Content creator Fausta Marija Leščiauskaitė recently weighed in on the discussion surrounding singer Jessica Shy’s music, specifically addressing claims of a Russian influence in her sound.
Leščiauskaitė shared her thoughts during an appearance on “Žinių radijo”’s “Radijo ritmas” with host Tomas Loiba, explaining that such influences are not necessarily surprising given the historical and cultural connections between Lithuania and Russia.
“We inevitably hear it, we have heard it, and we will hear it. We have many respected singers of the older generation, some of whom are no longer with us, who have a lot of Slavic influence,” Leščiauskaitė stated. “Our ties to Slavic culture are undeniable. I would like to deny it, but we have connections. And it probably can’t be avoided. I feel it’s very vital to identify and know where things come from,” she added.
Leščiauskaitė also suggested that Jessica Shy herself may not even be aware of these subtle influences, as they can be deeply ingrained and operate on a subconscious level. The conversation highlights the ongoing debate within the Lithuanian music scene about cultural layers and the impact of historical context on contemporary artists.
“I saw a discussion where Jessica Shy herself said, ‘Explain it to me, I don’t speak Russian, I don’t know.’ So I think it’s so deeply rooted. I don’t think we need to go to extremes or crucify Jessica Shy. I think she really doesn’t know what people are talking about, and that there are some vestiges of Slavic culture in her work is inevitable for someone from Lithuania. That Slavic culture has been part of our lives. When I was a child, my neighbors would play Russian music, it didn’t play in our house, but I would hear it from my neighbors,” Leščiauskaitė explained.
