Nika Kocharov

In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Valerieovich and the family name is Kocharov.
Nika Kocharov
ნიკა კოჩაროვი
Kocharov (left) in 2016.
Born
Nikoloz Valerieovich Kocharov

(1980-06-22) June 22, 1980 (age 44)
Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union
(now Georgia)
Other namesIgor Von Lichtenstein
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • composer
  • musician
  • actor
Musical career
GenresAlternative rock, indie rock, progressive rock
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • drums
  • keyboard
Years active1995 (1995)–present
Labels
  • 4 Real Records
  • Stockton Records
Member ofCircus Mircus
Formerly ofYoung Georgian Lolitaz
Z For Zulu

Nikoloz Valerieovich Kocharov (Georgian: ნიკოლოზ ვალერიოვიჩი კოჩაროვი), known as Nika Kocharov (Georgian: ნიკა კოჩაროვი) is a Georgian singer-songwriter, composer, musician and actor who is part of progressive rock band Circus Mircus, who represented Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022.[1] He was also the frontman of indie rock band Young Georgian Lolitaz, who represented Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016.[2] He is the son of a Georgian-Armenian musician Valeri Kocharov.[3]

Career

Kocharov (second from left) performing as part of Young Georgian Lolitaz at the ESC Village at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016.

Kocharov was born in 1980 in Tbilisi, Georgia. He started his musical career aged 15 when he formed his first band, Nadzvis Khe. Aged 19, he started another band, Nebo CCCR, with Kote Kalandadze. In 2001, he formed Young Georgian Lolitaz. In 2006, he moved to London when he was signed by 4 Real Records.[4] From 2002–present, he has composed the music for three films and one television series, and starred in three films.

In 2016, he represented Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with Young Georgian Lolitaz with the song Midnight Gold, finishing 20th in the final with 104 points. He was the spokesperson for Georgia in the 2017 contest.[5]

Circus Mircus

According to Wiwibloggs, Kocharov was rumoured to be part of Circus Mircus, who represented Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022.[6] Kocharov, along with other members of Young Georgian Lolitaz, have been listed in credits of Circus Mircus songs, and media noticed similarities in looks between Kocharov and Igor von Lichtenstein of Circus Mircus.

Following Eurovision, Kocharov was confirmed as Igor von Lichtenstein, a member of the band.

Personal life

Kocharov is in a relationship with 1TV presenter Lika Evgenidze, and their first child was born in 2024.[7]

Discography

Singles

Title Year Writer(s) Ref.
"Trivial Truths" 2020 Nika Kocharov [8]
"Friend"
(featuring Gogi Dzodzuashvili) 		2023 Nika Kocharov,
Gogi Dzodzuashvili 		[9]
"Sirock"
(featuring Young Georgian Lolitaz) 		Valeri Kocharov
Title Year Writer(s) Ref.
"River (Nika Kocharov Remix)"
(by George Sikharulidze) 		2021 George Sikharulidze,
Nika Kocharov 		[10]
"99.99% Happy"
(Gogi Dzodzuashvili featuring Nika Kocharov) 		2023 Gogi Dzodzuashvili,
Nika Kocharov 		[11]

Young Georgian Lolitaz

Main article: Young Georgian Lolitaz

Studio albums

Title Details Ref.
"Lemonjuice"
  • Released: December 28, 2009
 [12]

Extended plays

Title Details Ref.
"The Lava EP"
  • Released: June 7, 2010
 [13]

Singles

Title Year Writer(s) Ref.
"Midnight Gold" 2016 Kote Kalandadze
Thomas G:son 		[a]
"Dark Device" 2017 Young Georgian Lolitaz [14]

Filmography

As a composer

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2002 Post Punk Composer [15]
2009 Tbilisuri Love Story Composer
2015-2017 Mzareulebi Composer
2019 The Criminal Man Composer

As an actor

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2002 Listen to Chopin Yellow Duck singer [15]
2013 Ra Mokhda Kievshi Tombstone maker
2022 In Bax The Rock N Rolla Friend

Awards

Year Award/Festival Category Work Result Ref
2019 Minsk International Film Festival (Listapad) Best Sound/Score The Criminal Man Won [16]

Notes

  1. ^ "Midnight Gold" was removed from streaming services.

References

  1. ^ #ამშაბათკვირას 4 ნოემბერს სირკუს მირკუსის კონცერტი გაიმართება (in Georgian), retrieved 2022-11-08
  2. ^ Mamsikashvili, Rezo (15 December 2015). "Georgia: Nika Kocharov & Young Georgia Lolitaz for Eurovision 2016". Wiwbloggs. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  3. ^ "74 წლის ასაკში ქართველი როკ მომღერალი ვალერი კოჩაროვი გარდაიცვალა". tabula.ge (in Georgian). 3 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Nika Kocharov - Biography". IMDb. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  5. ^ Knoops, Roy (27 April 2017). "Georgia: Nika Kocharov to be the Georgian Spokesperson for Eurovision 2017". esctoday. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  6. ^ ten Veen, Renske (15 November 2021). "LIST: 8 clues the Young Georgian Lolitaz could be behind Circus Mircus". Wiwbloggs. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  7. ^ ""ბედნიერება" - ლიკა ევგენიძე ოჯახურ კადრებს გვიზიარებს". Marao.Ge (in Georgian). 22 October 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  8. ^ Kocharov, Nika Z (5 May 2020). "Trivial Truths – Single by Nika Z Kocharov". Apple Music. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  9. ^ Kocharov, Nika (21 February 2023). "Friend (feat. Gogi Dzodzuashvili) – Single by Nika Kocharov". Apple Music. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  10. ^ Sikharulidze, George (23 July 2021). "River (Nika Kocharov Remix) – Single by George Sikharulidze". Apple Music. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  11. ^ Dzodzuashvili, Gogi (21 February 2023). "99.99% Happy (feat. Nika Kocharov) – Single by Gogi Dzodzuashvili". Apple Music. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  12. ^ Georgian Lolitaz, Young (28 December 2009). "Lemonjuice – Album by Young Georgian Lolitaz". Apple Music. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  13. ^ Georgian Lolitaz, Young (7 June 2010). "The Lava EP – EP by Young Georgian Lolitaz". Apple Music. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  14. ^ Georgian Lolitaz, Young (22 February 2017). "Dark Devices – Single by Young Georgian Lolitaz". Apple Music. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Nika Kocharov". IMDb. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  16. ^ "Nika Kocharov - Awards". IMDb. Retrieved 27 May 2022.