Iskra Balakireva

Iskra Balakireva is the brains, heart and various other internal organs behind the solo modern rock act Applechaser.

Her parents got divorced at an early age. Iskra never went to school but received daily teachings by her mother. She enjoys travelling the world in search for new adventures. She hates politics. Iskra is trying to give up smoking.

Iskra appeared in the Popomundo universe 28.2.2006.

Well, yes, but that doesn't exactly tell the whole story.

Iskra was a shy and aloof child growing up in Moscow, having no classmates to socialize regularly with, and became rather rebellious in her teenage years. Though Iskra and her mother clashed often, Ms. Balakireva managed to instill two important traits in her daughter: unrealistic personal standards, and a healthy interest in and respect for other cultures. Other admonishments didn't get through quite as well, and Iskra was already a heavy smoker and drinker by the time she reached adulthood.

At eighteen, Iskra grew bored of languishing around the house, took a job as a bartender at Pravda, bought the bass guitar she'd wanted for so long, and started to teach herself the songs she heard on the radio and in her mother's record collection, as well as bringing a few of the songs she'd heard in her own head for so long into the world.

Applechaser made its debut on day 53 of year 21 at The Zorya before a small crowd of 91 people. Never satisfied with small successes, Iskra immediately planned to travel the world, playing gigs everywhere she could and seeing the places she'd always wanted to see. Over the next Popoyear, she proceeded to build a small but devoted international cult following, and her first single on the Studio Coma label enjoyed minor success. She also founded the company Polaris International, with a committment to small and personal business (specifically the Moscow hangout The Nipple Ring Cafe and Los Angeles' first Latin music club, La Estrella). Throughout her travels, she feels that she has enjoyed personal growth and become more outgoing as a whole, though the boozing is still a bit of a problem. One can't have everything.

Iskra can currently be found off-and-on with the F.A.C.K. Tour with The Funkadelic Freaks, Captain Cork, and Kali. She is the mother of one daughter, Althea Kay (with friend Brian Kay). Her fourth single Snubbed was recently released, and Applechaser's first album is scheduled to hit any day now.

First and only. But that's another story.

(to be continued…)

Died 22-Apr-2007

• Iskra is a citizen of Moscow.
• Iskra is the editor for the Moscow and New York editions of It's POP.
• Iskra is the CEO of The Nipple Ring Cafe in Moscow.
• Iskra owns the company Polaris International.
• Iskra has a pet cat named Sasha.

Iskra Balakireva's character info
Polaris International page