sings in English;[2] she has said that she instinctively sings in English because she has always listened to music in English.[3][4] She has been compared to the Canadian singer-songwriter Feist.[5] She took her professional name from her preferred MAC lipstick color.[5][6][7]
She began playing guitar in the Madrid Metro at the age of 21, while a law student.[2] Her career took off after she met Brian Hunt, a musician with an English father and Spanish mother, with whom she recorded a demo that by 2008 had reached more than 70,000 visits on her MySpace page.[8] In 2007 she performed more than 60 shows and took part in the prestigious Primavera Sound, among other festivals;[9] by mid-2008 she had become well known in the Spanish indie scene.[5]
She recorded her first album, I Love Your Glasses (2008) on Spanish label Eureka at the request of its owner, Fernando Vacas. The album was successful;[7] a columnist in El País dubbed Russian Red the "revelation of the year".[10]
After signing in late 2010 with Octubre, the music label of Sony Music Spain, Russian Red released her second album, Fuerteventura, in May 2011. Fuerteventura was recorded in Glasgow, with members of Belle and Sebastian and their producer Tony Doogan.[6][11] Following the release of the album, she promoted it throughout Spain with presentations and concerts in major cities and appearances at the major summer festivals. She then toured in Asia, including Taiwan, where she achieved great success.[citation needed] After a break in December 2011, she resumed touring in Europe and Asia with a new concert format, accompanied by Hunt and Pablo Serrano; Serrano was later replaced by Juan Diego "Juandi" Gosálvez, and in late 2012 the three also performed five concerts as a tribute to the Beatles, with Alex Ferreira as bassist and vocalist in one of the songs.

During this period, Russian Red also recorded a duet with Elvis Presley of his song "Love Me Tender" in the special Spanish edition of the album Viva Elvis, released in late 2010.[12] In October 2011 she covered the Leonard Cohen song "So Long, Marianne" as a tribute to him,[citation needed] and she was the voice of Mérida on the Castilian Spanish version of the soundtrack of the 2012 Disney / Pixar film Brave.[6][13]
Her move to a major label disappointed some of her indie fans,[2] and there were rumors that she was in a relationship with soccer player Xabi Alonso, who was married.[1][14] In 2013, she moved to Los Angeles,[2] where in 2016 she married architect and musician Zack Leigh.[15] The couple subsequently converted the church in which they had married into a residence and wedding venue.[1] With Leigh and his brother Aaron, she formed the group Babes.[16][17]
She recorded her third studio album, Agent Cooper, at Sunset Studios. It was produced by Joe Chiccarelli, mixed by Mark Needham, and engineered by Emily Lazar. It was released in 2014;[6][18] during the promotional tour, she walked off-stage in Seattle and canceled the rest of the tour.[1][2][19]
Her fourth album, Karaoke, was released in 2017.[20] It includes covers of songs from the 1980s and 1990s;[21] the Leighs and Hunt participated, with sound engineer David Greenbaum.[16] At this time she began going by "Lourdes".[1]
In 2015, she made her acting debut with Carlos Troya in El beso, a crowd-funded short film directed by David Priego.[22] In late 2022, she starred in Ramona, a Spanish comedy feature film.[2][13]
In 2019, she composed and performed the music for a production by the Los Angeles dance group Ate9 titled a blind LAdy.[20] After a long recording hiatus, she released the single "This is un volcán" in August 2023.[15]
Personal life
[edit]Lourdes Hernández lives in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles with her husband, architect Zach Leigh and their dog Chula.[23][24]
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]- I Love Your Glasses (2008)
- Fuerteventura (2011)
- Agent Cooper (2014)
- Karaoke (2017)
- Volverme a Enamorar (2024)
Singles
[edit]- "They Don't Believe" (2008)
- "Cigarettes" (2008)
- "Perfect Time" (2008)
- "I Hate You But I Love You" (2011)
- "The Sun, The Trees" (2011)
- "Everyday Everynight" (2012)
- "My Love Is Gone" (2012)
- "Casper" (2014)
- "John Michael" (2014)
- "Michael P" (2014)
- "This is un volcán" (2023)
- "No entiendo nada" (2024)
Awards
[edit]- Best debut album, Premios Pop-Eye 2008 (I Love Your Glasses)[25][26]
- MTV Europe Music Award for Best Spanish Act, 2011[27]
- Medal of the Community of Madrid in silver, May 2, 2012, in recognition of her work[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Caballero, Marta (September 9, 2017). "Russian Red, su nueva (y perfecta) vida en Los Ángeles". El Mundo (in Spanish).
- ^ a b c d e f g "Vuelve la cantante Russian Red, tras muchos años de silencio, ahora como actriz de una comedia rodada en Madrid". Hola.com (in Spanish). December 18, 2022 – via Yahoo! vida y estilo.
- ^ "'He intentado componer en español, pero no me sale nada'". La Rioja (in European Spanish). January 7, 2009.
- ^ "'Cantar en inglés es instintivo', reconoce la intérprete de Russian Red, poco consciente de la notoriedad alcanzada". Europa Press (in Spanish). January 6, 2009.
- ^ a b c García Gómez, José Luis (July 10, 2008). "Ha nacido una estrella". Málaga Hoy (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on January 28, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Cihak, Izzy (March 13, 2014). "Russian Red Talks About Belle & Sebastian, Her Personal Inlook, and the Men That Inspire Her". Philthy Mag (interview). Retrieved August 28, 2023.
- ^ a b "Biografía de Russian Red - La Fonoteca". lafonoteca.net (in Spanish). Retrieved March 29, 2021.
- ^ "plus.es - El álbum de la semana". plus.es. July 12, 2009. Archived from the original on July 12, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
- ^ primaverasound.com Ficha de la artista en primaverasound.com [dead]
- ^ Cardenal, Alfonso (August 13, 2008). "Sonorama, el placer de comer en casa". El País (in Spanish). ISSN 1134-6582.
- ^ "Russian Red: "Fuerteventura' es un disco menos acústico que el primero, con canciones más directas"". La Información (in Spanish). May 9, 2011. Archived from the original on August 28, 2023.
- ^ "Russian Red resucita la voz de Elvis Presley en 'Love Me Tender'". El Diario (in Spanish). October 26, 2010.
- ^ a b Keslassy, Elsa (June 27, 2022). "Spanish Romantic Comedy 'Ramona' Boarded by Best Friend Forever, Filmin". Variety.
- ^ "Una aventura con Russian Red pudo provocar la salida de Xabi Alonso del Madrid". La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). September 5, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
- ^ a b Thansan, Oliver (August 15, 2023). "The secret corners of the singer Russian Red in Los Angeles". USA News.
- ^ a b "Crítica: Karaoke". Mondo Sonoro (in Spanish). May 22, 2017.
- ^ "Nos colamos en el backstage de Russian Red en su concierto de Madrid". El País (slide show; caption 10) (in Spanish). June 5, 2017. Archived from the original on June 8, 2017.
Para este álbum, Lourdes ha contado con tres productores: Brian Hunt, Aaron Leigh (hermano de su esposo, con quien comparte el grupo 'Babes') y David Greenbaum, el ingeniero de sonido de Beck.
- ^ Lau, Chris (March 1, 2014). "Russian Red is a Spanish treat". South China Morning Post (review).
- ^ Martínez, Jorge (June 11, 2019). "El sueño de una noche de verano: Russian Red cierra la cuarta edición de las Noches del Botánico". ButWeLikeIt (in Spanish). Retrieved August 28, 2023.
- ^ a b Flemming, Jack (December 31, 2019). "Singer-songwriter Lourdes Hernández sells artsy Los Feliz abode for $2.125 million". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Saavedra, David (June 1, 2017). "Russian Red: ¿'Karaoke' o hilo musical?". El Mundo (in Spanish).
- ^ "F5: Russian Red se estrena como actriz". El Mundo (in Spanish). November 3, 2015.
- ^ "Entramos en la casa de RUSSIAN RED en Los Ángeles". Architectural Digest España (in European Spanish). March 21, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
- ^ "BIO". GOOD BOY develops. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
- ^ "Los premios Pop-Eye 2008 se entregarán en septiembre coincidiendo con el V Festival Cáceres Pop Art". Region digital.com (in Spanish). August 11, 2008. Archived from the original on January 25, 2009.
- ^ "2008". Premios Nacionales de la Música y las Artes (in Spanish). Retrieved August 28, 2023.
- ^ "Russian Red es la mejor artista española para los MTV Europe Music Awards". RTVE Radio 3 (in Spanish). October 11, 2018.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Russian Red at Wikimedia Commons- Official website
Russian Red
View on GrokipediaBiography
Early life and education
Lourdes Hernández González was born on November 20, 1985, in Madrid, Spain.[7] Her parents divorced when she was two years old, and she was primarily raised by her mother in the urban environment of Madrid, immersed in Spanish culture, with limited contact with her father until she was 17; she has since reconciled with both parents.[8] During her late teens and early twenties, Hernández pursued higher education at a university in Madrid, enrolling in a law program.[9] After briefly studying law, she switched to Translation and Interpretation but ultimately did not complete that degree either. She began informal explorations into music around this time, balancing her studies with creative interests, though she ultimately abandoned formal education after realizing it was not her path.[10] It was during this formative period that Hernández adopted her stage name, "Russian Red," inspired by the shade of MAC lipstick she frequently wore, reflecting her emerging artistic identity.[11]Personal life
Lourdes Hernández, known professionally as Russian Red, married American musician and architect Zach Leigh in 2016 following her relocation to the United States.[12] The couple met in Los Angeles, where Leigh is involved in music and property development, and their relationship has been described as a stabilizing force amid her career transitions.[8] Hernández has resided in Los Angeles since moving there in 2013, though she now splits her time between the city and Madrid, her hometown.[13] This dual-base lifestyle reflects her efforts to balance international professional commitments with personal roots in Spain. The move to Los Angeles not only influenced her artistic evolution but also facilitated key personal milestones, including her marriage.[14] The couple does not have children, a choice Hernández has publicly affirmed as part of her life philosophy, emphasizing fulfillment through creative and relational pursuits over parenthood.[12] She maintains a relatively private personal life, rarely sharing details beyond occasional interviews that highlight her preference for stability and discretion outside her public persona.[8]Musical career
Beginnings and breakthrough
Lourdes Hernández, professionally known as Russian Red, initiated her musical career at age 21 while pursuing law studies in Madrid, where she performed sporadically as a busker in the city's metro system.[10][15] These informal outings, limited to just three appearances, marked her transition from academic life to live performance, honing her self-taught guitar and vocal skills amid the urban bustle.[15] By 2007, Hernández had escalated her activity, completing over 60 live shows across small venues and festivals in Spain. This period of intensive gigging built a grassroots following, blending intimate acoustic sets with her distinctive, emotive delivery. A notable highlight was her participation in the prestigious Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona in 2008, which exposed her emerging indie folk sound to a broader audience. In early 2008, Hernández uploaded a demo to MySpace, catalyzing her online breakthrough as the page amassed over 70,000 visits within months, drawing attention from record labels and fans alike.[16] This digital buzz led to her signing with the independent label Octubre, paving the way for her professional debut. Her first album, I Love Your Glasses, released on June 29, 2008, captured this raw energy with tracks like "No Past Land," featuring flowing guitar lines and suppressed percussion, and "Hold it Inside," praised for its raw emotional tension reminiscent of The Velvet Underground.[17] Critics lauded Hernández's sincere vocals and the album's heartfelt singer-songwriter style, describing it as a solid debut from a promising artist with a compelling voice, though noting occasional inconsistencies in track quality.[18] The record's intimate folk-pop aesthetic earned initial acclaim, solidifying her as a breakthrough act in Spain's indie scene.[16] Building on this momentum, Russian Red released her second album, Fuerteventura, on May 10, 2011, via Octubre, which further entrenched her indie folk identity through introspective lyrics and minimalist arrangements.[19] Songs such as "Everyday Everynight" and "I Hate You But I Love You" exemplified the album's blend of vulnerability and melodic warmth, marking a consolidation of her style and expanding her reputation beyond Spain.[20]Mid-career and relocation
In 2013, following the success of her second album Fuerteventura, Lourdes Hernández, known as Russian Red, relocated from Madrid to Los Angeles primarily to record her third studio album, Agent Cooper. This move provided access to premier recording facilities and collaborations with established American producers, marking a pivotal shift toward international opportunities and a more expansive musical network. The relocation influenced her sound by immersing her in Los Angeles' vibrant indie scene, fostering a transition from her earlier acoustic folk roots to a bolder, electric-driven aesthetic.[21][22] The album Agent Cooper was recorded at Sunset Sound Studios in Los Angeles and released in February 2014 via Sony Music. Produced by Joe Chiccarelli, mixed by Mark Needham, and mastered by Emily Lazar, it featured a polished production that emphasized layered instrumentation and vibrant energy, reflecting Hernández's experimentation with electric guitars and band dynamics. Thematically, the record drew from personal inspirations, with each track named after a man who influenced her life, exploring motifs of relationships, introspection, and emotional vulnerability through indie rock arrangements. In the U.S. market, Agent Cooper received positive critical attention for its stylistic evolution, earning an average rating of 8.1 out of 10 from 18 reviews on AllMusic, and positioned Hernández as an emerging international artist, though commercial breakthrough remained modest.[21][11][23] Post-relocation, Hernández embarked on early international tours to promote Agent Cooper, including a U.S. and Canada run in October 2014 with performances at venues like the Troubadour in Los Angeles and The Independent in San Francisco, alongside European dates such as shows at The Lexington and Dingwalls in London in May and September 2014. The tour highlighted her evolving live sound and garnered attention in North American markets, though it faced challenges, including a mid-tour cancellation after an incident in Seattle. Overall, these performances solidified her presence abroad, with numerous concerts across multiple continents in 2014.[21][24][25]Later career
In 2017, Russian Red released her fourth studio album, Karaoke, a collection of covers from 1980s and 1990s pop and rock tracks, including renditions of songs like "Shout" by Tears for Fears and "I Want to Break Free" by Queen.[26] The album marked a shift toward a more intimate, nostalgic artistic direction, presented as a limited-edition 10-inch pink vinyl self-release distributed by Holy Cuervo, emphasizing personal reinterpretation over original compositions.[27] Reception highlighted its unexpected dream pop leanings and emotional depth in reimagining the source material, though it remained a niche project with modest user acclaim averaging around 3 out of 5 stars.[28] In July 2023, Russian Red returned with the single "This is un volcán," a folk-infused track released via Sonido Muchacho that previewed themes of inner intensity and emotional release. This led to her fifth studio album, Volverme a Enamorar, issued in February 2024, which delved into motifs of love, self-discovery, and personal renewal through sensual, empowered lyrics and lush indie pop arrangements.[13] The record, featuring tracks like "Intelectual sexual" and "No entiendo nada," reflected Hernández's maturation toward liberated expressions of romance and identity, drawing on bilingual influences for broader accessibility.[29][30] In 2025, she featured on the track "The Boy with the Jealous Eyes" by Nick & June, released on August 15 as part of their EP.[31] As of 2025, Russian Red has announced a series of tour dates, including intimate residencies in Madrid and performances in Barcelona, Las Palmas, and Mallorca earlier in the year, alongside upcoming shows in Mexico City and Guadalajara in November.[32] These engagements underscore her stylistic evolution toward cabaret-style intimacy and global outreach, with no new music announcements reported yet but ongoing emphasis on live reinterpretations of her catalog.[33]Other pursuits
Acting career
Lourdes Hernández, known professionally as Russian Red, began exploring acting with minor on-screen appearances in Spanish films during the early 2010s. In 2013, she took on a small role as Carmen, a singer and receptionist, in the romantic drama Presentimientos, directed by Santiago Tabernero, where she also performed songs on camera.[34][35] Hernández made her acting debut in a leading role in the short film El Beso (2017), directed by David Priego, a crowd-funded project she starred in alongside Carlos Troya. In the film, she portrayed Francesca, a character navigating emotional intimacy, marking her transition from music to narrative performance; she described the experience as a challenging yet rewarding step outside her musical comfort zone.[36][37][38] Her relocation to the United States in 2014 opened access to independent film opportunities. In 2022, Hernández secured her first feature film lead role as Ramona in the Spanish independent comedy Ramona, written and directed by Andrea Bagney in her directorial debut. The film follows Ramona, an aspiring actress who meets her boyfriend during a chance encounter on a film set, blending humor with themes of ambition and romance; it premiered at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and was distributed by Filmin in Spain. Critics praised Hernández's "sparky central turn" and "eye-catching performance," noting her natural charisma and ability to convey vulnerability, which elevated the film's reception and broadened her public profile beyond music.[39][40][41][42]Voice and compositional work
Lourdes Hernández, known professionally as Russian Red, lent her voice to the Castilian Spanish dub of the 2012 Disney-Pixar film Brave, performing the character's songs on the soundtrack. She recorded the Spanish versions of key tracks, including "Touch the Sky" as "Volaré" and "Into the Open Air" as "A la luz del sol," serving as the singing voice for the protagonist Mérida.[43][44] This contribution marked one of her early forays into voice work for animated media, blending her indie folk style with the film's Celtic-inspired score. In 2010, Hernández participated in a posthumous duet with Elvis Presley on a reimagined version of "Love Me Tender" for the Viva Elvis soundtrack, tied to Cirque du Soleil's tribute show. She recorded her vocals in a contemporary arrangement, which were then mixed with Presley's original 1956 recordings to create the illusion of a live collaboration, produced by Sony Music and Elvis Presley Enterprises.[45] This track, featured on the Love Me Tender Duets - Viva Elvis Collection, highlighted her ethereal tone complementing Presley's iconic baritone, contributing to the album's goal of bridging generations through remixed classics.[46] The release underscored her rising international profile at the time, following her breakthrough in the indie music scene.[47] Hernández composed original music for the 2019 dance production a blind LAdy, choreographed by Danielle Agami for the Ate9 Dance Company. Performed live during its premiere at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, her score featured bilingual songs in English and Spanish, delivered on guitar with electronic sampling to evoke Los Angeles's multicultural fabric.[48] This intimate collaboration amplified the piece's themes of isolation and disconnection, with Hernández positioned onstage as both composer and performer, her folk-infused vocals adding emotional layers to Agami's fluid, introspective movements.[49] The work exemplified her versatility in scoring for multimedia, distinct from her solo recordings.[50]Discography
Studio albums
Russian Red's debut studio album, I Love Your Glasses, was released on 29 June 2008 by Eureka Records. Produced by Fernando Vacas, it marked her breakthrough in the indie folk scene. The track listing is as follows:- Cigarettes (2:03)
- No Past Land (3:18)
- They Don't Believe (3:12)
- Gone, Play On (2:19)
- Hold It Inside (4:00)
- Nice Thick Feathers (3:27)
- Kiss My Elbow (2:32)
- Take Me Home (3:27)
- On the Sea (3:16)
- Claim It (2:45)
- I Want You (3:10)
- Love Love Love (2:46)
- Everyday Everynight (3:00)
- The Sun the Trees (2:55)
- I Hate You But I Love You (3:01)
- Braver Soldier (3:44)
- Fuerteventura (2:15)
- The Memory Is Cruel (3:58)
- Tarantino (3:11)
- My Love Is Gone (3:52)
- L.A. (3:26)
- February 14 (2:23)
- Walls (3:40)
- Michael P (3:51)
- John Michael (4:05)
- Stevie J (3:50)
- Casper (4:03)
- Xabier (4:22)
- Anthony (4:00)
- William (3:45)
- Alex T (3:40)
- Neruda (4:10)
- Tim B (4:15)
- M (3:55)
- Shout (Tears for Fears cover) (2:36)
- Do You Really Want to Hurt Me (Culture Club cover) (3:17)
- I Want to Break Free (Queen cover) (3:46)
- All That She Wants (Ace of Base cover) (2:29)
- I'll Stand by You (The Pretenders cover) (3:46)
- Heartache (The Knack cover) (3:40)
- Save a Prayer (Duran Duran cover) (3:52)
- Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (The Police cover) (3:20)
- Me gustan todos los chicos (1:51)
- No entiendo nada (2:42)
- Intelectual sexual (2:42)
- This is un volcán (3:23)
- Una fresca (1:45)
- La última vez (3:02)
- Tus putos labios (2:38)
- Volverme a enamorar (3:10)
Singles
Russian Red released her debut single "They Don't Believe" in 2008, which served as the lead track from her first album I Love Your Glasses. Other notable early singles included "Cigarettes" and "Perfect Time" in 2008, also from I Love Your Glasses.[57][58] From her 2011 album Fuerteventura, key singles were "I Hate You But I Love You" and "The Sun, The Trees", both released that year, "Everyday Everynight" and "My Love Is Gone" in 2012, followed by the title track "Fuerteventura" in 2012. Promotional singles from Agent Cooper included "Casper", "John Michael", and "Michael P" in 2014.[59] In 2017, she issued "I Want to Break Free", a cover of Queen's song, as the lead single from her covers album Karaoke.[60] Later independent releases included "This is un volcán" in 2023, initially a standalone single later featured on Volverme a enamorar, along with "No entiendo nada" that same year. In 2024, singles such as "Eclipse Total", "Nosoutros", and "Chico del montón" were issued in support of Volverme a enamorar, with no notable B-sides documented.[5][61]| Title | Release Year | Associated Project |
|---|---|---|
| They Don't Believe | 2008 | I Love Your Glasses |
| Cigarettes | 2008 | I Love Your Glasses |
| Perfect Time | 2008 | I Love Your Glasses |
| I Hate You But I Love You | 2011 | Fuerteventura |
| The Sun, The Trees | 2011 | Fuerteventura |
| Everyday Everynight | 2012 | Fuerteventura |
| My Love Is Gone | 2012 | Fuerteventura |
| Fuerteventura | 2012 | Fuerteventura |
| Casper | 2014 | Agent Cooper |
| John Michael | 2014 | Agent Cooper |
| Michael P | 2014 | Agent Cooper |
| I Want to Break Free | 2017 | Karaoke |
| This is un volcán | 2023 | Standalone / Volverme a enamorar |
| No entiendo nada | 2023 | Volverme a enamorar |
| Eclipse Total | 2024 | Volverme a enamorar |
| Nosoutros | 2024 | Volverme a enamorar |
| Chico del montón | 2024 | Volverme a enamorar |
