by Paul Whitelaw, May 14th, 2003
60 SECONDS EXTRA!: Lena Katina and Julia Volkova, alias t.A.T.u, are probably the most talked about phenomenon in pop right now. The brainchild of shadowy svengali Ivan Shapovalov, the girls have caused global controversy with their schoolgirl lesbian schtick, which many have criticised for pandering to paedophile fantasies. They represent their native Russia in The Eurovision Song Contest next weekend. Our interview is perhaps the first 60 Second Interview to actually last 60 seconds. Look out for Metro Cafй' exclusive questions.
Are you planning on causing a storm at Eurovision?
We're not thinking about winning or not winning, we just want to be there to sing our song in Russian.We want to show what it's like to being Russian. So far we've released international songs.What have you got planned for the performance?
We don't want to speak about the performance - but it will be special. It will be a new song, but we don't want to talk about that because it wouldn't be interesting, and it would also take away the suspense. We want to keep people guessing about what we may - or may not - do onstage in Riga. What do you think of the UK entry?
We don't really concentrate on what other bands are doing. As long as we are happy with what we do, that's all that counts. Do you understand the criticisms levelled at you - that you pander to paedophiles and so on?
We are like we are all the time, on stage and also - wait a minute [speaks to someone very quickly in Russian] - when we are off it. Yeah, so we are what we are. We are controversial me and Julia. People will like it or they won't. There's nothing else to it. So the whole notion of the two of you being lesbian lovers is real and not just for publicity?
Oh, maybe we are, maybe we are not. Maybe we are bisexual. Who knows? We don't want really want to talk about that. Why not?
Again, we want to keep people guessing about what is really happening between us. OK, then. What do your parents think of what you do?
They are really good. We are their daughters, so it's not like they are unhappy with what we do on stage. They just love us and are happy for us to do well with the career that we have chosen to follow. And are you both happy with where you are right now?
Of course we are. We like it, it's our life, our dream. We always wanted to be singers in a famous pop group. But don't you ever feel that you're being exploited?
No, never, because we have really very good management; our relationship with them is one like we have with our friends. It's a relationship that other bands don't have. We trust our management not to exploit us. The next album reportedly features you and a group of teenage girls in the nude? That's going to cause waves, surely?
Maybe. We are thinking about doing that right now. We like controversy! It's better to have people talking about you than not at all. All publicity is good publicity. Do you think that your career will last?
Maybe it will, maybe it won't. It doesn't really matter all that much, does it? But surely you'd like it to last for a while?
Maybe. Fair enough. So is your cover of The Smiths' How Soon is Now? going to be the next single after Not Gonna Get Us?
We haven't decided yet. We need to get this next single out of the way first, before thinking about what is going to come next. You hadn't heard of the song or The Smiths before you recorded it - have you heard it now?
Yes, we heard the original version in Moscow recently. Did you like it?
[With an almost audible shrug] Yeah. OK, I've got to go now. Oh, OK. Um, take care.
Yeah, you too. Bye.
The Eurovision Song Contest is on May 24 on BBC1.
Thanks to convol and marina. | 
