Slovenia Youthmagazine [May 2003]
t.A.T.u. in their own words
Yulia: »We encountered music when we were 7 or 8 years old. We sang together for 4 years with very famous Russian child music group and became friends there. We sang same tone and were practically inseparable. Everybody spoke our names in one word: »Yulia and Lena, Lena and Yulia.« Sometimes we hung together after practice because we wanted to sing by ourselves. At the same time we dreamed how we'll do something together in music after we'll leave the group.«
Lena: »Yulia left first and we didn't see each other for about a year. Then casting happend on which more than 500 people came. They chose Yulia and me. But we didn't know we are taking part of the same selection. Yulia was chosen first and then Wania, that is Iwan Szapowalow (Hey, I didn't write his name like this, I'm only translating here so put your tomatoes back in your bags please. Thank you.), told me to go to the studio where the other girl is waiting. When I got there I saw Yulia. We were screaming and crying and surprised Iwan asked if we know each other.
So this is how t.A.T.u. was born?
Julia: »That was shock for us. »Wania, but they woun't understand us.« He said: »Are you ashamed of your love?« And convinced us. That's out name: TATU, acronym of Russian words »Ta liubit etu«. We made a video for song Ye Soschla s Uma and were spectaculary sucessful in Russia.«
Who were you refering to when you said that they woun't understand you?
Julia: »Parents, friends, teachers, people from the street...«
How did they react to your love?
Julia: »Oh... there were some troubles.«
When did they see you together?
Julia: »In video on TV.«
How did your friends react to this?
Julia: »Some saw us huging. They asked and we told them what's what.«
How do people react when they see you on street, preferably together?
Julia: »At a concert at Petersburg there was a guy with a knife but luckily security grabed him in time.«
Quite an experience for 17 year old (sigh ) girls!
Julia: »I think we experienced quite a few things in these four years. We definetly became more mature.«
Fashion
We don't follow fashion. Fashion doesn't mean that you have to buy everything that is in fashion at the moment. Specially elegant clothes can be uncomfortable. We only wear clothes which we really like and we don't care what others say. We don't care what all types of fashion magazines say either.
Beauty
What does beauty mean to us? First, beauty isn't everything. Bauty can also be different. There is beauty outside and inside.I don't know what is ugly for people but we all carry something ugly inside. Character shows human soul. Therefore there are no pretty and ugly people.
Fame
Fame doesn't afect us as does others. Of course we like the fact that we are famous and popular and that many people know and likes us. It's important for career. But personally we are still normal and regular girls. It doesn't matter what you are. What matter is that you are a good person.
Love
Love is everything and there is no life without it. Who hasn't loved hasn't lived. But sadly there are people who never experienced love. Maybe they really don't need it but we couldn't live like that. But of course there is another form of love, e.g. love to your parents. We love them and it doesn't matter that there are good and bad days in every family. We are sure that love has positive efect on everybody.
Friendship
Friendhip has an important role in our life. Everybody should have friends. It can be just one but it has to be close one. If there were no friends life would be dificult because we wouldn't have anyody to talk to. There are things that you can't share with your parents. With whom you can share problems? With a friend that understands you. That is the person that is with you all your life, no matter if things are good or bad.
Culture and art
Education is base for everything. And to be culturally educated is important for young person. We like to visit a museum or theatre. These things give us a lot of knowledge. Culture used to be on higher lavel with people than is today and that is shame.
Me about her
Julia: Why I love Lena? It's complicated question because it doesn't mean that because I'm with her I like everything about her. But peopel aren't perfect. But Lena is, in one word, original.
Lena: There are a lot of things that I could say I like on Yulia very much. But, as Yulia said, I can't pick a special thing. I like her the way she is. With all her flaws and good things because trully perfect person does not exist. We are together, we stay together and we match each other.
Unknown Russian Magazine [2003]
"Nobody was holding candles for us."
Some kindly call them "Tatushki" and sing them praises, others spit at just one reminfer of the group Tatu and think, that the best place for the members of the group is in pornsites. Once, regardless of public opinion, not knowing any shame, two girls in short skirts and white socks - Yulia Volkova and Lena Katina - became the first native group to accomplish a grand break-through into the west.
- Do you think that the homosexual part has helped you a lot?
Julia: It's not worth calling it a part. Do you know how most artists work? They form a group, make up an image, take a song, and made up fake feelings. But all of our songs are our attitudes, our feelings. It's not made up!
- So, you single yourselves out quite clearly from everyone else?
Julia: No, it's just that we know our writers very well, and they know everything about us. We're constantly in contact with them, and they write especially for us. We trust these people. And our producer taught us inside-out, he understands what we need, what's closer to our style.
- So, you'll continue to persist that feelings of love exist between you, at the same time that rumours are being spread that the boys from 'Smash' are your boyfriends?
Julia: Understand, that nobody can be sure of the fact that we're lesbians. Who knows about our private life? Maybe, we're bisexual. They say, "Yes, it's all made up." What, were they holding candles for us? Maybe we have boyfriends, so what? At the same time, Lena and I can have the same feelings as we would have with boyfriends.
- Bisexuals - That's something new!
Julia: The thing is, that we don't want to be telling every person whether we have boyfriends or not. Because this is our private life that shouldn't matter to anyone.
- But, the distinction from other artists is the fact that you're involved in a saditious theme with your success in Europe and America. Everyone remembers you're first appearance with an open kiss.
Julia: I think that in America, nobody's hooked on the private life of an artist. Over there, the fans aren't too concerned about the image, or the general feelings of an artist - who's a lesbian, and who's gay. Elton John told the whole world that he's gay and that he has a bunch of guys. And the people still keep on pouring into his concerts.
- And what pushes a girl to homosexuality while being surrounded by strong and rich guys?
Julia: I in generally get pulled toward trying everything. I tried it, and now this is what I like. But having said that, I could have guys, this doesn’t interfere with me meeting up with them, kissing them.
- Have you known each other for a long time?
Julia: About ten years. We met in Yuriy Nikolaev’s children’s group Neposedi. This was an enormous school, not only for performing, but also for life, which we went through together. Lena is a person whom I love very much, who always understood me and who was with me in the most difficult of situations. I’m very active and emotional, and Lena is somewhat calm and romantic. We counter balance each other very well.
- Recently the newspapers wrote that you had a very bad argument and even had a fight one evening.
Julia: That’s impossible, we can’t be one without the other. But then, the way our life is, we don’t have time to argue: we get off the plane, then a concert, press-conference and God knows what else. It’s so hectic – off a train onto a plane, off a plane onto radio or TV, quickly have lunch, quickly on our way, and sleep…well, the devil only knows. We used to enjoy going on all these different tours, but now there’s just one thought – to get some sleep.
Eternal nymphs
- Girls, what happens if life brings a correction and one of you falls in love, decides to get married, have a child? Will you keep up with the group for the sake of the money?
Julia: What will I do if she falls in love? Well nothing. I won’t kill her or anything, and that’s for sure. It’s her right. I can’t force her to love me for her whole life.
- When you’re first album was being written, you were 15. And soon you’ll be 19. How much longer will you cope as appearing as nymphs?
Julia: Of course age is a factor, because we’re not about to be singing songs at the age of 20-25 that we sung when we were 14. Naturally, the music grows just as we do, and lyrics change. Because our producer is a genius. He did all this, and it didn’t work out too badly!
MuzON Magazine [2003]
You ladies Julia and Lena from group Tatu, whose lesbian caresses in video clips and on stage made a sexual revolution in this country, which “never had sex”, took the duo to the pick of musical Everest with phenomenal speed. They trigger different emotions, all the way to appreciation and hate, leaving no one with neutral feelings towards them. Phenomenon “Tatu” will remain a mystery to everyone, including the Tatu girls themselves. "Most likely, we are the best", say the girls about themselves. And, possibly, they are right. Today Tatu are the only Russian pop-group to really breakthrough to the West as well as the East.
Is the Japanese audience different from the Russians?
Julia: They are different, very well-wishing and emotional. Everywhere we were followed by crowds of young people with cameras, which didn’t stop taking pictures without actually “aiming” at us. Probably the Japanese have the largest archive of Tatu photos. During the concert the Japanese are very shy and hold-back their feelings – they mostly look at the stage and what happens on it, taking note of the artist’s every move, trying to remember everything. Amongst the audience, a lot of girls were dressed like us.
I read that you earned a few million dollars during the Japanese tour. Is that right?
Julia: This is a tax investigation. No, we earned quit a bit less. Anyway, what kind of people look into other people’s pochets?
Question: by the way, do you get dividends for the sales of Tatu style – short skirts and shirts with ties?
Julia: What are you on about? What dividends? We didn’t patent the skirts and the shirts, although we should have done that. All the European teenagers are wearing them. Can you imagine how rich we would have been?
Did the loss on the Eurovision take away your will to call yourself the best Russian pop-group?
Julia: It wasn’t a loss, it was an simple miss-judgment. The West was always careful of Russia. Everyone is afraid of Russian, so no one wants it to be number one, although we were clearly winning. We are happy to compete in a fair environment, but when everyone is saying you are the leader, and the jury yells out that you didn’t gain enough points, it’s pathetic.
Reality show “Tatu in Podnebesnaya” invited new fans. What stage is the new album recording at?
Julia: All the songs are chosen, and the material for the album is ready, the only problem is that not all songs are recorded by us, because we stopped coming to Podnebesnaya from a certain point…
Question: There are rumors that you are leaving Shapovalov and that your new producer will be Philip Kirkorov. Is that right?
Julia: As to Kirkorov, we have nothing to do with him, and so won’t comment on that, but as to our producer, our relationship is pretty tense right now.
Why is that?
Julia: We said that we didn’t like Vanya’s new project, and we don’t want to go to Podnebesnaya, and I don’t want to scream etc….. I am tired of talking about this.
How are you dealing with your popularity and success?
Julia: We are dealing with it wonderfully! We dreamed about this for a long time, way back to “Neposedi”. Now we are happy about our work every day. We aimed for this all our likes, and it’s something like an orgasm from your loved one.
There is an opinion, that the lesbian image made up by your producer, which has been exploited through out the project – is just a part of the brilliant marketing strategy?
Julia: Probably, but lesbianism is a part of everyone’s sexual life. And if we are living in this community, means that this topic is not foreign to us. Of course we are not praising it, but are trying to tell people about it in a beautiful and elegant by means of shock. Shock is a tool, with which we can reach out to our audience with our message. But the lesbian theme is not the only thing we sing about? Our aim is not to fool someone. People get fooled only on their own.
What orientation are you promoting yourselves? ‘Couse you so convincingly played the forbidden love in your video clips, that you can’t help but think whether the story you told was your real life?
Julia All kinds! We didn’t give any reason for people to think that we were lesbians. Who held the candle? Maybe we are bisexuals. Yes, we have boyfriends, but the relationship between us is like with our boyfriends!
Close relationship?
Julia: All kinds of relationships!
It seems that you never really mean what you say and just try to confuse everyone?
Julia: It’s because we are tired of answering questions about our private lives. It feels as though no one is interested in anything besides what we do in our beds. That’s why we always say what a person interested in bed wants to hear. Why is it that in America no one is interested about your sex life, but interested in your product, like our music. You can f*ck a vase, for all they care.
Your song “Ya Soshla S Uma” became the hymn of the gay people. Do you realize that you thus became the voice of homosexuals?
Julia: It wasn’t our aim. We just nicely sang a nice song, in which homosexuals might have caught some familiar moments and situations. It is cool when an artist can reach it’s audience.
Did some incidents happen during the concerts?
Julia: One time in St Petersburg a knife flew towards Lena and hit the floor near her feet, but she was OK. We just took the knife and put it in our pocket, tanking the fan who threw it. Also important is not to think that people might through a knife or a beer bottle at you before you go onto the stage.
Are you tired of each other yet?
Julia: No, and hopefully never will be.
Who are your parents?
Julia: Dad is a business man, mom is involved with cosmetics.
Don’t you think that you sacrificed your childhood for your career?
Julia: On contrary, we had a very exciting childhood apart from other children. We did what we like - sing.
I heard that you love animals and that each of you owns a dog, do you have any other hobbies?
Julia: I don’t like to read. I read only one book in my life – "200 golden short-stories". But, I love the TV series "Brigada" [“Brigade”]. I have cassettes with all of the episodes and I watch them again and again, probably seen every episode over 100 times. I also like to hang out with huge, happy crowds.
Did you do drugs?
Julia: Are you crazy! Do we look stupid to you? Life is our only addiction!
Now, about your plans for the future…
Julia: The only news are about our producer Vanya. He is doing this project “Songs of Podnebesnaya” as the continuation of Tatu, we don’t get much attention from him.
Molotok Magazine #2 [2004]
t.A.T.u. without Taboo
[Yulia Saying] We'll show you love!
STS is starting a new reality show "Tatu in Podnebesnaya" in the middle of January. Yulia and Lena will be recording the second album live. MOLOT (HAMMER) has visited Tatu girls in their future apartment and asked them your questions.
Q. What's easier: to make love in public or to make art in public? (Hungry, Cherepovec)
Julia: It depends. For us, everything is easy. We don't have any inhibitions about anything.
Q. I heard that the script for "Podnebesnaya" was written by the person who writes scripts for TV show "Windows". Is it true?
Julia: Nonsense. There is no script, just like there are no taboos of rules that we have to follow. If we want to, we can invite our friends and have a party with all its consequences. By the way, we have already invited a lot of people: musicians, politicians and just drunkards. (Laughing). If we want to, we won't do anything at all. The only condition is that we should finish the new album by mid March.
Q. Do you have any life principles?
Julia: No, we live without principles. We just enjoy our lives, that's it.
Q. You have traveled through half of the world. Which place did you like the most?
Julia: There, people come to concerts to estimate the quality of the show, lighting, scene, etc. The people just stand there and stare at us without any emotions. But in Russia people come to concerts to hang out / "fly away" (slang - elf)
Q. In what ways have your lives changed since you became celebrities?
Julia: I have become slightly presumptuous. Sometimes I don't even notice Lenka. (Talking to Lena) Hey, who are you? (Both laughing).
Q. Do you act the same way in life as you do on TV?
Julia: Yes. We are always the same: at home, on the stage, and when we are together. I often read in newpapers that Vanya (Ivan Shapovalov, t.A.T.u.'s producer) makes us kiss on the stage, sing about lesbian love, and then we cry quietly in the dressing room, cursing our fate. It's bull sh*t. We are the way you see us.
Q Could you argue with Shapovalov or are you totally dependent on his opinion?
Julia: Yea, it's better not to argue with him. He is very big. But, seriously, he listens to us and loves us very much. We won't sing what we don't like. We have the same right to voice our opinions as all the other authors, sound editors and friends. We always make team decisions. However, Vanya has the last word.
Q. In my school two 10 year old girls, your fans, kiss each other during the breaks. Are you ashamed of the fact that you pervert underage children with your music and your behavior?
Julia: They wanted to - they did it. Good girls! I think that you should do what you want in life, not what you are being told. Besides, we really don't force anyone to make love. It's about freedom of choice.
Tatu girls say that four songs have already been done for their album. The recording of the rest of the songs will be shown live on the show. Furthermore, anyone can become the author of the new songs. For this you should send your lyrics to 123001, Moscow, "Podnebesnaya". Yulia and Lena diligently read all the letters (Molotok can confirm it).
Popworld.com [2005]
So, t.A.T.u. The controversial Russian pop babes who were once lesbians but now aren't. Should make for a fiery interview with shocking revelations then. Well, not quite...
You've got a very strong image and you have been known to be ever so slightly controversial.
J: I like trash.
Who are your favourite bands at the moment?
J: We don't have favourites. We like everyone and we like different styles. No favourites.
When did you last tell a lie?
J: Everyday. That's a joke. Sometimes I must lie because I don't want to disappoint people.
What did you write in your last text message?
J: My mum and my boyfriend too.
What's the worst thing you've put in your mouth?
J: When we played a concert in Germany we went to a Japanese restaurant to eat sushi. There was a white fish on a rice dish there and when I put it in my mouth I had to go to the bathroom immediately and be sick.
If you could wipe someone off the face of the Earth who would it be?
J: We don't want anyone not to exist.
Could you tell us a secret about each other that we don't know?
JULIA: No.
Tribu Move France [Oktober 2005]
Victims of labels, prejudice, and intolerance, the most controversial duo in pop history is coming back!
When Tribu Move presented the duo "lesbopop, trash, and sex" t.A.T.u. in november 2002, we never thought that Yulia Volkova (brunette) and Lena Katina (hot redhead) would become the most controversial artists in pop history since the SM gay band Frankie Goes To Hollywood! Their electro-pop-rock fusion would convert the world to the t.A.T.u. sound: in France, "All The Things She Said" sold 500,000 copies (#1 in the chart), "Not Gonna Get Us" was in the top 10, and their album "200km/h In The Wrong Lane" went double gold with 200,000 sales. Their album sold 5.5 million copies worldwide. After that, it's rumors after rumors, gossips after gossips… Everything has been said and written about t.A.T.u.: Are they lesbians or not? Former best friends and now worst enemies? Yulia dumped Lena for a guy? They are not lesbians since Yulia got a baby?… To wipe away all those prejudice, labels, and intolerance they have been the victims of, just like gays and lesbians, here's a true and honest interview to finally know the truth, the all truth and nothing but the truth! They have just put their own story in music and pictures in their new album "Dangerous and Moving". It will be out on 31 October as a regular CD and a limited edition including a DVD with the making of "All About Us", a remix kit to remix 2 tracks yourself, and a great poster. As a matter of fact, their new single and video "All About Us" is more than ever autobiographical! "All About Us" has been released in 2 Maxi Singles with many remixes from Dave Aude (Madonna, Anastacia, The Pussycat Dolls), Stephane K and Guena LG (Kylie, Britney, Gwen Stefani), the permanent D.J of Glam As You. t.A.T.u. has chosen this event to launch their new album in France.
New look, new album, new manager. What's different in the 2005 t.A.T.u. compared to the previous one?
Julia: It's been a deep and radical change: we've simply grown up, matured and we see life differently. So our music has evolved accordingly…
The line-up of "Dangerous and Moving" is very "Hollywood"! You worked with the famous English producer Trevor Horn again (Propaganda, The Art Of Noise, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Simple Minds, Grace Jones, Seal…), but what can you tell us about the guests?
Julia: For the recording of this album, we moved for 6 months to Los Angeles. But the biggest challenge was to learn English! (laughs) We only had basic notions from school. To communicate with others, we had to practice the language a lot.
"Loves Me Not" is going to be the new anthem of the gay and lesbian community. In the song, you say: "He loves me - He loves me not - She loves me - She loves me not". Is that a new provocation?
Julia: Actually, you should lie down on the sofa and we may begin the consultation. I'm sure you have plenty of things to tell us about your private life! (laughs) That's what we did! We examined each other and when we discovered what we were suffering from, we realized that we weren't the only ones and that the entire planet suffers from the same problems! It's time to react, so we must change and move… Hence the title of the album "Dangerous and Moving".
Is that the reason why in the AAU video we can see newspapers headlines saying: "Are they lesbians or not?", "Former friends become worst enemies?"…
Julia: Absolutely, we wanted to destroy idees recues and cliches! It's a parody of what really happened to us.
I'm going to ask you the controversial question: Was your video for ATTSS where you kiss each other deeply done as a marketing ploy? To shock people and make the media talk about you to sell more records?
Julia: When we kissed each other, we did it with our guts. We love each other a lot and we were dating at some point. We don't play with people and our feelings. At the moment we both have boyfriends, but tomorrow we may have girlfriends. It doesn't matter!
So you are bisexual?
Julia: When we shot the ATTSS video and that kiss, we were talking about love, no matter if it's two boys, two girls, or a boy and a girl. When you're a teenager, you don't know what's right or wrong yet, you don't ask yourself questions like: Is this normal? Is it right? You follow your heart and emotions! This video has helped teenagers who were trying to understand themselves. We are always asked: Are you lesbians or not? But we are never asked the good questions: Did this video make homophobia decrease? Did it make people realize that love between persons of the same sex is normal? Did it help lost teenagers who thought they were abnormal, isolated, without any support and couldn't talk about it with their parents and family? No, we are never asked those questions! Never!
Is this new album autobiographical?
Julia: Absolutely! Through our own story, we reach out to others. We are surrounded by people with no feelings and no souls! That must change! Being open is the key: being open minded, open to others… Let's open our hearts!
In the AAU video directed by James Cox (director of "Wonderland"), you have an amazing look!
Julia: Darling, we went everywhere in Beverly Hills to find our outfits for the video! We did not like what the stylists were offering us, so one morning we went shopping… (laughs) I think our credit cards still remember it because we went a bit overboard… (big laughs) I'm a fashion addict! I'm totally addicted, i think i need to go into rehab. (laughs) I read all the women's fashion magazines, i watch Fashion TV, i'm interested in everything i wear. I'd like to design clothes, personalize them and create my own brand.
I need a dress, could you design it for me and i'll wear it?
Julia: (big laughs) No problem!
You seem to have a strong relationship with your fans?
Julia: In Russia, we have a group of hardcore fans who have become our friends. They come home to drink and eat, we talk for hours about the latest news about t.A.T.u.
Runewsweek.ru No. 40 (70) [20th October 2005]
Julia Volkova and Lena Katina - soloists of group "Tatu" - can write signatures for each other. They say they always do this when writing autographs - "It is quicker this way and what's the difference anyway?" They do not love discotheques at all - they say they are tired of dancing, it is better to simply sit somewhere and have a talk. And they love sweets very much - especially ours, chocolates. When they suddenly noticed them on the table in the office of their record company Universal Music, each immediately took two. "Tatushki" came back to Russia. If only for a couple of weeks - in order to present their new, second album "Ludi Invalidy" and its English version "Dangerous and Moving". On the eve of the Russian release, the girls met the correspondent of the magazine "Russian Newsweek", Vera Ryklina.
For a long time, you were not around. Did the preparation of the album take so much time? What kind of album came out as a result?
Julia: Indeed, we simply did not work for a long time, there was an enormous break, and we were very much looking forward to the recording of this album. And now, I think, I can say for both of us: We are satisfied with it, serious, beautiful songs came out. It is much more serious than it was before. And, of course, it is less pop. The album is more psychological, this is true.
What changed after Shapovalov's withdrawal?
Julia: It's true, everything changed: Everything changes, people are different, and time does not stand still. But to say that this is sad - is untrue. On the contrary, for us, I think, this is the next stage in life...
Lena (interrupting): A step forward!
Julia: ... now we are producers ourselves, we are more involved in the process, we select the songs ourselves, listen, decide what and how to sing better.
And how do you select lyrics and music? What pleases - and what doesn't?
Julia: Well, we have a remarkable writer who made the first and second album with us - Valera Poliyenko. He writes lyrics, and we trust him very much. He knows us so well that to 100% he hits the mark, i.e., he writes precisely what we want to express. It's completely about our life. And for the music we have a lot of cool talented guys. We simply take what we feel in our souls.
In one of the new songs Sting plays the guitar. Is this for publicity, or because he simply is a good musician?
Julia: We did not invite him, the company did that (Universal Music. - Newsweek).
But were you satisfied?
Julia: Yes, of course. They helped us a lot: Dave Stewart, Richard Carpenter...
So was it nevertheless for publicity?
Julia: We do not think about publicity. We don't think about publicity or about money. We simply will sing together.
But how do you decide who sings which part of the song?
Julia: We don't decide that at all, we simply sing and that's it: usually it works out.
You do not quarrel?
In unison: No.
Julia: We generally never fight about work-related questions. On the contrary, we always support each other, because we understand that we are one whole. We explain, argue... Of course there are some personal conflicts, sometimes we are tired. But we've never had global scandals. We do not have any envy for each other, nor malice, we, on the contrary, love and support each other.
Then right away a personal question: In recent years your image of girls-teenage-lesbians was damaged a little bit - you, Yulia, had a daughter, and there's a lot of gossip about the men surrounding you. What image are you going to work for?
Julia: Yes, we grew up, much in life has changed, but our image did not change: because we never had it. We never told people that we are lesbians. We simply love each other (grabs Lena's hand). We, until now, live in one room when we stay in hotels, we sleep in one bed, we are as one family.
But, for example, in your new clip you are no longer "a couple"?
Julia: Love did not go away, we, until now, love each other.
Independent of...?
Julia (sharply interrupts): Independent!
Well, and how do you like Moscow?
Julia: We missed it wildly! It is a pity that we weren't here in the summer when it was warm - but now that we came - winter already begins.
Isn't it a pity that you spend so much time abroad?
Julia: On the contrary. If you are young, you should travel. And then, if you live with that what you do, then you will always be on a "high". We still have a lot of time to spend in Moscow.
We in fact began to work in America, not because we "left for the West", but because people are more professional there: studios are better there, arrangements are different. It is much better there, therefore we work-and record there.
Not all English songs are translated into Russian, i.e., the albums are not completely identical, - what is the reason for that?
Julia: We did this on purpose. On the English album, there are actually several songs which are not on the Russian.
In order to have the same albums, and not the same albums. Although the meaning in both albums is the same. They were prepared for a long time.
Will we have to wait as long for the following album?
Julia: No, I think the break will not be that big, but, of course, there will be one. Because when an artist releases an album every year, it is not interesting.
You do not fear that they will forget?
Julia: No, those who love us will not forget us anyway.
But what plans do you have for the near future?
Julia: Well, now we had an enormous promo-tour, we left for a month and a half. We were in Europe, just returned from Japan, in America we shot a clip. Now we have a short break for Moscow (just in time actually for the album release) - a get-together. Maybe we will make a mini-tour - three or four large cities: St. Petersburg, Kiev, Odessa. On November 2, we will fly to Lisbon to present at the MTV Europe Music Awards, from there, I think, to Israel, there will still be small promo-tour in Europe in support of the album. But after New Year, we will be occupied with preparing the show.
Telephone-Interview for dutch 'Break Out!'-Magazine [2005]
When the words tATu and interview were dropped in our editorial office, everyone hided under their desks. Except me of course, the simple girl in her trial period. So yes, I was stuck having to face the music. I didn't understand why nobody wanted to interview the tATugirls. Were they just lazy? Wasn't tATu hot enough? Or was it something else? When I heard that they had always been whispering to eachother in russian and talking about lesbian sex in previous interviews, it all became clear to me.
Fortunatly, I got only Yulia on the phone, and if she loves talking about sex that much: OK! I had prepared a wonderfull list with 'breakpoint'questions, so she could share all her fantasies with us. To be certain, I also prepared a list with 'normal' questions, in case she wouldn't be in a naughty mood. And I'm glad I did! At 16 o'clock sharp, I was sitting in 'the room' (or: the head editor's office). Through the glass wall, I saw how the professionals had their thumbs up. It was obvious that they were relieved that they didn't have to do it. I was a little nervous. Not only because it was tATu, but also because I had to cope in english for twenty minutes. In highschool, even 10-minute presentations were a desaster!
The phone rang and after a while I got Yulia on the phone. Actually she did sound allright and she did want to answer some naughty questions. With a lot of courage I started. And then... Well, you can find out what happened next in the interview on page 28 and 29.
But I can let out one thing... With my english, there was nothing wrong.
We knew that not every artist is just as good in English as the other. But Julia from t.A.T.u. has to be the worst. The conversation was hopeless, and we were supposed to do a BreakPoint - [ BreakPoint = when this mag asks dumb questions to see how "kinky" that artist is. - Anouk ] - but umm, that went totally wrong..
Do you ever use drugs?
Julia: What?
Drugs..
Julia: What drugs? You mean smoking?
More like coke, speed, hash..
Julia: No, I never use that. I don't feel like using it and I don't like smoking either..
Have you ever thrown up all over somebody?
Julia: *long pause* Beer?
No, that you've ever been so sick that you puked all over someone..
Julia: Oh, you mean when I've had too much to drink? Then I wait until I feel better. I won't go to someone then.
Aha. Do you ever leave your house without any underwear on?
Julia: If I ever leave my house?
No, if you ever go out without underwear on!
Julia: Yeah, I go out in Moscow a lot.
Ok, a BreakPoint is not going to work. Let's move on to normal questions.
Julia: Umm, what do you mean?
Never mind. We haven't heard from you in a while, where were you?
Julia: I can't understand you, can you speak up?
You've been gone a long time, where were you?
Julia: We are on promotour through Europe. Tomorrow we'll go to Asia and next year we'll do a whole new show.
Yes, but where were you the past 2 years?!
Julia: Oh, we broke with our manager. I was pregnant and we went to the United States to record our new album.
Is it true that you want to live there?
Julia: No, we like movies but for now we'll focus on our music. Maybe later.
I wasn't asking if you wanted to be a moviestar, but if you're going to live there!
Julia: Live? *silence* Oh yeah, that's right. My daughter is too small now, but next year I want to go to America with my family and daughter. That's much easier, because we work a lot in America.
Have you both changed a lot in the past 2 years?
Julia: Yeah, we're both 20. We've been working like this since we were 15 so ofcourse we've grown up.
You girls have the image of enjoying to shock people. Do you still do that?
Julia: No. *silence* What do you mean?
That you shock people with an unexpected move. For example - that lesbian act..
Julia: We never intended to shock people, or to make them think we were lesbian. We've known eachother for 10 years en love eachother very very much. Just like sisters.
Do you ever have catfights?
Julia: Yeah, we do! We email eachother, but really we don't like computers. we keep a diary on our site, for the fans. But I rather see people in person.
No, we wanted to know if you ever fight..
Julia: Ohh! No, we love eachother. We're very close, just like family.
You're relationship with the press hasn't always been good, right?
Julia: *silence* relationship?
Yeah, the press didn't always write nice things about you?
Julia: You mean Sting? Yeah, we worked together with lots of famous people for the new cd. But we didn't meet Sting, everything was over the phone.
Umm ok.. But how about your relation with the media?
Julia: I don't understand. What does media mean?
Magazines, newspapers, tv-channels.. Journalists that wrote not nice things about you!
Julia: Ohhh.. Many bad things have been said about me or the people close to me, but I don't mind. Journalists can't always write good things, that's their job. And it never hurt (affected) me.
You are very close to your fans, right?
Julia: Yes, I have lots of friends. When I'm in Moscow they stop by my house and then we go out to dinner or see a movie.
Not friends, FANS!
Julia: Oh fans.. we love our fans. when they come to my door I always talk to them. And I call or sms them. We live for our fans and we mis them when we can't see them for a while.
What is the weirdest thing a fans ever gave you?
Julia: We often get songs, they hope we'll put them on our albums. I listen to them and maybe we'll use it in a t.A.T.u. song someday!
Tell us about your new album..
Julia: This album is about the inside of Russian people. It's about people who can't love eachother or respect eachother. Fake people. With this cd we want to help them, we want to change the world.
You produced the album yourself, right?
Julia: No, we don't have a producer. We broke with him, because we wanted to move on. En because we like to be in control.
Are you glad to be back?
Julia: Yes, we are very happy! we hope that next year we can do a world tour. I think we'll also go to Holland. I don't know when because nothing has been planned yet.
Ok, that's about it. Thanks for the um, interview..
Julia: You too.. Maybe we'll see eachother when we're in Holland. I enjoyed it!
Weekly Oricon No.42 [30th June 2003]
"There was one dream, but it came true."
WO: Yesterday in Red Square, you were doing your promotional video, right? Didn't you have a hard time?
J: It was really interesting because it was so unpredictable; I really got a kick out of it. It was scandalous as usual. There were lots of people and lots of video cameras and regular cameras, so it felt really good.
WO: In Tokyo you two have a lot of influence, but in the end what do you think will happen?
J: We expect a lot of influence in the prefectures (cities). In Moscow, London, Washington, Tokyo, and also…
L: New York…
J: Yeah. The concept is in various cities, the pre-eminence of the girls who are already familiar with the necktie & skirt concept is the crowd who is most likely to be attracted to us. It feels like the entire world is backing us up.
WO: What is your impression of Japan?
J: I think it is really beautiful. It is also very interesting. The Japanese cities look like they're something out of a fairy-tale, with its various colors and decorations. It's very imaginative. I really want to go to Japan!
WO: If you go to Japan, what do you want to do there?
J: I want to walk around and see various places.
WO: In April, you had a promotional visit to Japan scheduled, but it was unfortunately canceled at the last minute. I have heard the reason for cancellation was due to concerns about SARS?
J: No, that has nothing to do with it. It was a different problem, but on June 25th we will be going to Japan. I want to do a concert in Japan no matter what. In Japan, I have heard that we are extremely popular, so I'm really looking forward to it.
WO: How was your group formed?
J: We met about 7 or 8 years ago when we were around 10 or 11 years old. Children from around ages 3 to 15 or 16 were gathered to try out for a new musical group. At that time, all of us were friends and co-workers, so we got along well. The two of us would always say, "it would be great if we were able to do something together." So Lena was chosen for the group and then I was chosen shortly after that. At the time of the audition, there was no way I could have known that Lena was already cast. It didn't seem like Lena knew I was auditioning as well. After that when we went to the studio, they made me wait for a while and told me, "now another girl is on her way here and you two will record together." Then the door opened and Lena came in, and I reacted like, "it's Lena, what the hell?"(--not literal translation, think "coincidence" or "fate" ) This is something that neither of us thought could have happened. I guess that in life there are such things as fated meetings.
WO: Around the time you guys debuted, did you think that you would become this famous?
J: When we started the project, we didn't believe that we would become famous in Russia because there has never been a project like this in Russia before. But we still can't believe that in America, Europe, Japan, Mexico, and lots of other countries and cities we have become this famous. But we started in Russia and our reputation has swept throughout the world. I think that the group as it was then is the same as it is now. Other Russian celebrities have also toured abroad and given concerts. And so we also went to America, and the Americans have come to like us. It's also been like that for past Russian celebrities, but the present mindset is a little bit more skeptical. Mexico?! Japan?!
Y&L: In any case, this is still totally unbelievable (for us)! (laughs after saying that in unison)
WO: How do you communicate for each other?
J: If there's no word for it in Russian, then Lena will explain it. Sometimes it can take more than 10 minutes, so it's really difficult.
WO: Are you two introverted, extroverted, or people's person?
J: Lena is very straightforward and sweet, honest but kind...
L: Say more! Say more! (laughs)
J: Lena will absolutely not do anything mean to other people, she is that kind of person. Seriously, she's nice and a very sincere girl. Even so, we still argue and have various disagreements, you know. Why are the underwear supposed to be like this, or someone got into my stuff... it's really just minor things like that. I'm happy that Lena's here.
Rather than thinking of her as a friend or sister, she is a very close person to me, like family.
WO: What kind of music are you guys into?
J: I don't really have a favorite artist. I just listen to whatever is popular throughout the world, and there isn't much that I don't like anyway.
WO: What was your dream as a kid?
J: From the time I was 4, and started singing, I wanted to attend a music school and learn piano there and then graduate. And then my dream was to have the songs that I sing become famous.
WO: What is t.A.T.u.'s goal?
J: It is to keep progress from coming to a halt.
Heat Magazine UK [24th May 2003]
Random
Daily Sport [April 2003]
French Special 't.A.T.u. Issue [2003]
Russian Newspaper
Molotok, Russia
Unknown
BRAVO Magazine [February 2003]
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Capricho - Brazil
If they?re lesbians, if they are really in love with each other, if the kisses they share are for real, only Julia and Lena, the girls from the russian duo t.aT.u, may know. They say there?s no reason to lie about such a subject ?but many people think their affair is pure gimmick. Truth or not, more than 4 million copies of 200 km/h in the Wrong Lane, the girls first album, has been sold around the world, in between so many chitchat.
In a interview through e-mail ?they don?t speak english so well and need a translator in some questions -, Julia talk about the passion for her friend, the relationship with the fans and the hate of some parents, who think their daughters are turning into lesbians cause of the duo.
CAPRICHO : I?ve read many explanations for the t.A.T.u. word meaning. What it means?
Julia: Something like? This girl loves that girl?
C: In All the Things She Said you sing: ?They say it?s my fault, but I want her so much...?It was how you've felt? Did you feel guilty for the love you felt for each other?
J: Well, the song really reflects how we felt when we realized what was going on between us. There was so much pressure, people with disgusted expression on their faces and fingers pointed at us, like we were criminals. It was difficult in the beggining. But talking about this in a song was the best we could've done. I think we speak for many girls that feel guilty and just don't know why. Girls that suffer a lot for this.
C: Many teenagers feel attracted to a girl-friend and get scared. What would you tell them?
J: Nobody should feel guilty or scared when that happens. What we realized after we started travelling many countries is that this is more commom than what we imagined. It doesn?t matter if you are in Russia, Germany or in the USA. The girls that come to see us performing and get to talk to us at the backstage have similar stories on how they feel. They ask us for advices but we are too young also! Maybe, the best thing to do if you feel attracted to your friend, is to calm down and not to think that you?re a lesbian and that this is a curse. Friendship between girls is the most ordinary thing in the world, and sometimes it may happen an attraction to a friend. After all, everybody has a best friend, share secrets and talk about privacies with her.
C: In an article from the british tabloid News of the World, Anton Krulev, whose says he is an ex-boyfriend of you, declared that you play the lesbians just to get famous and earn money. How you reacted about this?
J: We?ve learned soon that, when you get famous you lose control on what people say about you. I know Anton and we've stayed together a couple of times, but he never was my boyfriend...
C: Have you imagined that this kind of thing would happen?
J: To be true, I never imagined this would happen. At some point you don't know anymore where people take some informations from! We try to ignore and concentrate on our everyday, which has been intense. There's no time to think about the rumours!
C: How old you were and how was your first kiss?
J: I can't clearly remember, but I think I was 12. It was with a boy from school. It was good, a new thing, but he wanted more than I.
C: How old you both (Yulia and Lena) were when you lost the virginity? Was it wit a boy?
J: My very first time was at 14 with a boy. In Russia these things happen really early, cause sexuality isn't a big tabu like in others countries. I don't wanna answer for Lena, but it happened also early to her.
C: To a Germany newspaper, you said that you and Elena make love three times a day and that is much better than with a man. Why having sex with a woman is better than having sex with a man?
J: It was something I said some time ago and it's incredible how people keep on asking me about this. I think I should have stayed quiet! It isn't always that things goes like this, in this rhythm. Lately, we both just work.
C: How have your parents accepted this wide open love, french kisses at performances and videos?
J: I can't say that it was easy, nor for me, nor for Lena. But our parents are conscious that we know exactly what we want. My mum even saw the recording of the ATTSS video.
C: Is there much jealously between you two?
J: No.
C: Have you already dated or would you date a fan?
J: We never thought of something like this! I can't see our fans in another way otherwise being people that identifies with our work. This is really delicate. We receive lots of calls from mothers and boys quite angry telling they wanna kill us, cause their daughters and girlfriends had turned into lesbians after seeing our video. Sincerely, I think that the simple fact of watching a video doesn't define anyone? sexual orientation.
C: You?ve never assured you are lesbians, just that you are in love with each other. What is lesbianism to you?
J: I don?'t know how to explain, but it?s exactly how we feel. Maybe lesbianism is a too powerful word and we want to leave our possibilities open.
C: At EMA?s you were victims of Alex Band's (The Calling) indelicacy. He wrote in the band? website? Those retardeds were driving me insane. They don't speak english, so me and Aaron took advantage to insult them and they didn?t understand a thing? How you felt when you found this out?
J: I think Alex was quite rude, things haven't gone exactly as he said. I don't have to hide that we spent about six months in US learning to speak english and recording our album, it wasn't easy, but we were very dedicated and nowadays we feel much confident with the language!
C: Who was the nicest (celebrity) you've met?
J: Eminem, at MTV Music Awards. He's is very funny!
C: Is it much different to sing in russian and in a language you still don't manage right? Is the emotion different?
J: The matter was the initial difficult on pronouncing a different language, which happens to any artist who sings in another language. But with so many performances we are already quite used to it.
C: The fact of being russian and having grew up in a country that passed for all that its passed, takes it to more politicized and conscious lyrics?
J: Of course, cause the reality there is much rough, the troubles are really big. We have much luck of reaching sucess with the music and being able to travel a lot, but when we want to be home, it?s to Russia we go.
Molotok-Magazine [2003]
t.A.T.u. without Taboo
STS is starting a new reality show "Tatu in Podnebesnaya" in the middle of January. Yulia and Lena will be recording the second album live. MOLOT (HAMMER) has visited Tatu girls in their future apartment and asked them your questions.
Yulia and Lena: Sex on live TV.
Q. What's easier: to make love in public or to make art in public?
Julia: It depends. For us, everything is easy. We don't have any inhibitions about anything.
Q. I heard that the script for "Podnebesnaya" was written by the person who writes scripts for TV show "Windows". Is it true?
Julia: Nonsense. There is no script, just like there are no taboos of rules that we have to follow. If we want to, we can invite our friends and have a party with all its consequences. By the way, we have already invited a lot of people: musicians, politicians and just drunkards. (Laughing). If we want to, we won't do anything at all. The only condition is that we should finish the new album by mid March.
Q. Do you have any life principles?
Julia: No, we live without principles. We just enjoy our lives, that's it.
Q. You have traveled through half of the world. Which place did you like the most?
Julia: There, people come to concerts to estimate the quality of the show, lighting, scene, etc. The people just stand there and stare at us without any emotions. But in Russia people come to concerts to hang out / "fly away"
Q. In what ways have your lives changed since you became celebrities?
Julia: I have become slightly presumptuous. Sometimes I don't even notice Lenka. (Talking to Lena) Hey, who are you? (Both laughing).
Q. Do you act the same way in life as you do on TV?
Julia: Yes. We are always the same: at home, on the stage, and when we are together. I often read in newpapers that Vanya (Ivan Shapovalov, t.A.T.u.'s producer) makes us kiss on the stage, sing about lesbian love, and then we cry quietly in the dressing room, cursing our fate. It's bull sh*t. We are the way you see us.
Q Could you argue with Shapovalov or are you totally dependent on his opinion?
Julia: Yea, it's better not to argue with him. He is very big. But, seriously, he listens to us and loves us very much. We won't sing what we don't like. We have the same right to voice our opinions as all the other authors, sound editors and friends. We always make team decisions. However, Vanya has the last word.
Q. In my school two 10 year old girls, your fans, kiss each other during the breaks. Are you ashamed of the fact that you pervert underage children with your music and your behavior?
Julia: They wanted to - they did it. Good girls! I think that you should do what you want in life, not what you are being told. Besides, we really don't force anyone to make love. It's about freedom of choice.
ELLE Magazine [September 2004]
Julia Volkova and Lena Katina: on freedom, boyfriends, psychology and pregnancy.
ABOUT LOVE
Julia: What children can’t live without. Love is everywhere. We live – that’s love. Without love we won’t exist.
ABOUT COSMOS
Julia: Something very far away… Although, if opportunity presents itself in the future, I might go see what it’s like.
ELLE Girl: If Tatu will go, then everyone will. You set examples: only Japanese were crazy about manga before, now every second T-shirt has either Hello Kitty, or Powergirls prints.
Julia: We don’t force anyone to do anything! Every person has his own fashion. I don’t follow fashion, though. I don’t care if the pants I were are from fall 2003 or 2004. The most important thing is that I like them. But if T-shirts with manga are in, then I’ll buy a manga T-shirt. I live in a world in which fashion follows what’s happening.
ELLE Girl: So, Iraq is fashionable?
Julia: There’s darkness, gloom, explosions, children and adults are dying.
ELLE Girl: Sorry!
BEAUTIFUL YOUNG PEOPLE
ELLE Girl: Does David Beckham look better with long or short hair?
Lena: To be honest, I don’t know what he looks like.
ELLE Girl: He looks great.
Julia: Lena, come on! He’s the husband of… what’s her name? Victoria. He’s really cute! I like him either way. He play the game… football, right?
ELLE Girl: Yep.
Julia: … I don’t follow. I’m indifferent to football.
ELLE Girl: What aren’t you indifferent to?
Julia and Lena: To music!
ELLE Girl: On CD, in MP3, on television?
Julia: On compilations. I don’t idolize any particular artist.
IDEAL MAN
Julia: If I’ll see an ideal man, I’ll let you know. I know one thing: looks are not important to me –whether he is heavy or skinny – it’s what’s inside that counts. If I feel that I’m attracted to him, that I can talk to him for hours, then it’s my kind of person. So, even if he’s a blond eye-candy dressed in “Dolce & Gobbana”, I can easily tell him, “Hello, pretty boy. Go hang somewhere else. I’m not interested.”
ELLE Girl: I see.
SACRAFICING FOR LOVE
ELLE Girl: What are you prepared to do for your loved one?
Julia: Hard to say…
ELLE Girl: OK, then what will you never do?
Julia: To love and to be a housewife are two different things. I can live with a person, but I won’t cook and clean. I never did! I’m a creative person – I like to sing, perform. I can write songs, but as to the apartment.… If you love someone, why do you have to cook and clean?! Love can be expressed without a good dinner.
I’m not talking about money, I’m talking about freedom! If you love a person, it doesn’t mean you have to be a caged bird. If this happens, it means that love is gone.
You must have freedom of speech, freedom of action. You agreed on one thing – he’s your lover, you’re his lover. That’s it. Then you can do whatever you want. If you want you can cook, you go hangout in the club, together or separately.
ENVY
Julia: Right now I’m not living with my boyfriend, we live separately. Not because I don’t want to live with him, but because I like that we both have freedom.
ELLE Girl: Do you live with your parents?
Julia: With my parents, although I do have my own apartment. My mom asks, “How can you do this? He’s somewhere out there, aren’t you worried?” And I say, “Mama, why do I have to be worried? I know what I’m his only one. I trust him and I don’t want to think about him cheating on me. Why unnerve yourself?” He doesn’t have to worry either: I know what I’m worth, and I know what he means to me and that all the other young men are just my friends. So, I can hang out with them. I’m not an Arab sheik’s wife to wear shapeless clothes and sit at home.
WHAT HE LIKES
ELLE Girl: I thought that men like it when women wear shapeless clothes and sit at home. What does your experience tell you?
Julia: Everyone’s different. Someone values beauty: beautiful breasts, beautiful clothes, beautiful legs. Someone’s more concerned with “bed-business”… But sometimes when you talk with someone and you realize that the most important thing to them is interacting with you: go to a movie, have a coffee – without hints for something more. A lot depends on the girl, the ability to show him that’s your free and is ready to become his. But if you just talk to him, acting like a friend, then he’ll assume that you don’t want anything more then friendship.
ELLE Girl: What do you have to do to make sure he DOESN’T like you?
Lena: If you don’t want it, then it’ll be written all over your face. You won’t need to say or explain anything. What do they like? I guess a little mystery, a hidden side.
Julia: And I thought I knew you, Lena! Obviously I don’t.
Lena: We’re talking about men here, not about you and me.
SUCCESS
ELLE Girl: What do you have to do to reach success in life?
Julia: Go for it, fight. To want success. If you’re doing it for something, for someone or if your parents told you to, then you won’t reach success. You have to burn, live it.
FRIENDSHIP
ELLE Girl: Do you believe in friendship?
Lena and Julia: (Together.) Yes!
ELLE Girl: Can there be friendship between a girl and a boy?
Julia: Of course, strong friendships can happen. Without all the funny business…
ELLE Girl: But it’ll still revolve around “all the funny business”! Also, how do you know what a person is your friend, and not just…?
Julia: If you have one real friend, then you’re already lucky. Because right now this word is getting a whole new meaning. Everyone is, dammit, your friend. Colleagues, acquaintances… In my opinion, friendships can be tested with time and situations. A friend is a person who sticks by you.
ELLE Girl: Yulia, Lena, are you friends?
Lena: Friends, of course.
ELLE Girl: You said that you don’t know Lena as well as you thought you did…
Julia: How to put this… No one can know self to the fullest. Even if you live with a person for 25-30 years, you don’t know them, because the way he/she will react to a particular situation now is not necessarily the way he/she will react to the same situation in ten years…
ELLE Girl: Do you have a person whom you can call a very close friend.
Julia: Yes.
ELLE Girl: Who?
Julia: Serezha Lazarev, from Smash!! He’s my brother, my friend. He’s my everything. I have known him for a while, so our relationship has been tested with time.
HOME
ELLE Girl: Where do you prefer to live, at home or in a hotel?
Julia: At home, of course. Hotels are like… someone else’s apartment.
ELLE Girl: It can be comfortable.
Julia: But at home I know what’s in my bathroom, and what’s in my kitchen. I like it that I’m pregnant now and can live at home guilt-free.
PASHA SIDOROV
Julia: What can I say about him? He’s a good person, he’s kind…
ELLE Girl: He’s a sportsman?
Julia: Yes, he’s in karate.
ELLE Girl: Is that a minus or a plus for you?
Julia: A plus. I think that a guy should be a sportsman. I respect Pashka (nick name for Pasha) because he goes to the gym regularily, doesn’t smoke, doesn’t drink, -- a guy should be healthy and strong. The girls can let themselves go lazy, though – smoke a little, relax. We do a lot as it is – give birth, educate children, do house chores. A man should be like a wall for support, strong and healthy.
BABY AT 19
ELLE Girl: Can I ask about your pregnancy?
Julia: Of course.
ELLE Girl: How is it?
Julia: There’s no greater joy in life. It’s like a satisfaction, peacefulness. It’s true what they say, pregnancy changed a woman. It’s not a little kitty or doggy that you bought in a shop, it’s a live baby. A continuation of your lineage. An investment of soul, evergy.
ELLE Girl: Your parents must be on top of the world…
Julia: My dad is sitting right here, ask him. Dad, what do you say?.. (Daddy intensively nods his head.) Mom is happy, too. They’re waiting, helping. I’m a young mother, they’ll be young grandpa and grandma.
ELLE Girl: Do people ask you why you decided to go through with this at 19?
Julia: You know, there’s no particular age to give birth to a child. Some people give birth at 30, some at 15. The most important thing is to understand what you’re doing. The child will need attention – it’s alive! You don’t have to bring him up with all your might, but you’ll need to give him positive emotions.
GOOD/BAD
ELLE Girl: OK, what makes you mad?
Julia: I can’t say that I’m in a good mood all the time. It changes every five minutes. I’m always here, there, everywhere, with everyone, know everything about everything, I cry, I laugh. There’s an expression – “shaken-up”. I was “shaken-up” from the day I was born until now. Sometime I start to think, why am I upset, and reevaluate the situation. That moment is the most interesting one in your life.
FEAR
ELLE Girl: Is fear interesting? What are you afraid of?
Julia: Nothing. What do you mean by “afraid”?
ELLE Girl: I’m afraid, for example, to fly in airplanes.
Julia: Look, you’re afraid and you attract all that you think about with your fear. Why?...If I have silly thought in my mind I try to turn them in a positive direction.
ELLE Girl: Do you have nightmares?
Julia: Millions of them!
Lena: Oh, sorry to interrupt, but I suddenly realized what I’m afraid of. I’m terribly afraid of bees. I know that you have to be still when you see a bee, but I start to scream, jump and run. I can’t fight myself.
Julia: For some reason I think that bees are useful. I think that if a bee bites me, then it’ll give me strength. I think they’re nice and kind. And they see the same in me. I was bitten. I was lying, getting a tan, and it bit me right under my arm.
Oh, I remembered what makes me mad: when you want to run in a dream, but you can’t! And someone’s chasing you with knives, forks…
ELLE Girl: What will you never do?
Julia: I’m an extreme kind of person, that’s my problem. It’s not me – not to decide to do something.
ELLE Girl: Have you jumped with a parachute?
Julia: Not, didn’t have a chance. But I got tattoos, was involved in car crashes, pierced every possible body part. My friends asked me to go jumping with parachutes. After I give birth, we’ll see…
ELLE Girl: Julia, is there something that will make you think twice before you decide to do it?
Julia: Hard to say, I rarely think about anything at all.
ELLE Girl: Yeah, right…
Julia: No, of course I think.… But my logic is, if you want to do something, then go do it.
FASHION
ELLE Girl: Why do people need clothes?
Julia: To avoid embarrassment. It’s like a tradition, people used to make clothes out of animal skins…
Now we need it to feel different. How can we survive without clothes in this country?!
STRENGTH
ELLE Girl: When is a person stronger: at 14, 19 or 40-50?
Julia: A person is strong at any age.
ELLE Girl: Do you care about what people say and think about you?
Yulia: No. I know everything about myself, and closest family and friend know who I am. I don’t give a f*ck what newspapers say about me...
ELLE Girl: So you currently don’t care what I think about you?
Julia: Don’t give a damn. I am the way that I am, don’t like it -- leave.
ELLE Girl: What about visage, image – are they important?
Julia: I can wake up in the morning with a horrible hairdo, but I’ll still love myself the way I am – this is my hair, and that’s how it looks. And Lena will wake up, and her hair will look different. I can make two pony-tails if I want, and if some says I look silly, then I don’t care.
ELLE Girl: Why is the world crazy about you? Did psychology reveal the secret to you?
Julia: It’s hard for us to answer this question. Yes, there are a lot of pretty girl, very pretty girls in the world, but there are girls not as pretty. We don’t like it when people tell us, “Pose”, “Smile”, “Stand still” – our apologies to your photographer, by the way. We don’t even plan our stage performances. Once we sang without make-up. I think we help people to be more free, less complex. A lot of western artists (I won’t name names) are colored like dolls, skinny, with plastic surgeries, all super-star-like. We are different. We show that you can be super without make-up. You don’t have to put on make-up, wear D&G, stand there and tell everyone how cool you are. You can come out in ordinary sweat-pants and people will think you’re cooler then those in D&G.
Molotok Magazine [2005]
It's morning in Los Angeles. Lena and Julia are just waking up. There they are on the telephone.
In a moment we hear the voice of mommy Julia and voice of Lena. Both energetic despite the fact they have just awoken.
Hey girls, what work are you doing in America?
Julia: In LA we walk a lot. But now we are shooting for America's PLAYBOY [Magazine] so the free time we have has shortened. We shall not be completely naked though, just slightly. Still we to to visit friends and drive around the city. We neigh a lot (laughs)
Julia, is your child with you now?
Julia: No, she is at home in Moscow with the nurse. I awfully miss her, but she is small, pretty and she's only five months old and I cannot carry her by myself. Now I stay here and my parents and child are in Moscow.
Julia, are you still blonde?
Julia. No, I'm still a brunette! I just did it for a change. But my favorite color is black.
Julia, who is your husband?
Julia: I don't have a husband. I'm single. We broke up but I feel great/perfect.
You like to read what books?
Julia: Yes, but I don't like reading in general. Now I'm not reading anything.
Why were you gone for so long? Where did you go?
Julia: Because, I was pregnant and I couldn't work. But now we're working on the album, and clips should be released.
Are you personal with any of the western stars?
Julia: We saw almost everyone, but we don't know them to actually talk to them. We talk with the Russian friends we have that lives nearby.
Are you going to perform throughout Russia? It would be great to see you again!
Julia: If you want us to, we will try to fulfil your request.
Is it true about the alchoholics?
Julia: (Laughs) Of course alcholics and addicts!
Do you know about Ivan Shapovalova's new project Nato?
Julia: Never heard of them. Just the name but the music I don't know.
Why haven't you sung a duet with Rammstein?
Julia: We're still working on it. Right now we're not going anything but in the future it would be good.
Why did you decide to record the album particularily in America?
Julia: The sound quality is good here and professionals are working here - in Moscow, there's none of those. We do all by ourselves, without any help from the local famous producers.
Are you intended to sing as a duo or going to record solo abums?
Julia: We are a duo at the moment. I have no idea what will happen in the future.
Who do you like most - Smash!! or Korni?
Julia: (both are laughing). Oh! That was a difficult question. We like both but guys from Smash!! stay closer to us. We know that they broke up and that's terrible. We don't take sides, we like them both equally. Such a lost!
Komsomolskaya Pravda [2005]
Tatu-girl is thinking to move to America
Julia Volkova and Lena Katina want to get married.
Yulia Volkova and Lena Katina haven’t been giving interviews for a year now. Thus, there are lots of reasons to ask them questions. One of the reasons is the release of their new album and another one is all rumours about their private lives. Now, the girls spoke to the reporter of KP and told everything on the subject.
Julia, tell us please, is it difficult for you to be a young mother and a popular singer? How do you manage all that?
- Of course it’s hard enough. We lived practically half of a year in America recording our new album “Ludi-Invalidi”. I was missing my daughter but this is my carrier. I do it for my daughter’s sake too. This thought made it all more bearable! My daughter grew up during this time. She is so cute, so healthy! I can lead her holding her hand now when walking outside.
Is it hard to stay without support of a man? You are basically a single mother now. There’ve been rumours that you broke up with the father of your child now.
- I’m not the only one! I have a new happy love now! I realised that it doesn’t work enough serious with too young men for me. As for Pasha (the baby’s father), he was there, yes, but it didn’t work until the end. It turned out that he’s not the one. By the way, he’s found someone to be happy with now. I’m very glad he did.
Can you tell us more about your new hero?
Lena Katina fills in:
- Let me tell you the story! When Yulia met him she changed drastically! I saw her eyes shining! He’s a fully grown up man and understands how to deal with Yulia. I see how this person is with her. I’m very happy that my friend found her man! They met for the first time and 15 minutes later they were already kissing.
Yulia:
- I met Tigran in a restaurant. He is a friend of a friend to Lena’s parent. We, as they say, fell in love from the first sight. He is an American citizen and he’s been living there for 13 years now. He’s very kind with my daughter. He helps me to take care of her.
How are you privately? He’s a Caucasian man. Is there any risk he locks you in? You know this “you are a woman and your place is in the kitchen”?
- Oh no! He is fully supportive and understanding as nobody else could be. He doesn’t “lock me in”. I get furious when I hear people say that he’s a Caucasian and they are all bad. It’s up to a person. All people are different. I believe I was lucky to meet Tigran.
Tell us gils, what kind of wedding would you like to have?
-We both think that it should be a day that will stay in memories for the rest of your life. A beautiful dress, flowers, close friends, luxury environment is a must. A honeymoon trip to an exotic warm country is a nice detail too!
Who do you think should be the head of a family – a man or should it be equal?
- A strong support is very important. The man should be the head in a family, - says Lena, - a woman is getting married (gets behind the man’s back). We could be strong and independent but we always want to feel weak and protected – as if being protected by a solid wall.
Got it. Has the lesbian theme come to an end?
- People’s reactions is really strange, - replies Lena. – If we stay in the same hotel room, share a bed, kiss each other, does it mean that we are lesbians? I love my parents and my friends in the same way! Yulia and me – we still have very tender and good relation, but it doesn’t mean that we are lesbians. It’s all nonsense!
Julia, was it hard to give birth?
- Frankly speaking, it wasn’t as hard as they say. It didn’t hurt that much. It took me six hours. I did everything myself and didn’t suffer any complications. I had a good support from my close relatives, that’s why it felt easier.
Could you assist at birth if needed?
- Sure! I’m not a coward type! There’s nothing difficult in it.
”Sting is not that sexy”
His greatness Sting recorded a guitar part on your new album…
- Oh yeah, we know what you are about to ask! No, we didn’t meet him. Unfortunately his recording time was set to the date when we were off. We hope to meet him some day!
Do you think that Sting is sexy? Who generally could be called a sex-symbol?
- (Giggling) Oh, we never even though if he’s sexy or not… We don’t have idols generally. We don’t adore, for example, Johnny Depp or Brad Pitt, even if many are crasy about them.
Your new album has a title “Ludi-Invalidi” (Disabled People, rem. TatySite.net). If to apply it indirectly, is it possible to cure such people or did you meet people with disabled soul in this life?
- Of course. They are morally disabled people, - relies Lena. – There are lots of such people around us. Such people are led by cruelty, jealousy, they live only for themselves. Thye are not able to love, to feel, to show compassion. Unfortunately, they are many. They can be cured theoretically but they need to want to be cured in the first place.
You stayed in LA for a long time while you recorded the album. Who or what did you miss as most?
- I missed my daughter, my parents and people close to me. If to speak about the lifestyle, the food is horrible there! Lena likes different soups and can’t live without them. She didn’t like the fact that she couldn’t eat normal food!
Is America better than Russia?
- Everything is for a person in America and in Russia – nobody knows for whom. It’s comfortable and cosy there. People are polite. There are no problems at all. I’m seriously planning to move there in a year – together with my parents and my daughter. Lena will be here and I – there. We are going to meet, to tour, to record. It’s enough easy nowadays.
'Rockin' Magazine Japan [2005]
“We are ourselves. That’s something that hasn’t changed.”
Birth, their break from that sly old fox Ivan, and the new album
The Renaissance of t.A.T.u.!
As we reported in the Character of the Month feature in last month’s rockin’ on, t.A.T.u. have returned. They have at last got off and running ahead of the October 5th release of their second album “Dangerous and Moving”. This is an exclusive interview that we were eventually able to secure after our staff stuck close by the duo during their video shoot in LA. Initially, we were told that we would be able to talk to them immediately during the breaks in filming somewhere, but this shoot, during which two videos were ultimately filmed, involved working around the clock for three days. As is characteristic of t.A.T.u., the schedule for the interview was gradually pushed back further and further, but our staff stayed close at hand and were eventually able to talk to the more sedate duo on the fourth day, once filming had ended.
The two girls, who created a sensation with a variety of scandals, such as their sudden cancellations in Japan, their almost-empty Tokyo Dome concert, the attitude of their former producer Ivan, and Yulia’s birth, spoke candidly to us about those scandals. In the previous edition, Yoichiro Yamasaki (Editor-in-Chief of rockin’ on) described their first single “All About Us” as, “A straightforward message song from the ‘abandoned generation’” and this was an interview in which this essence of their words may be able to be perceived unexpectedly well. Normally, Yulia hardly speaks during interviews in English, but this time we were able to secure the services of a Russian interpreter. The air around the table was filled with words in Russian and English as the two girls answered very earnestly.
R: Yulia, you’ve had a baby, haven’t you? Congratulations! We’re delighted that both mother and baby are doing well.
J: Yeah, thanks.
R: What’s wrong? Wasn’t the birth one of the most important experiences of your life?
J: That’s true – my viewpoint on things has changed a lot. Firstly, I’ve become more responsible and when you have a baby at home, there are various things that you have to do for the baby, but at the same time all these emotions that I’ve never felt before have welled up inside me.
R: Do you feel that this has had some kind of effect when you sing your new songs?
J: Yes, I do. I think my approach to the songs has changed. New sensations have emerged, like gentleness and softness.
R: When did discussions about making your second album as t.A.T.u. begin in earnest? How did you each feel when you heard about that?
J: We decided to make it.
R: So, when did you actually begin recording, then?
J: In January this year.
R: But before that, your old producer, Ivan Shapovalov, left you, didn’t he?
J: Well, it wasn’t so much that one left the other, rather that we decided to split up with each other, because our opinions began to differ and there was no longer any need to carry on working together. But even now we still talk to Ivan and meet him, and we’re still good friends.
R: Who are the key staff members who support you in this sense now? Has Boris Rensky (who was with them the whole time during the video shoot), who is credited as executive producer on your album, taken on the work that Ivan used to do?
J: Boris is our manager. We don’t have a producer like Ivan now. The overall production, not just the music, is done by us and we have various people supporting us in those areas as well.
R: That’s great.
J&L: Yes!
R: So your second album “Dangerous and Moving” is going to be released. How was it, singing songs that various songwriters had written for you?
J: It was great fun.
R: How many songs did Trevor Horn produce on this album? Just “Craving”?
J: Yes, just the one song.
R: Who wrote the single “All About Us”
J: A number of people wrote it….but I forget who.
R: Including the content of the lyrics, doesn’t this song honestly express your feelings right now?
J: Yes, that’s right. But it’s not just about us, it’s a song that includes you, and him, and everyone.
R: I see. As you sing at the beginning of this song, you’ve been the focus of criticism, but how do you feel about that?
J: I mean, everyone was complimenting us, saying “Yulia and Lena are cute, they’re pretty”, but behind our backs, various people were saying nasty things, like “Lena’s not pretty” and “Yulia’s fat”. But that doesn’t matter.
R: But didn’t you get depressed about being criticized?
J: No, we rise above it! In fact, it makes us stronger.
R: Do you think this strength is a national characteristic unique to Russia?
J: Ummm…I don’t think it’s so much that Russians are strong, rather that we’re more relaxed. We don’t get bothered about trivial things.
R: Japanese people tend to speak after they’ve thought about what they’re going to say, and I certainly think that you are a lot more open compared with that.
J: Yeah, I think we’re open.
R: You came to Japan in December 2003 to do some concerts, but the Tokyo Dome was pretty empty, which was partly due to the uproar over the sudden cancellations. But the concerts themselves were superb.
J: [seems pleased] Thanks!
R: At the beginning, when you were performing the songs from your first album, you used to kiss and embrace on stage, but do you think that the concept of sex has a big role to play in t.A.T.u. now?
J: Ummm, before that might have been the case…but that wasn’t everything, you know. What we want everyone to know is that the lyrics of our songs aren’t talking about our actual lives. What’s important, first of all, is us, and then the music; we really don’t see ourselves as lesbians.
R: Well, if that’s the case, what do you think is the biggest concept that dominates t.A.T.u. now?
J&L: [in unison] We don’t have a concept!
J: We are ourselves. That’s something that hasn’t changed. Before we released the first album and since then, we have been our natural selves and have been doing what we want to. There were various things before, but they are in the past now and we are now who we are now. Everything’s cool now.
R: So do you think that by being yourselves in this way, you are giving listeners the message “Be yourself”?
J: I think it would be great if everyone could listen to our new album “Dangerous and Moving” and become more relaxed.
R: What are your thoughts about your lives in the future?
J: We don’t have any plans, but we have various ideas and we want to do various things other than music.
R: Lena, you said that you wanted to retire at 27. Do you still feel the same?
L: No, even I don’t know what I’ll do in the future. It might be when I’m 28, it might be when I’m 30, it might be when I’m 25. I don’t know.
Y: Me neither! [laughs]
R: OK, finally, what do you have to say to people who reckon that t.A.T.u. is already behind the times?
L: Everyone has different opinions, so I don’t give a toss. The people who like us listen to our music. Those who don’t, don’t. That’s fine.
R: What about you, Yulia?
Y: I feel the same. Who cares!
Moskovskie Komsomolets [2005]
Twosome again
Tatu: "The boyfriend lives as the third one with us"
Chances of the girls’ duo to do a comeback were small. First Tatu-girls were busy "divorcing" their producer Ivan Shapovalov and then, Yulia Volkova became a mom. Besides, Yulia and Lena looked less and less as teenage lolitas with the time. Exploitation of the old image ran out of date. All in all, something else was required: songs, image, and a music concept. Yulia and Lena couldn’t withdraw either, as according to the contract with their label, they had to make several albums. Now, after a smashing success of their first album “200 km/h In A Wrong Lane”, they present new songs. “MK-Bulvar” leaves album reviews for music journalists and talks with Yulia and Lena about their lifestyle.
You've changed a lot since your performance at the Muz-?V awards this summer. You've both lost weight…
- Lena: Not at all. Yulia has stayed the same. And I, on the contrary, have even gained 3 kg.
You didn't look thin there.
- Julia: It's just that the shooting was bad and the dresses were badly shortened. Even we were shocked when we saw ourselves on TV later.
Julia, your hair has been dyed blonde. Classy! But i thought you preferred your hair to be black.
- Generally yes. But i've become tired of it and I have decided to change.
Julia's look healthy in that video.
- Yes, I get beaten and dragged by my hair there.
All of this looks so real that it's hard to believe you didn't get any bruises.
- Julia: In America they know how to remove them. I certainly didn't suffer. Only my hair. (laughs). It had to have it cut short.
But do the rights on the brand "Tatu" not belong to your ex-producer Ivan Shapovalov?
- It is his name, but ours too at the same time, as equal partners in the project. Nobody was opposed to us continuing to use the name. We have simply signed legal papers and all that.
When you left Shapovalov in 2004, the second album was not recorded, plus Yulia got pregnant. You didn't want to go on with show business?
- Julia: No, on the contrary, we longed to do something.
How would you describe your new album?
- For us there are two, the Russian one and the English one. Globally they are less pop than "200km/h in the Wrong Lane", more serious, deep, and adult, more depressive. They contain more of us, our mood, our soul.
And why are you in a depressed mood?
- Just look at what is happening in the world.
You're having a hard time with the war in Iraq?
- Yes. All those political games… Here the Russian album is called "Invalid People", you know why? Because we are surrounded by many monsters: traitors, envious persons, those who can not love, feel pity, and are not capable of kind feelings. We live in such a world, and everybody is involved in this. But nobody tries to change anything.
And you try?
- We've made this album, maybe it will make people think.
While you were working on it in Los Angeles, it was said that you had time for other things. Lena, for example, has recorded a solo album.
- It's not true.
You posed naked for "Playboy"…
- It's not true either. Actually we had negotiations with American "Playboy", but we finally refused to do a photoshoot.
You did not agree on the conditions?
- No, we simply realized it was not suitable for us.
It was also said that Lena had a serious operation.
- Yes, but not that serious, and not in Los Angeles, but in Moscow.
Why? To be at the same place as the specialists is good, no?
- Probably. This doctor came and said: "you have gastritis, drink juices". But I was sure it was not gastritis. I had a big stone in my gall bladder. As long as it did not bother me, I didn't want to do anything about it. The year went on, and then i had an attack just on my way to Los Angeles, in the plane. You could not imagine anything "better". I almost died. I don't remember what happened, everything was yellow, something passed there… I was put back on the first flight back to Moscow where my mum met me at the airport and brought me to the clinic to see the doctors who had been following me for a long time. I was operated there.
Girls, while you were working in Los Angeles, you were sharing the same hotel room…
- So what? We always take one room. There were cases when we arrived somewhere for a performance and they gave us separate rooms. We made tantrums if they gave us different rooms!
But you are completely different. Working together, and then living together, it's easy to get on each other's nerves.
- We never argue. We can have bad days when we are angry at each other, but it doesn't last, and we get over it.
What about some small bickering?… Like if Yulia doesn't wash the dishes.
- What dishes in a hotel?
Or if Lena scatters things in the room.
- Lena: It's Yulia who scatters! (laughs). I'm the one who has to pick them up.
- Yulia: We've known each other for such a long time: we know each other's habits, what cosmetics we use, who scatters things, where each other's underwear is. We've gotten used to it and it doesn't annoy us, we support each other, we help each other to get rid of some bad habits.
And what have you already helped Lena to get rid of?
- I want her to stop smoking. I myself smoked for six years and then i stopped in one day, one month before getting pregnant. Not because i wanted to become pregnant, it's just a coincidence. In America when things got rough i started smoking again, a month and a half later I stopped again, and now I haven't smoked for three weeks.
Which she then scatters everywhere.
- No. She simply doesn't wear them. She wears two pairs and has 250 more at home. Any of the lot would suffice, but new are always necessary.
- Yulia: Lenka always lectures me on that! It's good to spend money on crap! Why do you want these jeans? Will you wear them tomorrow? I say: I like them… But when Katina leaves to Moscow, I go shopping quickly, knowing that Lenka will then kill me.
Yulia, i know that you have developed a private relationship in America. Sorry, but wouldn't it be more logical to live with the young man instead of Lena.
- He lives with us in a threesome. (laughs). But seriously, I went there to work and had a lot to do. It was not the right time to move.
You probably won't tell us about your new love?
- Why? I understand that people are interested in the private life of artists. I will simply say: I have a boyfriend. He is a US citizen, he's been living there for many years, we've met over there. That's all. Why would you need to know his name and other details?
All right, tell us simply what you liked in him.
- Well, when I was younger - 15/16 - like for all young girls at this age, looks were very important to me. At school we are all looking for our prince. But now appearance is not at all important to me. What's important is that the person is honest so I feel comfortable with him. And beauty is far from being everything. What's the point of having a husband who admires himself in a mirror…
You wanted to tell about the sincere qualities of your loved one.
- I will tell this: I love him for who he is, and for what he is with me.
It was said that because of him you left the father of your daughter - Pasha. Is is true?
- The truth is that after living together for three years, I and Pasha have realized that we are different people. It happened when i already was pregnant. Nevertheless we made the decision to separate to not quarrel anymore, to not become enemies. Now we have a normal relationship. When I'm in Moscow, we meet frequently, the last time was the day before yesterday. Pasha also has a new love.
Forgive the personal question but what is the name of your daughter?
- Victoria Pavlovna Volkova.
Was she christened? Lena will be godmother, i think?
- She's not christened yet. I don't know… On the one hand, it is necessary, on the other hand, I'm christian, but I don't carry a cross and don't go to church.
When you decided to have the child, you understood the consequences of this act?
- I went on with it fully aware. Though I hadn't planned the pregnancy and taking a decision was difficult, i was not in a good psychological situation, and there was my career. But I told myself that the child was more important. I went on with it and gave birth, and I don't regret it one second. How could i regret something like that? Yes, if it wasn't for work, I probably would be pregnant again right now. I want more children! Four. That's five with Vika.
Well, labour is not especially pleasant.
- Yulia: for me being in labour was like a party. When i arrived to give birth, i calmed all the pregnant women who were shouting there. I said: girls, where are you now? You've reached the moment of happiness. So why are you shouting? And young women all in labour were also moaning.
Do you ask Lena to nurse your daughter?
- Yulia: You can't nurse Vika easily, she's independent. You can't take her in your hands if she doesn't like it, she can strike. She can recognize people well. She knows my parents, her nurses, she likes them more than me. Seriously, we were in America for six months, she's no longer used to me. Vika knows me and likes me too, but she plays more with her nurses and smiles more often to them.
Do you have any specific parental duties that only you do?
- No, the nurses do everything. And it's really sad. If i have the time, I bathe her and take her for a walk. But today for example I got up at 10am and will be home not before 9pm, so all I'll have left to do is say goodnight to my daughter and that's all.
Did you think of taking Vika with you to Los Angeles?
- Such a young child? She was only 3 months old when we left.
So you didn't feed her long.
- I fed her one month and a half. And then work.
You girls are together all the time. What will you do when you get married?
- Julia: We'll all live together. Our husbands will live in one room and I and Lenka in another. (laughs). Yeah, why not! It's true that we can't live without each other!
Bravo Magazine Russia [14.09.05]
The comeback of the long-lost Tatu.
While we and Anton the photographer walked slowly along the podium for sightseeing, a petit girl with short, blond hair ran by us a few times. We continued to wait patiently until we realized that this girl is – Yulia!.. And in a car near by – Lena.
Bravo: Hi. You really got us this time, we looked and didn’t recognize you for 20 minutes.
Julia: Yes, we were waiting for you. I like to change, but not gradually, but rather radically! Besides, it’s almost my natural color, just a bit lighter. Isn’t it awesome?
Yulia really does look good. A year after giving birth, she changed a lot and lost weight. Passers-by hardly recognize her as one of the Tatu girls. We get into the car with a driver, and go on a ride around Moscow. I’m on the front seat, Yulia and Lena are on the back seat.
Bravo: Why did you call the new English album "Dangerous & Moving"?
Julia: The main theme of the album – a big mechanical machine, which does identical pointless actions. It symbolizes everything that is bad in a person. The sum it up, the whole album is about people that are not people anymore. It’s about people-machines. About people that can’t love. All their feelings are mechanical.
The Russian version of the album is titled, "Lyudi Invalidi" [“Disabled people”]. Disabled not in a way that they don’t have arms and legs, but rather disabled emotionally.
Bravo: Don’t you think that the title isn’t very appealing?
Julia: But we are not talking about a physical disability, but only about the moral disabilities - they all have crippled souls.
Bravo: Tell me about the English album. Does it have harsh songs?
Julia: You know, all the song on both the Russian and English albums are more psychological this time ‘round. The new album is more depressing, and differs significantly from the first one. It’s heavier and more serious – this is apparent through the music and the lyrics. It’s not at all Pop.
Bravo: Did you record both albums simultaneously?
Julia: Yes, Russian and English.
Bravo: Julia, you have problems with the language. How did you sing, with a piece of paper?
Julia: If I want, I speak (laughs). Of course, I speak properly now – we lived in the States for half a year, anybody would start speaking, besides I knew some basics already.
Bravo: What about the Russian lyrics, are they the same as the English ones?
Julia: The overall meaning of the lyrics is the same, but some specific descriptions may vary. The English album is the “light” version, so to speak, the lyrics on it are simpler and more easily understood. The Russian album is heavier and harsher.
Bravo: The single "All About Us", despite the name, has very little information about you two.
Julia: No, this song is about all of us. About what’s happening in the whole world, about people, about Lena and I.
Bravo: You handle weapons in the music video for this song. Do you have a license to do so?
Julia: Yes. It was a real weapon. A person was especially brought into the filming studio to show me how to handle the gun, as to prevent anything bad from happening. This person lectured the filming staff for a long time.
Bravo: Me neither. What’s the Russian version of the song?
Julia: Some songs on the Russian album are not on the English album, and vice versa. There are about 3 to 4 different songs.
Bravo: Whose idea was it to make Yulia a prostitute in the video?
Lena: She’s not a prostitute, but a slutty girl.
Yulia: No, Lena, in fact the idea is that I’m a prostitute. In the end everything turned out to be like in real life, because Lena is more serious than I am in real life. She wears suits with a pony tail. And I always look slutty. No, not a prostitute of course. Don’t get any ideas! (Laughs). The video was shot in LA. James Cox directed, he suggested everything. When in comes down to it, “All about us” is an American song, it won’t do it for Russia.
Bravo: By the way, they censored the video in Germany!
Yulia: I don’t think that’ll happen only in Germany. We especially made two versions of the video. One with violence, one without. I doubt the first version will get air play around the world.
We stop for a bite at a café on Tverskaya. Yulia and Lena go there almost every day. All the staff members know the girls. That’s why they let us park in an exclusive spot – right in front of the cafe. Not a car near by. Yulia waves to the security guards, and they, smiling, lift the barrier. Once inside the café, we sit on the sofas on the second floor. Being very hungry, the girls order mushroom soups and sushi. Extra large portions.
Bravo: What is your relationship like now?
Julia: Lena and I are very close friends, partners and sisters. My love each other et cetera. We are like relatives. We know each other for 10 years now! We trust each other completely. Without that there would be no relationship! We don’t envy each other, we are family!
Bravo: Tell me about your personal life?
Yulia: Sometimes I live with my parents, sometimes on my own in my apartment. My daughter has two wonderful nannies, that’s why I don’t worry or torment myself when I leave. But I always terribly miss her. Because everything happens without me! I come home, she can already crawl, then walk when holding hands, then talk. It’s unfortunate, of course. But I can’t do anything about it – my career is very important, and I do it for her, too. But I always leave with a calm soul – the nannies are just very good, they are very close to our family. So I don’t feel aggravated or worried when I’m not home. But I really don’t have enough time. Here I am in Moscow – I constantly have meetings and interviews, I come home late, my daughter is tired, she’s bathed and put to bed.
Bravo: Vika is almost one year old, and you still haven’t shown her to anyone.
Yulia: She’s still so small. When she’s older – I’ll show her!
Bravo: Do you feel like a mother?
Yulia: Of course! Because everything changes psychologically. You get a sense of responsibility and stop doing risky things. You start thinking about your baby, who needs you alive and well.
Bravo: Lena, who do you live with now?
Julia: Like when I come home to mom, I feel so infatuated, I love sleeping at home, everything is so dear to me
Bravo: Yulia, why did you break up with Pasha, Vika’s father?
Julia: At some point we realized that we are different people. That’s why we broke up. We were together for 3 years, we had a baby, became a family, that’s why we are now friends and stay in touch by talking to each other over the phone.
Bravo: Do you stay in touch with Shapovalov?
Yulia: Yes, we see each other occasionally, phone each other. He is doing well. There are rumors that Vanya hit us, made us do things, you know, none of that is true. We always had a friendly relationship. Naturally we had some misunderstandings, but they were resolved quickly. We even broke up on good terms.
'Kommersant.ru' (No.205/П) [2005]
Julia Volkova: We Want Red Square
Before the presentation of the album BORIS BARABANOV met with t.A.T.u. in the office of the company Universal. YULIA VOLKOVA told the correspondent about the subtleties of management. The second participant of the duet, LENA KATINA, tried not to interrupt the friend. - You say that you've become producers yourselves?
- In the past Vanya Shapovalov was with us who solved both political and creative questions. Now that Vanya is no longer there, we certainly have a manager, I'm not gonna negotiate with tour organizers about how much our concerts cost, or carry on negotiations with our record-label. There is the company T.A.Music, which Boris Rensky (co-producer and the first investor of t.A.T.u.), and Lena and I belong to. We have a PR-manager, we have a secretary, we have a heap of people, but nobody makes any decisions without telling us about it. Everyone consults us. We also began to work in sound production ourselves.
- You turned buttons in the studio?
- Yes, we supervised the vocal recordings ourselves, selected parts for the album. Vanya did this before.
- Let's talk about those people who helped you. The manager of the company Interscope Martin Kierszenbaum brought Sting to the studio.
- Not just that. Martin also helped us with pronunciation, he generally conducts negotiations on behalf of t.A.T.u. on the international market. Together with the label, he involved Dave Stewart, Richard Carpenter in the record. In this case, Sting recorded in New York, and we in Los Angeles, therefore the bass-guitar in the song "Friend or Foe" was recorded separately.
- As I understand, he was involved for publicity purposes?
- No, that's not true. We did not really choose Sting, we were simply asked: "Girls, do you want Sting to play for you? " Why not? He could in fact very well have said: "Why should I help these girls? Who are they anyway?" No, he did this with pleasure, said that he wanted to get to know us in the future. Now we have recorded a clip for this song, but Sting is not present in it, our new musicians are filmed there: the drummer, the guitarist and the keyboard player.
- Are they Americans?
- They from are Slovenia, Germany and Australia, but everyone has lived and worked in Los Angeles already for many years. Roman, Sven and Troy, very professional guys. Each of them has their own group. We hired them ourselves, they are completely ours, we are together every evening. Despite many castings with musicians in Moscow, we couldn't find their equals.
- In what way are our musicians fundamentally different from the ones in the West?
- In the desire to work. These guys want to work, they are professionals. Each day they have rehearsals. They want that everything will be better. But Russians, what is it with Russians... Russians need to booze, Russians need to party...
- As far as I know, a photo-session for your album was made by singer Bryan Adams.
- Yes, he photographed us in his house in Paris. As a photographer, he is very professional. The photo-session was trash, half-dirty, half-tattered. That was his idea. I think, of all who photographed us, he is the best.
- Did you talk about musical things with him?
- We sang, danced with him, jumped, shouted, laughed...
- From the Russian authors who recorded the first album with you, now, as I understand, Victor [sic!] Polienko and Sergey Galoyan worked with you again?
- Polienko - our most favourite writer, there is no other like him, we cherish him very much. Galoyan also made some tracks.
- He is probably an expensive writer now. He lives in London, he says that he writes for Jennifer Lopez...
- Oh, who does he write for... He does not write for Jennifer Lopez.
- Did they agree easily?
- Well, how else? It does not happen any other way with us. You do not want it - good-bye.
- Tell us, please, what Russian now remains in t.A.T.u.?
- We are Russian, we speak Russian. For us Moscow is always on the first place. Families are here, friends, my daughter is here.
- When you appeared at the MUZ TV Awards this year, I have to admit, I had the feeling that you did not care at all for the local public.
- We had arrived from America one day before. We were tired, besides the time difference affected us. We did not wish to perform anywhere, neither on the "First Channel" nor on "MUZ TV", nowhere. But they simply begged us. Everybody called.
- Will you tour?
- Yes, in the spring. It will be the big show with which we shall tour across Europe, to America. And we will perform in Russia.
- Where?
- We want Red Square.
- You are rather young girls, but around you so much has happened in the last five years... Is there something you regret? Maybe the story with the image of young lesbians?
- We don't regret anything. In general, it is never necessary to regret anything, whatever happens. Whatever you plan, things turn out differently anyway. It is simply not necessary to make illusions for yourself. There was no image. We always behave the way we want to.
- Is it possible to replace one of you in this project?
- If one of us is replaced, this will no longer be t.A.T.u. We are irreplaceable. And besides the name t.A.T.u. belongs to our company. Everything is serious with us.
Online-Magazin '10musica.com', Argentina [09.12.2005]
t.A.T.u - The Powerpuf Girls
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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. …
Then the song “All the things she said” where you speak of a loving relationship between two girls is representative of you?
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.
'10 Days'-Magazine
Cheeky and Pretty
The Russian group t.A.T.u. - the most phenomenal project in the wide CIS - has published a new album: "Lyudi invalidy" and its international version "Dangerous And Moving".
In connection with this, with the active help of Ukranian Records, we have talked to Yulya Volkova (popularly - the dark) and Lena Katina (the red, respectively) about topics interesting to us. What is the truth in their answers, their impuls, their cheekiness, and what's simply learned phrases, it is up to You to decide.
10 days: Whether it was easy to begin with the new stage?
Julia: We had a whole two years of recovery. Lenka was busy with her study and I was pregnant. What they write about us, it's "pofigu" to us [we don't care]. Generally I don't react to it. People close to us know me, and the press may write what they want. But in our work it's now more creative, more emotions.
10.: Why didn't You go now to the (piar)?
Julia: Yes, we never do, and we didn't go to some specific (piar). Everything what we do are our personal wishes. Vanya never could have forced us to do something we didn't want. We are no product, we are people of arts. To us it's not so important to sell more albums. I never count the money with Lena, we may appear in a concert for free, only to make people happy. For us success is important, the love of the fans, but anything else - not our subject. This is why we are so successfull.
We do only what we want. If we want, we go, if we want, we dance, if we want, we don't come. Those who don't know us closer, don't understand us, they think we are (too) ambitious and affected. But when we didn't come to the concert, there were probably reasons. You have to see us as we are. ***And those, who simply chop off (babki - ?women?), fans feel this very much.***[Sorry, no clue about the meaning],
10: Why din't You appear at the concert? Against the agreement?
Julia: Okay, there are some circumstances, and finally we have some selfrespect, too. But we try not to break our word to him. They told about us, that t.A.T.u. is allowed to cheat. It's not this way.
10: You didn't get more reserved now?
Julia: I think we are reserved in any case. We simply don't like crudity and rudeness, and it's not necessary to impose his views upon us. We know his opinion, we know by ourselves, how to do it better, at which time and with whom. We don't interfere with his world-view nor anybodies. We don't like it - it's not necessary.
10: But in a few years - how do You see yourselves?
Julia: No chance! That means we don't reflect. I for myself live today and I don't plan the future. I don't like thinking over and dreaming. That's not me. I prefer to live in reality. I had the goal to become an actress , to play piano, to move forward. I have achieved that.
10: All girls simply sing about love. Why don't You?
Julia: Together with Lena I write poems about love, too, but for us personally. In our album there is much about different thoughts, which are expressed by our remarkable author Valeri. His texts match with our lives so closely that sometimes it seems that he is an extrasensitive.
10: You are the most successfull project from the CIS in the west. Did it rub off you somehow?
Julia: I don't know, I don't observe the global changes on me, nor on Lenka. Of course, we began to earn other money, but in general, I don't care, I don't stand out through such material things. There is no fundamental meaning for me to walk only with bodyguards or to drive only "Mercedes". If it will be necessary - buy. And if it's not, then why? I have simple friends who ride the common "9" or "Zhiguliah", I don't mind to ride with them. I don't rush behind the money, because they would run away from you.
10: You have a trash-version of the video-clip with brains and blood on the wall...
Julia: Oh, it's on the first places in the charts! In the night they are allowed to show the clip with the brains on the wall, but at daytime, and in whole Europe it is forbidden to show this, although it is strange. Why can they show violence live and the programme "Street patrol" let alone, how people kill in reality? Why do they fear to show our clip? And what's to fear, we act in the reality, we don't do anything unreal. On the contrary, we try to tellyoung people the facts. I showed the good example in this clip, when everything ended in violence and the man began to beat me and I killed him in self-defence. It's an example for girls not to do such tupid things because of ambitions. People don't want it to be seen. It's stupid of course, but we don't pay attention to it. We don't care - we have two versions. We show the other.
10: Earlier, did getting adult give You the feeling of freedom?
Julia: I was always free.
10: Julia, tell us, is it easy to be a famous mommy at the same time with such an image?
Julia: To me it's easy. And to Vika it should be as well. At least I will do anything for that.
10: Madonna regrets many things she did in her youth. What will You say to Your daughter, when questions arise from her?
Julia: There is nothing I want to change, as far as everything goes on like it is. It's life and reality. When Vika grows up, I will show her everything and explain, I will tell everything how it has been. She will understand everything. I'm grateful to my mom in many things for my career, she devoted her time to me during my childhood, brought me to music, helped to comprehend the piano pieces. Above all every child has brains and it is not necessary to (train) it. Parents should not damage the relationship to the children, reciting notations, otherwise they may perceive them as opponents. My parents didn't as well. Of course they said, this and that is bad, and when I understood why, I obeyed. I had a complicated transitional period of age under the motto "Don't interfere with my life". I got a lot of bumps, and only just then I came to realize that my parents were right. But as long as the child does not go through something on their own, you cannot prove anything. But it's not desirable to lose the amicable contact. I will try to explain Vika, how I went through it on my own, but when she wants to experience everything, I will not shout or forbid. It may be better to share even the worst with me than with other people. And she does not fear to tell something. I must be her friend. I will understand, I have been this way on my own - terribly obstinate, (stumbled) in any bad story, because I wanted to go through everything on my own.
10: They didn't yet offer You to model with the little one for the press?
Julia: Of course they did, but I don't do it at the moment, I think it's not necessary to take photographs from the little child. But in the future... why not.
'Tribu Move' (October 2005)
Victims of labels, prejudice, and intolerance, the most controversial duo in pop history is coming back!
When Tribu Move presented the duo "lesbopop, trash, and sex" t.A.T.u. in november 2002, we never thought that Yulia Volkova (brunette) and Lena Katina (hot redhead) would become the most controversial artists in pop history since the SM gay band Frankie Goes To Hollywood! Their electro-pop-rock fusion would convert the world to the t.A.T.u. sound: in France, "All The Things She Said" sold 500,000 copies (#1 in the chart), "Not Gonna Get Us" was in the top 10, and their album "200km/h In The Wrong Lane" went double gold with 200,000 sales. Their album sold 5.5 million copies worldwide. After that, it's rumors after rumors, gossips after gossips… Everything has been said and written about t.A.T.u.: Are they lesbians or not? Former best friends and now worst enemies? Yulia dumped Lena for a guy? They are not lesbians since Yulia got a baby?… To wipe away all those prejudice, labels, and intolerance they have been the victims of, just like gays and lesbians, here's a true and honest interview to finally know the truth, the all truth and nothing but the truth! They have just put their own story in music and pictures in their new album "Dangerous and Moving". It will be out on 31 October as a regular CD and a limited edition including a DVD with the making of "All About Us", a remix kit to remix 2 tracks yourself, and a great poster. As a matter of fact, their new single and video "All About Us" is more than ever autobiographical! "All About Us" has been released in 2 Maxi Singles with many remixes from Dave Aude (Madonna, Anastacia, The Pussycat Dolls), Stephane K and Guena LG (Kylie, Britney, Gwen Stefani), the permanent D.J of Glam As You. t.A.T.u. has chosen this event to launch their new album in France.
New look, new album, new manager. What's different in the 2005 t.A.T.u. compared to the previous one?
Julia: It's been a deep and radical change: we've simply grown up, matured and we see life differently. So our music has evolved accordingly…
The line-up of "Dangerous and Moving" is very "Hollywood"! You worked with the famous English producer Trevor Horn again (Propaganda, The Art Of Noise, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Simple Minds, Grace Jones, Seal…), but what can you tell us about the guests?
Julia: For the recording of this album, we moved for 6 months to Los Angeles. But the biggest challenge was to learn English! (laughs) We only had basic notions from school. To communicate with others, we had to practice the language a lot.
"Loves Me Not" is going to be the new anthem of the gay and lesbian community. In the song, you say: "He loves me - He loves me not - She loves me - She loves me not". Is that a new provocation?
Julia: Actually, you should lie down on the sofa and we may begin the consultation. I'm sure you have plenty of things to tell us about your private life! (laughs) That's what we did! We examined each other and when we discovered what we were suffering from, we realized that we weren't the only ones and that the entire planet suffers from the same problems! It's time to react, so we must change and move… Hence the title of the album "Dangerous and Moving".
Is that the reason why in the AAU video we can see newspapers headlines saying: "Are they lesbians or not?", "Former friends become worst enemies?"…
Julia: Absolutely, we wanted to destroy idees recues and cliches! It's a parody of what really happened to us.
I'm going to ask you the controversial question: Was your video for ATTSS where you kiss each other deeply done as a marketing ploy? To shock people and make the media talk about you to sell more records?
Julia: When we kissed each other, we did it with our guts. We love each other a lot and we were dating at some point. We don't play with people and our feelings. At the moment we both have boyfriends, but tomorrow we may have girlfriends. It doesn't matter!
When we shot the ATTSS video and that kiss, we were talking about love, no matter if it's two boys, two girls, or a boy and a girl. When you're a teenager, you don't know what's right or wrong yet, you don't ask yourself questions like: Is this normal? Is it right? You follow your heart and emotions! This video has helped teenagers who were trying to understand themselves. We are always asked: Are you lesbians or not? But we are never asked the good questions: Did this video make homophobia decrease? Did it make people realize that love between persons of the same sex is normal? Did it help lost teenagers who thought they were abnormal, isolated, without any support and couldn't talk about it with their parents and family? No, we are never asked those questions! Never!
Is this new album autobiographical?
Julia: Absolutely! Through our own story, we reach out to others. We are surrounded by people with no feelings and no souls! That must change! Being open is the key: being open minded, open to others… Let's open our hearts!
In the AAU video directed by James Cox (director of "Wonderland"), you have an amazing look!
Julia: Darling, we went everywhere in Beverly Hills to find our outfits for the video! We did not like what the stylists were offering us, so one morning we went shopping… (laughs) I think our credit cards still remember it because we went a bit overboard… (big laughs) I'm a fashion addict! I'm totally addicted, i think i need to go into rehab. (laughs) I read all the women's fashion magazines, i watch Fashion TV, i'm interested in everything i wear. I'd like to design clothes, personalize them and create my own brand.
I need a dress, could you design it for me and i'll wear it?
Julia: (big laughs) No problem!
You seem to have a strong relationship with your fans?
Julia: In Russia, we have a group of hardcore fans who have become our friends. They come home to drink and eat, we talk for hours about the latest news about t.A.T.u.
