Tatu - The Powerpuff GirlsTime of publication: 09.12.2005 |
A day before meeting us in their luxurious "Faena Hotel" suite, Lena Katina and Julia Volkova were shown in MTV Latin America holding hands in a highly provocative attitude. With all the atrocities that are seen in TV nowadays is it really that scandalous that two 20 years old girls express mutual affection in a TV channel? The first answer would be not. But, if it comes from t.A.T.u. and all the campaign about their supposed lesbianism that was build with their first album (200 km/h in the Wrong Lane of the 2002), this image could be evocative.
Three years ago, the duet touched the nerve of the audience and climbed to the world rankings thanks to "All the things she said", a song in which a teenager tells her parents the details of her relation with another girl. Then the second question arises: are they, or are they not? In order to reveal the mystery and to speak about their new album, Dangerous and Moving, the Russian duet spoke to "10MUSICA" in an exclusive interview.
In person, the girls are more stunning than they reflect in their videos or photo press.
Both lay their curves on an enormous white sofa. Lena is seated and caresses Julia's leg, who rebukes us with her deep green eyes. They both look like those exotic dolls that can cause you pleasure or death as well. Speaking in their native language, both Russians told about them and their music. Get your own conclusions.
Did you meet each other at school?
Julia: Not exactly. We meet each other 10 years ago in a children band that there was in Russia. We've never been apart since then.
Lena: It was a band composed of forty children between ages 3 and 17, from different cities of Russia. Some sang, others danced and with that formation we travelled by all the country offering spectacles.
Do you have any opinion about the musical projects that are born from television contests such as "American Idol" or "Pop Star"?
Julia: We have a very positive attitude for those contests of new talents.
Lena: To me it's worthy that young people are there trying to do something with their lives instead of being seated on a step wasting time or being doped or breaking the law…
Julia: and also they have the possibility to do something for their lives and to continue ahead in an artistic career. Prompting them to approach to art is always good; it doesn't matter if a great business is behind.
Which are the main differences between your first and second album?
Lena: We were seeking for a representation of ourselves. We aren't 15 anymore; we are 20 years old now. For that reason there cannot be points of contact, this second album is expressing our today's point of view. It's more serious and more psychological.
Does the birth of Julia's daughter change the perception about your music?
Julia: I don't know if it changed something, but it helped me a lot. The arrival of a daughter fills you with new emotions and feelings. Having a baby is such a deep feeling that you can't express it with words.
In the cover of Dangerous and Moving, you are stared like in the front of the crime scene. Did you want to give some message with that photo?
Julia: Clearly yes. What we meant is that we are not delinquents neither dangerous… the delinquent and dangerous thing is the world. We never committed any crime, and we try to help people not to get into them.
Lena: It is a prevention and a warning. Today there is a lot of violence and rage in the world.
Julia: With this album we try to change things, to offer our contribution so that people understand that wars as that of Iraq or what is happening in France are wrong… that those things should not be done. They are dangerous. The most important thing is to know that you can't take a weapon in order to kill someone to resolve problems.
Lena: Our weapons are our songs.
How is life in Moscow?
Lena: There are differences with other capitals of the world. Each city has its culture. Moscow is our city and we love it. I think that in Moscow people are freer and more open. And that is very important for our music and ourselves.
Did you feel comfortable with the campaign over lesbianism that was mounted around you?
Lena: For us, the most important was and is our music. We cannot live giving importance to what the press writes about our private lives. We do not think if it turn bad or well to us.
Without comments?
Julia: No! Why without comments? If they want to write, then write. It's their work. We do with our lives what we want. We are not thinking about what others will say.
Given the fact that you don't compose your own music, Which are the parameters you use in order to select the songs you want to sing?
Julia: There are no such parameters. When we hear a song we have to feel it. Lyrics have to express our way of life, because through them our feelings are told. …
Lena: It can be said that each song is an autobiography of ourselves
Then the song "All the things she said" where you speak of a loving relationship between two girls is representative of you?
Lena: Is only a love song between two girls…
Julia: Yes, it's about us and about people that have fear to express those feelings.
And it was liberating for you to sing on that topic?
Julia: Yes, absolutely.
Gustavo Bove
10Musica.Com
09.12.2005 |
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