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!
Send me a note through the contact button above.
Credits
Languages
- English
- French
- Russian
Endorse Lydia Salnikova497 Reviews - 58 Repeat Clients
check_circleVerifiedLydia's musical sense and acumen are off the charts! The addition of her voice and B3 are just what "Destiny" needed! Thanks again for lending your musical talent to my song!
Greg- check_circleVerified
Lydia’s musical sense is like ESP! The “extra” care, intuition and execution are beyond compare! Truly remarkable! Five stars and a few more heavenly bodies for good measure!
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Another superb rendering of a song by adding lead and background vocals as well as new phrasing where needed. Plus a tasty B3 for added texture. Thanks a bunch, Lydia!
Greg 
check_circleVerifiedGreat to work with! Fantastic vocals and piano work!! Very prompt and organized… will absolutely use again!
check_circleVerifiedYou can’t measure the importance of good instincts. I was getting away from the feeling and style of what my song really was and Lydia reeled me back in and laid down an incredible foundation. Let her start the first pieces of the puzzle and you can fit the rest in…but ensure you strive for her same excellence. Easily said, hard to achieve, but always within reach in any Lydia led piano and B3 track. Oh yeah, she can sing too! :-)
check_circleVerifiedLydia is simply incredible. Vocal is spot on. She brought a magic to the song I hadn't even imagined. Pro level. Great to work with and communicate. Fast and efficient. ALL A'S ++++++++++
check_circleVerifiedWhat a joy it was to work with Lydia! In addition to her excellent communication skills, she performed the piano and vocal tracks with absolute precision. She executed my vision to perfection.
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A masterpiece by a masterful musician. Lydia gave me piano, her priceless lead vocal, along with intricate woven strings and background vocals with pop choral style layers even. Give her TOTAL trust of your tune and the listener will have your Single on repeat if you let he do her thing. Immense piano talent, the Mozart of pop art! She's so good in fact that I didn't let those I work with hear the song "Hush" till she finished, and they sum it up...beautiful, amazing bgvs! and...Wow! Amazing!
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I just watched the Home Run Derby, and in baseball terms Lydia is a consistent home run champion!!! She is a pleasure to work with, and extremely intuitive. A musical pearl of great price!
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Lydia really came through on “All That Love Allows”! Gorgeous interpretation and arrangement from the basic work tape I sent. She is super talented, prompt and intuitive! 5 stars, plus a few more!!!
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This is my second time working with Lydia, and I’m blown away! I didn’t see how she could top the previous song, but she did! Prompt, professional and perfect! Looking forward to the next one!
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Another great job by Lydia. Excellent tone and quality to the BVs and very professional in her communication and delivery. I will definitely work with her again.
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Lydia is a once in a lifetime find x over 30 in my case. Three years ago I needed bgvs and spelled it out on what to sing, no problem, she adapts, but I found out instantly she hears more than I can, and future bgvs were her call. She does lead vocals like Country...old time, Pop and even tragic! haha. She sings Due Lipa Pop, Gaga like Power ballads & gorgeous voice and piano moments to soothe the soul. She can give you B3 Organ, Rhodes, solo piano and arranges full orchestration too! The best!
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This was my first project with Soundbetter and Lydia was a dream to work with. She understood the requirements and delivered a fantastic vocal performance that aligned with my vision. I was delighted with the results and can highly recommend her. In addition to the vocal performance Lydia was friendly and professional, with excellent communication all throughout the process.
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Excellent and fantastic. All the positive superlatives that there are. Killer vocals and arrangement.
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Lydia’s vocals were pitch perfect, and her treatment and interpretation were top notch! Looking forward to future collaborations!
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I love to make it as hard as I can for Lydia in a good way, she loves a challange. I hear her voice when writing and this time she was saying, "let's make a rocker with some bite and sass"! Haha, then she simply tore it up. She even layered harmonies for depth and put more into this potential future hit than she needed to! Why? Because she thought it needed that little extra push. Who does that? A truly unique and remarkable lady with a talent that lives on through the ages!
check_circleVerifiedI worked with Lydia on a piano piece that will be published as a solo piano work, as well as in versions with other instruments.
I would gladly consider working with Lydia again in the future.
Thank you very much for helping make my project a reality. My work is mainly in music direction and production, as well as composition, rather than performance.
Thank you,
Ricardo Silva / Jenny Q- check_circleVerified
I'm new to SoundBetter and having spent hours listening to talented vocalists on the site, I selected Lydia based on her great demos and the long list of feedback. Expectations were high! However Lydia far exceeded these from start to finish, great comms, took time to understand the track and my vision for it, ultimately delivering fantastic lead and harmonies first time without any revisions required. And quickly! Already working on the next project for collaboration with her. Thank you Lydia!
check_circleVerifiedLydia was an absolute pro and excellent to work with. Her vocals fit perfectly and are exactly what I was hoping for. She’s also friendly and a great communicator, looking forward to working with her again soon!
Interview with Lydia Salnikova
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: In addition to working for hire, I’m currently finishing recording a full-length album of original songs titled “The Idea of You”, which I also wrote. It is set for 2026 release. Stay tuned!
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Digital! Possibilities are limitless. But you gotta have a good mic and a good preamp.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: In my studio, I record in Logic Pro. 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
- Yamaha HS7ss
- Logic Pro
- Universal Audio Apollo Twin MKII
- Neumann TLM103
- Ravenscroft 275
- Ivory II
- LA Scoring Strings and many other sound libraries
