Елена Ваенга (Elena Vaenga)

Elena Vaenga is a Russian singer and songwriter whose real name is Elena Khruleva. She performs primarily in the tradition of Russian urban romance and chanson, a genre rooted in emotionally direct storytelling, often drawing on themes of love, loss, fate, and everyday Russian life. Her stage persona and delivery are theatrical, shaped in part by her background in drama and cabaret-style performance, which gives her live shows a strong sense of narrative and character.

Vaenga built her following through an extensive catalog of original songs that blend chanson with elements of folk and pop sensibility, and she is known for writing much of her own material rather than relying solely on outside songwriters, which is relatively distinctive within the genre. Her voice and stage presence have made her one of the more recognizable figures in contemporary Russian chanson and estrada, a scene that traditionally sits somewhat apart from mainstream Russian pop.

Her songs frequently circulate through large-scale concert tours and televised performances rather than through crossover pop radio, reflecting the genre's own ecosystem of fan loyalty and live performance culture. Within that space, she has remained one of the most consistently active and enduring performers of her generation.