InRock Magazine, August edition
Tatu, who always cause uproar. Just when we were pleased that they'd finally come to Japan after suddenly cancelling their previous trip, we are faced with a similar state of affairs. Those involved on the Japanese side had a truly exhausting experience... Nevertheless, the day before that infamous TV appearance, InRock succeeded in obtaining an exclusive interview with them. We did it!! Even so, they refused to answer all the questions that, as we asked them via the interpreter, we instinctively felt might be hard for them to answer. They only answered the safe questions, but let's not worry about that. A certain magazine in Britain couldn't get them to answer questions and their tour manager ended up being the one who gave the most answers. Nevertheless, in the flesh, Yulia and Lena were a lot cuter and more teenager-like than they appear in some of the rather indecent photographs of them that are in circulation.
Q: You both say that you complement each other; in which areas do you feel that this is true?
Y: I am restless and always causing a rumpus. I think that Lena has all the qualities that I lack, being calm, romantic and home-loving. (turning to Lena) What about me? Say something good! (laughs)
L: Yulia is energetic and decisive. When I'm hesitant, saying "What shall we do? It might not go smoothly", Yulia doesn't mince her words and says "What are you talking about?! It'll be OK! Don't say things like that!" She can be circumspect and very alert to what's going on around her. I feel like she charges me up
like a battery with her energy. So that's why I always feel drawn to her.
Y: I think that "we complement each other" is the perfect expression for us. We are indispensable for each other. This is in our artistic activities, mind you. I mean, no matter how well you get on, if you are always together, you'll start to fight and argue, won't you? In order to maintain our good relationship, we take our holidays separately, spending time with our families and friends.
L: We were friends for a long time before our debut, because we were active in the children's group Neposedi. I really believe that it was fate that brought us together again when Tatu was formed. You can't do this kind of work unless you like it, so I'm pleased that I paired up with Yulia. We are always together.
Q: Have you walked around the centre of Tokyo? What do you think of the fashions of Japanese girls?
Y: We haven't seen much of it yet, so I don't know very much, but they seem to be cute and brightly coloured. We'll see later on if there are any clothes we want to buy. We went for a walk at night and it was really pretty, with all the illuminations. Tokyo Tower stands out in my mind, in particular, because it's so tall and the whole tower was lit up and looked beautiful. We went to Odaiba and went on a rollercoaster, but it was over really quickly...
Q: Do you feel that your own identity has changed because you've been the focus of so much attention?
L: I'm not really aware of anything like that having happened. Fundamentally, nothing has changed since before our debut. What has changed is just that we have very little free time to ourselves.
Q: You've broken through the 1 million mark with sales of your album in Russia as well, but I've heard that, in fact, 4 times as many pirate versions have been sold. Doesn't that mean that people are using your success to make money? Doesn't it make you angry?
L: I think the figure's more like 10 times than 4. But I guess that everyone tries to earn a crust as best they can. We don't let it bother us.
Q: I don't think any other group has been as misunderstood or had as many lies fabricated about them as you have. Which articles shocked you?
L: We don't read articles like that and don't let them bother us. So whatever is written about us is nothing to do with us. It's fine, because our families understand us.
(Recorded in Tokyo on June 26th)
The inside track on Tatu's stay in Japan: 25th - 30th June
Yulia came to Japan on her own, but Lena was accompanied by her mother and her younger sister Katya. The four of them seemed to enjoy Japan, shopping and eating mountains of their favourite salmon sushi. Naturally, they spoke Russian together. Of course, they are forced to speak English in the US and Britain, and many staff don't even try to speak Russian to them. However, the director in charge of them in Japan (fluent in English) spoke to them in Russian, with a Russian dictionary in one hand. The two girls were delighted and apparently taught him lots of words in Russian. Lena's sister Katya learned enough Japanese to muck about with this director and was even able to say her farewells and a few simple words by the time she went home. She has a different father from Lena, but they look very alike and get on well.
In terms of their roles within Tatu, Lena seems to be the model student, while Yulia is the delinquent, but in fact, Lena really is an intelligent, gentle, kind-hearted girl. In contrast, Yulia is very straightforward, which generates various strains, and her sense of honesty and refusal to tell any lies or be deceitful seems to give rise to some awkward results.
Translation by Lenochka0.
Thanks to Smellycat. |
