Katya Lel has partnered with Passion Vibe for a new international collaboration.
The Russian pop star received the prestigious Merited Artist of the Russian Federation award from President Vladimir Putin in February 2025.
The partnership introduces a new remix of “Slatki Moi,” performed alongside Passion Vibe artist Kaleb J.
Katya Lel Begins a New Chapter With Passion Vibe
Katya Lel has been one of Russia’s most recognized pop artists for more than two decades.
Born as Yekaterina Nikolayevna Chuprinina, Katya Lel rose to fame in 2003.
Her breakthrough came after collaborating with producer Maxim Fadeev on the hit “Moy Marmeladny (My Marmalade).”
The song topped Russian music charts and earned her a Golden Gramophone award.
Throughout her career, Katya Lel has released ten studio albums.
She has also received numerous honors, including the titles of People’s Artist of Kabardino-Balkaria and Chechnya.
In addition, she earned a Silver Disc for her music sales.
The project makes Passion Vibe the first independent Indonesian label to introduce Katya Lel to Indonesia through Kaleb J’s signature R&B style.
The collaboration was initiated by Passion Vibe CEO and Founder Yoga Nugroho, who spent nearly 15 years living in Moscow.
His experience, professional network, and fluency in Russian helped build the connection between Passion Vibe and Katya Lel’s team.
According to Yoga Nugroho, both sides welcomed the collaboration with great enthusiasm.
He also acknowledged the support of RIA Novosti and Ruskiy Dom Indonesia, which helped facilitate the partnership.
Yoga described the project as a rare opportunity. He hopes it will open the door to more international music collaborations in the future.
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Kaleb J Reimagines “Slatki Moi”
For Kaleb J, the collaboration represents a personal milestone.
He said working with Katya Lel fulfilled one of his longtime dreams of collaborating with artists from around the world.
The original version of “Slatki Moi” is an energetic dance track.
Kaleb J admitted that he immediately connected with its vibe and energy, even before understanding the lyrics.
Although Kaleb J and Katya Lel come from different musical backgrounds, he embraced the creative challenge.
Together with the team, he focused on creating a version they genuinely enjoyed while staying true to the spirit of the original song.
Producer and Passion Vibe Co-Founder Belanegara Abe led the musical arrangement of the remix.
His goal was to combine Katya Lel’s dance music style with Kaleb J’s warm R&B sound.
Before beginning the arrangement, Abe and the production team carefully studied the Russian lyrics and their meaning.
He believes music is a universal language and wanted the remake to express a fresh emotional perspective without losing the original song’s identity.
The arrangement was inspired by a casual conversation with Kaleb J, who suggested adding groovier rhythms and a slightly faster tempo.
From there, Abe created a simple, organic production featuring drums, guitar, bass, and keyboards while allowing both vocal styles to remain the main focus.
A Fresh Interpretation of a Russian Pop Hit
For the remix, Kaleb J rewrote the second verse with his own lyrics and recorded new vocal arrangements alongside Belanegara Abe.
The updated production gives “Slatki Moi” a fresh identity while preserving its original spirit.
One unique element of the project is Kaleb J’s performance in Russian.
The original hook, “Slatki Moi,” is a term of endearment meaning “my darling” from a woman to a man.
Since Kaleb J performs the remix, the lyric was adapted to “Slatkaya Moya,” expressing the same meaning from a man to a woman.
Katya Lel gave Passion Vibe complete creative freedom throughout the project.
She even asked whether the remake would be performed entirely in English or Indonesian.
The team ultimately chose to keep the Russian lyrics because they believed the language added authenticity and uniqueness to the song.
After hearing the final remix, Katya Lel expressed her appreciation for the new version, particularly Kaleb J’s vocal performance.
Passion Vibe also hopes the collaboration will eventually lead to a live performance featuring both artists, either in Indonesia or in Russia.
A bunch of electronic dance music lovers who wants to share news from Indonesia to the world.