By Mike Milazzo
In Soviet-era Russia, you didn’t make music. Music made you. Lucky for us, they made a musical gem in the form of Regina Spektor. Born in the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War, Spektor moved to New York with her family at the age of nine, where she received classical training as a pianist and began writing her own material. Signed to Sire Records in 2004, her fourth album Begin To Hope spawned several singles (most notably “Samson”) and was certified Gold. Her newest album, 2016’s Remember Us to Life, displays more of a pop influence than previous albums. But, luckily for us as we seem to be creeping towards a new Cold War with Russia, it’s still prime Spektor.