A Personal Interview with t.A.T.u's Producer, Ivan Shapovalov (Goodoo Media)

Time of publication: 15.12.2002

A personal interview with the producer of group t.A.T.u

"Lycos" had an interview with t.A.T.u.'s producer, Ivan Shapovalov. Now Shapovalov is also producing a new project "7B", the singer of which is Ivan Demyan. Shapovalov is a scandalous person, and so were our questions.

"Now that t.A.T.u is famous all over the world, do you have any mistakes that you would like to fix, in the past?"

"Of course, this was unavoidable: I was making my way to the top, pushed someone, moved someone. Why? I was in a hurry, afraid that I wouldn't have enough time."

"Where you forgiven for this?"

"They did not want to help me. I had only two choices, to stop, or to move them out of the way."

"One time I went to my friend's place, and talked to his 15 year-old sister, who listens to t.A.T.u. Towards the end of our talk, it turned out that t.A.T.u. took her complexes and guilt away when she was... masturbating. What complexes will Ivan Demyan take away?"

"My task with t.A.T.u. was to put them together, and get them some songs. With Demyan, I only had to find him, he has a greater message. This is not just 'simple motions'. He has a different audience, resonance will be different as well."

"What influence does Demyan has on you?"

"I see a very honest person in front of me, Demyan, not protected, reacting to everything. I see a child in him... I see myself, this energy is catchy, and the message is that even grown-ups are children inside, and that we too, fall in love. There is even a song 'Vlyublennye Deti' ('Children in Love')".

"This energy of his, do you get it through the communication with him, or through his songs?"

"For me it is more through the songs."

"How did you get to know each other?"

"As soon as I heard the song 'Nashla Kosa Na Kamen' ('The Scythe Hit The Stone'),I was amazed, 'There it is, there is something new: forbidden ideas, language, interesting...' I found them (7Б), we got to know each other, I said that we should make a clip, and then it just took off."

"'7B' is a group for stadiums or clubs?"

"Stadiums, of course."

"Are you ready to answer all the questions, even the most intimate ones?"

"I am more or less open with every person I talk to. I go to the top like that. It produces positive emotions, like a person has had a huge breath of fresh air."

"What is death to you?"

"Death is a period in your life. You gave something to the world--that was your life, death is a period."

"Did anyone close to you ever die?"

"No, they did not. Some people died, but they were not close."

"Have you ever had depressions?"

"Of course I've had some, at times when I felt that I was doing something wrong."

"Do you feel that everyone that you communicate with wants something from you?"

"Yes. But if they do it politely, I'll give it to them."

"How do you feel when someone loves you?"

"I feel like myself. Only when I am being myself, I can be surrounded by love."

"How much money do you need monthly to function properly?"

"A lot. But I can live happily without a cent, as long as I have the feeling."

"How many of your wishes have you fulfilled?"

"Not a small percentage, but I have a feeling that I won't have enough time to finish."

"Do you think that you will become a celebrity? Sing or act?"

"Yes, but the hope fades every year."

"Are you bothered by this fear of not being able to realize your wishes?"

"Yes, very. I have all this responsibility on my shoulders for others, instead of singing by myself. But, unfortunately, I'll keep helping, because that's the only thing I am good at."

"Do you think that using a condom is a good way to have safe sex?"

"Of course not, only civilization could have thought of it."

"Do you like to argue?"

"No, I used to do it a lot in the past, but that doesn't mean I like it. The first word I used in an argument is 'no'."

"Do you agree that pain and suffering are what maximize the development of a person?"

"Yes, but not only pain and suffering, all strong emotions contribute to the development of a person. The deeper the emotions, the more sense the person finds."

"What made you think that?"

"These strong feelings are a love for a girl, pain, and disappointment in her and yourself."

"How do you escape strong feelings? By trying hard?"

"Of course, by trying hard, it's the only way to escape."

"Do you have any religious experiences, feelings for a strong force?"

"I do have a feeling that there is some force up there, but I can't describe it right now."

"Does it give you more, or does it take more?"

"Give, of course, in the past she was taking away, now she is giving."

"If there is a question asked, and you can't answer it, how do you react?"

"There are no such question."

"7B" is the second project after t.A.T.u. for Ivan Shapovalov.

After taking t.A.T.u. to the international level, Ivan Shapovalov is now preparing a new sensation for Russia, a new album from Ivan Demyan.

First, he appeared on stage as a member and vocalist of the group "7B", in the summer of 2001. The group topped the charts with its single "Molodye Vetra" ("Young Winds"). It was then that "Neformat" became interested in the project. Ivan Shapovalov knew from the beginning that Demyan's strong theme is what is now needed in Russia.

Translation by katbeidar.
TatySite.net

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