Mirage (Мираж) was a popular Soviet and Russian pop band formed in Moscow in 1986 by composer and keyboardist Andrey Lityagin. It is considered one of the pioneers of the Eurodance genre in Russia, although their early sound was more akin to synth-pop.
The band is known for its catchy melodies, synthesized arrangements, and female vocalists, who often changed throughout the group's history. Notable singers who performed with Mirage include Natalia Gulkina, Margarita Sukhankina, Tatiana Ovsienko, and Irina Saltykova. However, Lityagin retained the rights to the "Mirage" name and continued to produce music under that moniker even after the departure of many of the original members.
Mirage achieved significant popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s with hits such as "Zvyozdy nas zhdut" ("Stars Are Waiting for Us"), "Video," "Solnechnoe Leto" ("Sunny Summer"), and "Novyj Geroy" ("New Hero"). Their music was widely played on radio and at discos, contributing significantly to the development of the contemporary Russian pop scene. The band’s albums sold millions of copies, though exact figures are difficult to verify due to widespread piracy at the time.
Over the years, Mirage has experienced numerous lineup changes and legal battles over the rights to the band's name and music. Different factions claiming to be the "real" Mirage have toured and released music. This internal conflict has contributed to the band's somewhat fragmented history and complicated its legacy. Despite these challenges, Mirage remains a significant name in Russian pop music history, representing a key period in the development of the country's music industry after the collapse of the Soviet Union.