The Laws Set By Artists (Bravo #16 - Russia)Time of publication: 28.08.2003 |
t.A.T.u. producer – Peter I “The laws are set by artists”
t.A.T.u.’s success is a success of Shapovalov’s. His popularity can be compared with Lena’s and Yulia’s. The difference is that he doesn’t frequent TV screens that much but practically everyone knows about him. He’s known as a person who lead Russia to the world music scene.
Moscow. The central part. Very hot in the air. Ivan Shapovalov gets a plate from some corner. There’s some crack on the plate. Shapovalov is in a positive mood. He’s wearing a tight grey polo-shirt and stylish jeans. He looks great though he smokes constantly. He offers to join him – I deny his invitation.
R: Ivan, have you sold your soul to the devil?
Ivan: How can I know whether I have or haven’t?
R: If they say that you have, then there are reasons for that. People think: Oh, yeah, he’s reached that fast such a tremendous success … there’s a mystery.
Ivan: So when people can’t explain something they blame devil for that?
R: A sort of yes.
Ivan: So, if I have sold it, I’ve bought it back and paid more for getting it back.
R: You mean the interest rate?
Ivan: In any case, there’s no profit from this operation.
Ivan is in a philosophic mood. While I’m asking my next question, he buried in his own thoughts and looks right onto that plate.
R: What are you doing at your free from work time?
Ivan: I don’t work. This word “work” has a root “slave” [playing with words in Russian, edit.]. When you do what you like, you are not a slave but a free man. It’s not a work any more.
R: But what then?
Ivan: It’s a life. If you don’t do what you like – you don’t exist. You simply don’t exist. The only way to utilise yourself is to realise your wishes.
R: So you have realised your wishes, then what?
Ivan: I’m still not satisfied with a few things. You know, t.A.T.u. is a project. You know? It’s not me, but a project. (Thinking for quite a while). The music can’t stop be interesting while a project can. The t.A.T.u.-project has its limits.
R: But you set those limits yourself?
Ivan: The limits are not set by me. Everything depends on my relation with the girls.
R: Do you want a deeper relation – so you can put all your brains in it?
Ivan: No, I’d want them to be more interesting for me.
R: Did the t.A.T.u.- project reach its limits yet?
Ivan: No, not yet. I see what more can be done.
R: What do you see? I can’t see that.
Ivan: It’s because you look at it as a music project. This project has wider ideas, than simply a music one.
R: What about to announce the end of t.A.T.u. – to increase the album sales? You know, a PR-stunt …
Ivan: A PR- stunt won’t work. Some real actions would work. Some real actions that will lead to all PR-stunts.
Ivan is putting more crack but refuses to discuss this subject.
R: Producer Max Fadeev said about you in the interview to magazine Afisha: “Ivan Shapovalov won’t succeed to create another group of the same level as t.A.T.u.’s. The t.A.T.u.’s case is his 100% luck. He didn’t make the music, he didn’t do the arrangements, he didn’t create the story, he didn’t sing either. To call him a producer is too much. His mission was that the attitude to our music in the West has changed – in this sence he’s like Peter I.”
Ivan: Max is absolutely right! (He takes enthusiastically a piece of paper with the quote from me and reads loudly) Well! “…won’t succeed to create another group of the same level as t.A.T.u.’s.”. Why to create another group of the t.A.T.u.’s level, f..k?! That’s a total nonsense. He’s absolutely right! Though Max Fadeev … I’m sure he’ll be able to create a group of a higher level than Glukoza.
R: Do you like Glukoza?
Ivan: I like Fadeev’s songs. So, what’s next? Yes! To call me a producer is really too much. Too narrow. Who is a producer? – Some one who hits some keys on the computer? Or a one who create some new reality?
R: A producer is a one who produces. So, sooner the second one.
Ivan: A producer creates his own reality. The stronger the reality is, the stronger is the producer!
R: So you want to turn the whole world into your own reality?
Ivan: Yes!
R: How do you like your already created reality? Many 14-16 year old girls are walking on the streets in white socks and short skirts holding their hands and declare that they are lesbians.
Ivan: Yes, but it saves them from being lonely and stupid. If it saves them, even for one day, from being stupid and lonely, so let them do it.
[I]It’s hopeless. I’m offered to take a blow again and I’m trying to return to that prohibited subject. Hopeless again.[I]
R: Why don’t you wan to speak about smoking crack?
Ivan: Oh, shit … All right, I’ll try to explain. (Sunk in his thoughts for a while again). Yes, by the way, I don’t conceal it. I’m smoking with everyone who interviews me.
R: But no one writes about it by some reason?
Ivan: Ajsh, give it a break. The whole England knows about it!
R: By the way, speaking about England. I have a magazine here, called Q with an article about t.A.T.u. The fellow tells about him interviewing the girls in one of the London’s hotel rooms. After he got a company of the Russian hookers. So according to him, there’s no difference between the girls and those cheap hookers.
Ivan: England can’t forgive t.A.T.u. the loss of its world music reign. England still thinks that the music is a decisive factor in a pop-culture.
R: If not the music, but what then?
Ivan: A person. All English groups now are like twins – f..king rock-bands! Their society has no Idea. The music feels that at once. People pay money in order to listen to! It’s a direct proof of love – when a person gives his own money for the air, for the air shaking – which the music actually is. Now all world ideas are in Russia. It can’t be forgiven neither by England nor by its journalists…
R: What pop-project are in Russia right now that could repeat the success of t.A.T.u.?
Ivan: Putin.
R: You know, Limonov wrote in his latest book Captured By The Deads that all artists are criminals.
Ivan: Of course they are! They are breaking the limits. Only then people start to think whether such laws are right? As a result the laws are set by the artists … Look here, why I’m like Peter I, f..ck? I don’t get it!
R: Ivan, we left this subject for a while ago …
By Gleb Davydov
Source: Bravo (Russia) #16, 2003.
Translation: TatySite.net Team |
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