Jump to content

Draft:Ruzandra

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ruzandra
Ruzandra performing live in 2025
Ruzandra in 2025
Born
Ruxandra Grigore

(2002-05-03) May 3, 2002 (age 23)
Bucharest, Romania
Occupations
  • Singer
  • Songwriter
  • Record producer
Years active2016–present
Musical career
Also known asTokyo (2020–2023)
OriginBucharest, Romania
Genres
InstrumentsVocals
Labels
  • Independent
Websiteruzandra.com

Ruxandra Grigore (/ruːˈzʌndrə/ ru-ZUHN-drə; born May 3, 2002) is a Romanian singer, songwriter and record producer.[1] Known professionally as Ruzandra, she works primarily in contemporary pop and R&B. She first gained national attention as a contestant on X Factor Romania.[2] In 2025, she became the first Romanian artist to appear as a contestant on the American television series American Idol, an event widely covered in national media.[3]

Early life

[edit]

Ruzandra was born on May 3, 2002, in Bucharest, Romania.[1] Public profiles describe her as having pursued music from a young age, taking part in school and local performances.[2] She grew up in Romania and began appearing in singing contests and television broadcasts during her school years.[2] Ruzandra has described her upbringing as creatively supportive.[2]

Career

[edit]

2016–2018: Early beginnings and television appearances

[edit]

In 2016, Ruzandra released her debut single "Supersonic Love Song" independently.[2] In 2017, she auditioned for X Factor Romania, where her performance was broadcast nationally.[2]

In 2018, she took part in Romania’s national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest as a featured vocalist in the entry "Deșert de sentimente" with singer Tiri.[2] These early appearances contributed to her visibility in Romanian entertainment media.

2018–2020: Stage work and live performances

[edit]

Between 2018 and 2020, Ruzandra performed at concerts, events and television programs in Romania, singing pop and R&B material with live accompaniment. Media outlets during this period presented her as an active live performer.[2]

2020–2023: Tokyo and songwriting collaborations

[edit]

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she began releasing music under the stage name Tokyo.[4] Her single "Come My Way" received airplay on Romanian radio and led to a collaboration with producer MADS. They released the single "Lucky" and worked together on additional recordings.[5]

She co-wrote "Bang!" for American singer Bella Thorne, included on the soundtrack of the film Chick Fight, and "Deziubește-mă" for Romanian artists Mira and Mario Fresh.[1] These collaborations established her profile as a songwriter in both domestic and international projects.[2]

2023–2024: Transition to Ruzandra and Artificial

[edit]

In 2023, she resumed performing and releasing music under the name Ruzandra. Her single "Ghost" marked the transition from Tokyo to her current stage identity.[2] That same year, she participated in the Tommy Jeans / Tommy Hilfiger Pop-Up Experience in Bucharest, which combined live performances and fashion promotion.[6]

In 2024, Ruzandra released the extended play Artificial, produced with YDKRIC. The EP combines pop and R&B with afro and amapiano influences and received coverage from outlets including *ExtravaFrench*, which discussed the single "Run".[7]

2025–present: American Idol, Leaks and Drama Queen

[edit]

In early 2025, Ruzandra appeared on American Idol, advancing to Hollywood Week. Romanian media reported her as the first Romanian contestant to appear on the show.[1][3][2] Following her appearance, she released the studio album Leaks (2025), followed by the EP Drama Queen later that year. International music sites including *Roadie Music*, *Os Garotos de Liverpool* and *LaurelAnne Media* covered her singles "Peacock" and "Ms. Somebody".[8][9][10]

Artistry

[edit]

Music and voice

[edit]

Ruzandra’s recordings blend elements of R&B, pop, soul, hip hop and electronic music.[2] She primarily writes and performs in English and is credited as a writer and producer on much of her catalog. Coverage of singles such as "Run", "Peacock" and "Ms. Somebody" has noted her layered vocals and rhythmic phrasing within a pop framework that incorporates trap, amapiano and alternative R&B influences.[8][7][10]

Influences

[edit]

Ruzandra has cited artists including Beyoncé, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, FKA twigs, Björk and Sevdaliza as influences on her musical and visual work.[2] Coverage has placed her among Romanian pop artists who pursue internationally oriented productions while working largely independently.[1]

Visuals and stage

[edit]

Ruzandra’s releases are accompanied by visual concepts that include styling, choreography and short-form video content. She has appeared in fashion-related events, including the Tommy Jeans / Tommy Hilfiger project in Bucharest in 2023.[6] Reviews of later singles have treated the visual presentation as an integral part of her releases.[10]

Public image

[edit]

Following American Idol, Romanian media highlighted Ruzandra as the first Romanian contestant on the show and discussed her attempts to reach international audiences.[1][2][3] Coverage by music and culture sites has noted her involvement in songwriting, image and promotion as an independent performer and her use of visual and social media strategies around releases.[8][10]

Discography

[edit]
Main article: Ruzandra discography

Studio albums

[edit]
  • Leaks (2025)

Extended plays

[edit]
  • Artificial (2024)
  • Drama Queen (2025)

Selected singles

[edit]
  • "Supersonic Love Song" (2016)
  • "Bon Bon" (2016)
  • "Come My Way" (2020)
  • "Lucky" (2021)
  • "Ghost" (2023)
  • "Run" (2024)
  • "Peacock" (2025)
  • "Ms. Somebody" (2025)

Selected songwriting credits

[edit]
  • "Bang!" – Bella Thorne (2020)
  • "Deziubește-mă" – Mira x Mario Fresh (2021)

Television and notable live appearances

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f "Ruzandra, prima româncă pe scena American Idol". Libertatea (in Romanian). Ringier Romania. March 5, 2025. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Cine este Ruzandra, prima româncă pe scena American Idol". Viva.ro (in Romanian). Ringier Romania. March 17, 2025. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "Ploieșteanca Ruzandra, prima româncă pe scena „American Idol"". Observatorul Prahovean (in Romanian). March 5, 2025. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  4. ^ "Tokyo – Alegerea Lizei pentru Antrenorii de hituri". Virgin Radio Romania (in Romanian). Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  5. ^ "Tokyo (Ruzandra) – Artist Feature". Blaster Magazine. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Tommy Jeans Pop-Up Experience: artă stradală și stil urban". Viva.ro (in Romanian). 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Quand les racines Afro-RnB rencontrent les rythmes Amapiano avec Ruzandra sur « Run »". ExtravaFrench (in French). November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c "Ruzandra chega com "Peacock Pop" com pegada, paixão, presença e profundidade". Roadie Music (in Portuguese). October 6, 2025. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  9. ^ "Músicas para tocar na sua playlist #259". Os Garotos de Liverpool (in Portuguese). September 10, 2025. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  10. ^ a b c d "Ruzandra's "Ms. Somebody" Burns with Betrayal". LaurelAnne Media. 2025. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Draft:Ruzandra&oldid=1321204483"