Корни (Korny)

Корни (Korny) is a Russian pop-rock group that emerged from the reality talent show «Фабрика звёзд» (Star Factory), whose first season it won in 2002. The band was assembled and shaped under the guidance of producer and songwriter Igor Matvienko, who became the principal author of much of its material and helped define its melodic, radio-friendly pop-rock sound.

Korny quickly became one of the most visible acts to come out of Russian talent-show television in the early 2000s, scoring hits such as «Вика», «25-й этаж» and «Я теряю корни», songs built around emotional, accessible melodies and youthful themes that resonated with a mass audience. Their music blended soft rock instrumentation with pop songwriting conventions typical of Matvienko-produced projects.

Over the years the group's lineup shifted, as is common for factory-assembled pop acts, while the Matvienko-authored catalogue remained the backbone of their repertoire. Korny holds a notable place in the history of Russian pop as one of the earliest and most commercially successful products of the talent-show format, helping popularize the «Фабрика звёзд» franchise itself.