Alexei Tsybine Jendayi is an accomplished songwriter, producer, and performer, whose ability to craft a song, unconstrained by the boundaries of musical styles, has been praised by critics and audiences alike. His music can be heard on the U.S. premier soul station WHUR. He shares production credits on Kuku's celebrated release Unexpected Pleasures. And as a DJ, he is injecting life into parties around Washington, D.C. . . . Alright, enough of that. :) Here's my story.
I spent the first 16 years of my life in Russia, living in a town near Moscow. Had a lovely time, despite the perpetual shortages of food, coups d'états, and hyperinflation. In 1995, I was selected to come to the U.S. as a part of the Freedom Exchange Act program. Bill Bradley, then still a U.S. Senator from New Jersey, thought it would be a good idea to bring promising Russian students to the United States and, having indoctrinated them with the virtues of democracy and free markets, ship them back to make the motherland better.
Kansas and Texas were a culture shock. But I found ways to enjoy it. Being in Russia felt quite strange after my year in the U.S., so I thought to try to do college in the U.S. So here I was, on a Delta flight to the U.S. in 1997, with $400 in my pocket and little idea about where to live, which college to attend, or how to pay for it.
I finished undergrad and I signed on with Nader's Public Citizen in Washington, D.C. After working there for a year, I was certainly ready to move on to bigger and better things. And so came law school.
Around the same time, I began performing around town and working with fellow artists in D.C. A couple of production and songwriting credits behind my back, I'm still going strong. Currently working with Sol Edler on the follow-up to his highly successful second album. Also writing and producing for Princess of Controversy and Tim'm West. Oh, and I do international trade law on the side, representing countries in WTO disputes. :)
Anything else about me? Well, I love D.C. and all the beautiful people that surround me. Seldom seen without my bike, I am a devotee of Mocha Hut and U-Topia’s veggie omelets and a lover of Waterfront (my home) and Eastern Market. When I’m not doing music or toiling at the firm, I’m spending time with my friends, traveling, playing with my camera, enjoying weekends in New York, reading, and rollerblading.
Peace.
