Company Description
At Isina Music, we’ve created a worldwide music talent search and mentorship program that brings together aspiring artists and music industry experts like no organization has before. No matter how remote their home, undiscovered musicians have a chance to develop their talent under the guidance of some of the music industry's biggest names. Using our unique online platform, we aim to attract, evaluate, train, and promote aspiring music talents no matter their country. So, all aspiring artists now have a way to achieve their greatest star power! Our Isina Music program has five divisions: songwriters, instrumentalists, vocalists, producers, and DJs. Applicants receive feedback from and the chance to train with this team of mentors, each considered a master and leader in their particular field. We believe success stories of artists topping charts and building global fan bases indicates that ISINA has major influential power in the music industry.
Management Team / Advisory Board Bios
Walter Afanasieff
Co-Founder, Member of the Advisory Board, Head of Composer’s Department
Walter Afanasieff (known by many as "Walter A.") is a multi-Grammy Award winning record producer and songwriter. He is best known for his collaboration with Mariah Carey for whom he produced and co-wrote for many years, beginning in 1990. During this time, Walter produced and co-wrote “Hero,” the second single from Carey’s album Music Box. In addition to his music ventures, Walter is involved in multiple business initiatives, from health and well-being to music education.
Oleg Shmelev
Co-Founder, Executive Producer
Grandson to one of the most recognized saxophonist of the USSR, Oleg began his decent into the industry under the guidance of his grandfather who encouraged him to pursue music education.By 2007, Shmelev began a new business venture with partner Julia Kurbatova, creating JK Music Group, which has landed a collaboration with American Idol judge and Grammy-winning producer Randy Jackson. In 2001, Oleg was named music producer of the Miss Russia National Pageant, a position which he held until 2006. Although he enjoyed his tenure with the organization, Oleg Shmelev moved on to pursue his passion for music production, co-founding the HitMasters, the first independent music production-collective in Russia. HitMaster’s main focus was fusing an producing hit records by teaming artists with some of the industry’s top producers, composer and directors. In conjunction with HitMasters, Shmelev has spearheaded several successful projects including DEEMA, the girl group Miss Russia, and international pop boy band US5, whose music has peaked at No. 5 on the US Billboard Charts and landed in the top spot on charts in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In 2015 he created the boy band New District, which already in 2016 was nominated for the TEEN CHOICE AWARDS for “Choice Music, Next Big Thing”. In December of 2016 New District won an award in Germany called the Golden Bravo Otto Award in the category “Super Band". In 2016, Oleg founded ISINA (prior to incorporation, as a sole proprietorship) and with partners incorporated as ISINA in 2017, which allows to search and promote talents from all over the world.