Dasha Franköforson

**Darya Evanjelina** "**Dasha**" **Franköforson** (born 29 June 1960) is a Lashardian singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and former model.

Franköforson first came to prominence as a member of the girl group The Cherry Bombs in the early-1980s. Following the group's split in 1984, she began a solo career. Her debut studio album, *Freebird*, was released in 1985 and was a smash hit.

Franköforson has went on to solidify herself as a pop icon of the 1980s and the most successful member of The Cherry Bombs.

## Life and career

### Early life

Franköforson was born on 29 June 1960 in the Dragonstone district of Ubenmoor. Her parents, Frank and Yulia, owned a Christmas tree farm, and as a child Franköforson helped out on the farm. Franköforson has an older brother and a younger sister. When she was six years old, she began going by the nickname "Dasha", instead of her birth name "Darya", because it was "more unconventional".

Franköforson attended primary school in Dragonstone, where she befriended future bandmate Srdana Eriköhemsli. According to Franköforson, they were "the only artistic people in a conservative vanilla community". They informally founded The Cherry Bombs in 1970 when they were ten years old, and would perform concerts in their backyards for family members.

Franköforson graduated from primary school in 1975 and began attending a nearby performing arts high school after not being allowed to study at Queen Maria's School for the Performing Arts due to it being too far away. She graduated from high school in 1978, and moved into an apartment in Tenichi with Eriköhemsli to pursue music careers.

### 1978–1984: Early career and The Cherry Bombs

After intital attempts at a music career proved unsuccessful, Franköforson and Eriköhemsli found themselves working as cashiers at a supermarket. While reminiscing about The Cherry Bombs one night in 1979, the two decided to recreate the band as a girl group, and recruited their close friends and fellow struggling musicians Lara Bergöklem, Marina Helenöporm, and Sabina Charköglas.

The band soon began performing gigs throughout Ubenmoor and were signed to Akai Music Group in 1980. Later in the year, they released their debut single "Somebody". The song became a smash hit, reaching number-one in four countries. Their debut studio album, *Ignition*, was later released the following year, and became the best-selling album of 1981.

In 1982, rumors arose of the group's possible breakup due to Franköforson and Eriköhemsli's desire to pursue solo careers. However, when asked about the rumors, all five members of the group dismissed them as fiction and that they'd begun work on their second studio album. The album's lead single "Vacation", was released in autumn 1982. The song was a massive success, and peaked in the top three of six countries' singles chart. Their second studio album, *CB*, was released in early-1983.

Rumors of a possible breakup resurfaced after the abrupt cancelation of their Asmatys-wide tour to promote *CB*. Many news stories began reporting that Franköforson and Eriköhemsli had signed solo recording contracts and that the other band members were furious. In 1984, the group confirmed that they had split up.

### 1984–1986: Solo career and *Freebirds*

Following the 1984 breakup of The Cherry Bombs, Franköforson immediately began writing and recording music for her upcoming studio album. In a 1984 interview, Franköforson stated, "I'm really excited to be releasing my solo music. It'll be a bit different than the previous stuff, way more Lashpop, less rock. I hope everybody will like it."

In early-1985, she released her debut solo single "Mad About You". The song was a departure from the hard rock influence found in music by The Cherry Bombs, and instead was strictly Lashpop in style. It was a smash hit, peaking at number-one in two countries.

Franköforson released her debut solo studio album, *Freebirds*, later in the year. The album was very successful, reaching the top ten in five countries and being certified platinum in Lashardia. It also produced the hit singles "Good Time" and "Store".

### 1986–1988: *Heaven* and *Into You*

Shortly after the release of *Freebirds*, Franköforson began work on her second solo studio album. In February 1986, she released the album's lead single, "Heaven". "Heaven" went on to top the charts in seven countries, becoming Franköforson's biggest hit and signature song.

Her second studio album, also titled *Heaven*, was released later in the year. Like its lead single, the album was massively successful, becoming the most successful album of her career. It also produced the hit singles "Fun", "Bop", and "All Through the Night".

In early-1987, Franköforson began work on her third solo studio album. She released the album's lead single, "Boys Don't Cry" in spring 1987. The song was a smash hit, being certified diamond in Lashardia.

Her third studio album, titled *Into You*, was later released in August 1987. It was certified platinum in Lashardia, and peaked at number-one in four countries. The album also produced the hit singles "Night After Night" and "Rainbow".

### 1988–1990: *Alive* and *Gypsy*

In late-1987, Franköforson confirmed that she had begun work on her fourth studio album. The album's lead single, "How Will I Know", was later released in early-1988. The song saw a minor shift in style from her previous work, instead incorporating elements of R&B.

Her fourth studio album, titled *Alive*, was released in summer 1988. It was largely successful, reaching the top three in six countries. The album also produced the hit singles "Dust My Shoulders Off" and "Rhythm".

Franköforson began work on her fifth studio album shortly after the release of *Alive*. In a 1988 interview, she stated, "I don't like how the R&B sounded on my last record, so I think you can expect the usual Lashpop on the upcoming one". The album's lead single, "Gypsy", was released in early-1989, and incorporated a folk music influence.

The album, also titled *Gypsy*, was released in the summer of 1989. It was very successful, peaking at number-one in four countries. The album also produced the hit singles "Girls" and "Robot Girl".

### 1990s–2000s: *Pearl* and stage career

After the release of *Gypsy*, Franköforson revealed she'd be taking time off from her music career to focus on family life. In 1993, she was cast as Fantine in the Ubenmoor production of the musical *Les Misérables*. She remained in the production for a year, before retiring from the role in 1994.

In 1995, she revealed that she'd be releasing new music "soon". Later in the year, she released the lead single to her sixth studio album, "Pearl". The song was an uptempo electronic ballad, and differed greatly from her previous releases. It was mildly successful, reaching the top twenty in Lashardia. The album, also titled *Pearl*, was released the following year, and peaked at number-two in Lashardia. It also included the singles "Believe" and "In the Name of Love".

In 1996, Franköforson was revealed to be playing the role of Helena Landless in the Ubenmoor production of *The Mystery of Edwin Drood*. She remained in the production for its whole run, until 2002. Franköforson then went on to have a successful career in the Ubenmoor theatre district, performing in *Guys & Dolls*, *Cats*, and *Annie*.

She was inducted into the Lashardian Music Hall of Fame in 2007.

### 2010s: *Greatest Hits*

In 2013, Franköforson revealed that she'd be releasing a greatest hits album the following year. In a 2013 interview, Franköforson stated, "I've always flirted with the idea of a greatest hits album but never really wanted to do one. I just never understood the point. But I think I got it now and I can't wait for you guys to hear the new single off of it".

In May 2014, Franköforson released her greatest hits album, *Greatest Hits*, along with the brand new single "Lifetime". The single did not fare well commercially, peaking at number-97 on the Lashardian singles chart and not charting in any other country.

## Personal life

Franköforson married Lashardian male model Edvin Tomölark in June 1990, after dating for three years. They had two daughters together; Palina, born in 1991, and Hanna, born in 1992. The couple divorced in 2003.

In 2011, Franköforson married Lashardian banker Georg Hansöbichen. Franköforson resides in the Vitcherch district of Ubenmoor.

## Filmography

### Stage

 1996–2002
 2003–04
 2005–08
 2010–11

## Awards and nominations

 2006
 2014