
I've been a professional vocalist/musician/songwriter for 15+ years, I am a GRAMMY nominee, and I have recorded with the likes of Kenny Rogers, Bering Strait, Sir Christopher Lee and John Ford Coley. Throughout my professional career, my work has been heard on ABC, CBS, NBC, CMT, Animal Planet – and even in outer space!
I work in multiple genres: pop, rock, folk, country, Christian, alternative, EDM and others. I specialize in recording vocals (lead and/or BGV), keyboard tracks, piano/vocals, topline/songwriting (with vocals), string arranging, midi song production, etc. If you'd like to hear more samples than posted, in any specific genre, just ask.
For recording vocals, I use Neumann TLM103 mic and Universal Audio Apollo Twin MKII mic pre. When contacting me about vocals, please specify if your song is fully written – both melody and lyrics – or whether you need songwriting services too.
I don’t offer partial song rates (for a single chorus/hook), all my rates are per song up to 5 minutes in length.
On songwriting jobs, I initially record a rough work tape of my ideas as a voice memo. After client signs off, I then record keeper studio quality vocals and send a preview for final approval. Finalized raw tracks are delivered after project is marked complete.
I ask all my clients not to release, list or promote recordings under my name as artist / featured artist. While I’m proud of all work I do, I ask this simply to separate music I work on as a hired musician/singer (which varies greatly stylistically and conceptually from project to project) from music I write, produce and release as an artist.
Looking forward to hearing all about your project and making some music together!
Contact me through the green button above and let's get to work.
Credits
Languages
- English
- French
- Russian
444 Reviews - 55 Repeat Clients
Endorse Lydia Salnikova- check_circleVerified
Lydia is a perpetual blessing! She wove an intricate tapestry vocally and on piano and a Rhodes on progressive rock. There is really nothing she can’t do musically and I am always eternally thankful!
- check_circleVerified
Lydia did another perfect take! I can't think Lydia enough for all she does!
- check_circleVerified
Lydia is so great to work with! Extremely nice, knowledgable, amazing musicianship, vocals, she does it all! You will not be disappointed working with Lydia!
- check_circleVerified
Amazing as always! Lydia is the best, don't wait! Reach out to her for all your musical needs! Like, right now. Stop what you're doing and contact her!
- check_circleVerified
It’s been my mission in life for two years now to make every song even more difficult each time for Lydia, haha! No matter the style or confusion I throw her direction she just takes it up flawlessly and very quickly too I might add. Wow! This time she sang a progressive Supertramp like track with a multi layered bgv arrangement that she took and made better and added to it even in areas that I didn’t hear and brought the song level up to amazing! She’s the find of a lifetime, so gifted!
- check_circleVerified
You can cast a net far and wide and not find someone better to work with than Lydia. Whether you are looking for vocals or piano, her considerable skills and talents will enhance your project and take it to the next level. She's the consummate pro and there's a reason I have put four of my songs in her more than capable hands: Lydia is just really, really good at what she does. Don't take my word for it though...hire her and find out for yourself!
- check_circleVerified
Working with Lydia it's been a great pleasure. Super professional, reliable, flexible in delivering on a tight schedule. Recommended.
- check_circleVerified
Lydia was so completely professional, and she has such an incredible voice which was the ideal fit for my project. She really listened to the specifics I gave her and went above and beyond to have everything I needed, not just in the vocal performance, but with the technical aspects too. Delightful to work with. Highly recommend!
- check_circleVerified
She took my mechanical piano song and made it simply beautiful, lovely, gorgeous etc. (haha) and oh yeah, it has a hook to die for! Just an incredible talent and such a gentle soul and overall nice person, no doubt.
You feel her music as much as hear it. It's her gift...a gift to the world for Christmas and the other 363 days. All I can say is WOW! If you use her one time, you will find it will turn into EVERYTIME! Don't hesitate to use Lydia for vocals and piano, you will never regret it!
- check_circleVerified
Lydia plays piano with extreme feeling and yet she can bang the keys in a groovy modern track as well! She never ceases to amaze me and can turn around her piano tracks in a few hours time without the chords even. Just a naturally gifted musician who I feel very blessed to be a part of my music. She is the best without question!
- check_circleVerified
Lydia did many songs for my album and they are all just wonderful. She is a wonderful singer, a fine musician, a great communicator, and, overall, just a delight to work with. She can work with many different styles, arrange and produce very nice harmony and other vocal arranging, etc. You just can't go wrong with Lydia. Most highly recommended.
- check_circleVerified
Lydia delivered another incredible and emotional heartfelt vocal performance of my song. Lydia’s interpretation of the melody is absolutely sublime. Lydia is phenomenal and such a fantastic person to work with, can’t recommend highly enough.
- check_circleVerified
Lydia was fantastic to work with! She delivered the vocals promptly and in a professional format, meeting all requirements perfectly. Her dedication and attention to detail made the process smooth and enjoyable.
- check_circleVerified
As always, working with Lydia is a great experience. Her tracks are perfect, outstanding musicianship, beautiful voice, and great and clear communications. What's not to like? Very highly recommend.
- check_circleVerified
Lydia never ceases to amaze me. It’s like I always try to find a genre she can’t pull off but she keeps accepting each challenge and just kills it! This time a 80s like Dua Lipa now era song with many diverse vocals and backing vocals and even four lines of rap. She tore it up in a good way and adapted different rhyhmn patterns and a hard key to sing in too Simply fantastic vocalist. She never disappoints!
- check_circleVerified
Lydia is a great musician, and a consummate professional. I can say personally that it's a privilege to have worked with her.
- check_circleVerified
I just finished my third collaboration with Lydia and I'm running out of superlatives to describe her extraordinary talents, both as a vocalist and pianist. She can sing and play any style and nails a tune right from the get-go. Put your song in her hands and you can be assured it will turn out better than you could have ever imagined!
- check_circleVerified
This is my third time working with Lydia. Each time I’ve received amazing results. Piano and string arrangements and mix/mastering. She is a very talented singer songwriter who has an interest in other people’s music as well.
Professional with great communication skills. - check_circleVerified
This was my second time working with Lydia and once again she outdid herself with the vocals and piano. A true pro, delivers everything she promises and a whole lot more. Simply put, Lydia's a top-notch talent who you can trust to elevate your song to a level you may not have imagined possible. So what are you waiting for? Hire her!
- check_circleVerified
Lydia is the absolute best. She's the consummate artist and collaborator plus unbelievably fast. She's done several songs on my project and she just finished the last one. Absolutely incredible, no works are adequate to describe her work. She gets the highest of the high recommendations.
Interview with Lydia Salnikova
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: In my studio, I record in Logic Pro X. For vocals I use Neumann TLM103 mic and Universal Audio Apollo Twin MKII audio interface / mic preamp. I also own various UA plugins such as Neve 1073, UA 610 tube, Avalon VT-737 tube and Manley VOXBOX tube – for different tone color options. For my piano sounds, I use Ivory by Synthogy, as well as Ravenscroft and Modern U by VI Labs. For my string sounds, I use LA Scoring Strings by Audiobro. I have recently acquired several guitar sound libraries, as well! Ask me about my full midi production.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Check out 2 of my articles published in SoundBetter "Tutorials": "Key your song well!" and "Are we in sync?"
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I was very proud to sing the part of Hildegard in "Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross" by Christopher Lee (2010). One afternoon, I got the call to do this duet remotely, without much information provided about the project. Recorded it that same afternoon. Only months later did I realize who that rich raspy voice I was singing against belonged to! It was a thrill.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Getting to make music for a living. It's a joy and a privilege.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I see my main job as a musician/singer-for-hire in realizing the client's vision for their project. I check my ego at the door. I bring to the table 15+ years of recording experience, rooted both in Nashville music scene and my original classical music education.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I work in multiple genres, such as pop, rock, alternative, dance/EDM, as well as country and Bluegrass.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: First, I receive any and all materials and instructions from a client. I try to get as much guidance upfront as possible, to minimize revisions later. After I do the work, I send a reference mix for the client to review and approve. I allow one round of minor revisions, if needed. Upon job approval and project marked "complete", I finalize and deliver all tracks in WAV format specified.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Most of the time, I get hired to record lead vocal tracks, background vocal tracks, piano tracks and string arrangements. I also produce/program full midi recordings for some of my clients, as well as offer songwriting/toplining services.

I was the Singer in this production
- Vocals #1: rock/country/pop/EDM
- Vocals #2: alternative/Christian/metal rock/country pop/R&B (5 clips)
- Topline writing (4 clips)
- Piano/vocal production (4 clips)
- Singer - FemaleAverage price - $300 per song
- Top line writer (vocal melody)Average price - $600 per song
- PianoAverage price - $150 per song
- Keyboards - SynthAverage price - $150 per song
- String ArrangerAverage price - $250 per song
1/2 of payment is non-refundable. Clients may request 1 round of minor revisions (not a full redo) after hearing my work. Typical turnaround is 6-7 days due to job volume; can also offer rush service.
- iMac
- Mackie HR824s
- Logic Pro X
- Universal Audio Apollo Twin MKII
- Baby Bottle mic by BLUE
- Yamaha S90-ES
- Ivory by Synthogy
- LA Scoring Strings by Audiobro