Fierce brunette Julia Volkova and sprightly redhead Lena Katina are Eastern Europe's most popular musical exports. In the age of 24/7 televised entertainment, you've likely caught a glimpse (or quite more) of these Russian pop-sensations and full-time mess-with-your-expectations media mavens. During t.A.T.u.'s short five years together, the two diminutive, talented beauties have caused one hell of a worldwide ruckus, routinely playing to audiences of 50,000 fans and selling more than 5 million copies of their debut album, 200 km/h in the Wrong Lane. Infamously, they refused to perform at the World Music Awards unless provided with real guns. Explains Lena, "We wanted real machine-guns, but they didn't give us, so we wouldn't perform, that simple."
Brazenly, after promising not to kiss on the Tonight Show, they engaged in a long, passionate wet one-- much to the alarm of anxious network censors, (and well before Britney and Madonna's little stunt, ahem). And yet, when expected to do the same on Jimmy Kimmel, they deliberately offered not so much as a sweet peck on the cheek. Why? Explains Julia, "Basically, because we like to do what we want. A lot of people are, like, 'you shouldn't do this, you shouldn't do that, you shouldn't behave in this way.' But you know what? Actually for us, we are the way that we are, and we don't really live in fear of anybody. So, if we behave in a certain way, then that's just actually the way we are." Indeed, in a world of prefabricated and stridently scripted entertainers, these girls know who they are and do exactly what they want. Through their music and live performances, t.A.T.u. present themselves as they genuinely are- artistically, intellectually, and sexually progressive young women in control of their careers and open to all that life has to offer. When speaking with Julia and Lena, their personal and artistic truths are commendably clear (if not a bit intimidating)-- t.A.T.u. are afraid of no one, they share an enormous passion for singing and performance, and perhaps most admirable of all- the only people they feel responsible to are their t.A.T.u. fans. Beyond that, they don't care about expectations or inhibitions. "Sometimes we have been asked to do things that have been uncomfortable," Lena recounts, "but for us, ultimately, t.A.T.u. is our project. I think that we have to do it in a way that is conducive to us, that we are comfortable with. If we're going to do things just because other people are telling us to, then we're just going to get lost. We have an instinct about what to do, and how to sing, and I think that usually when people are told what to do, it doesn't happen necessarily in a good way." Adds Julia, "So we stay natural, just how we are."
Yes, these best friends and musical partners are in lock-step solidarity with one another, which is exactly what the new album Dangerous and Moving is all about. Crafted with the help of various producers, Dangerous and Moving features collaborations and guest appearances from a handful of the pop world's most legendary performers. Indeed, so estimable is t.A.T.u.'s pop-cultural cache, than no less an artist than Sting plays bass on the Dave Stewart (The Eurythmics) co-penned track "Friend or Foe."
As well, the album's elegant string arrangements are provided by Richard Carpenter (one-half of legendary 70's orchestral-pop icons The Carpenters). Here you will find eleven powerful, passionate tracks dedicated to sharing personal truths and expressing a fearless love of life. Dangerous and Moving is an album filled with high-energy club tracks and sweeping ballads that will have old and new fans alike dancing, laughing, singing, and making love.
As for the whole 'Are they or aren't they lesbians' question? Well, there is no better answer than t.A.T.u's own words on the matter. "Our first video was about love between two girls. Love, just love. We do not pretend to be lesbians, we've never said we were" Lena states matter-of-factly, "Julia just had a baby, and we both have always had boyfriends. We share a special bond. We don't like labels for emotions. People should not be forced to define their feelings. These are natural and cannot be labeled." Adds Julia with a smile, "It doesn't matter. It is not important to our fans. And if it is to the rest of the world, we do not care. We are all different and that's great. Everybody has their own story, their own way of dealing with people, and shaping their own lives. Basically, look, see, hear, listen, and learn."
Julia Volkova was born in the family of a successful businessman in Moscow on February 20th, 1985. At the age of 7, parallel to the ordinary school, Julia entered a music school, piano class. When she was 9, Julia became a member of the famous children vocal and instrumental group "Neposedy" (Naughty Children). At the casting Julia sang Russian folk song "Oy, to ne vecher". In a year, Lena Katina became a member of "Neposedy" as well, and soon Julia and Lena became best friends. When she was 11, Julia switched the ordinary school where she studied for the school fostering artistic talents. Three years later she leaves "Neposedy" to pass the casting and join musical project Tatu in which Lena Katina had already been in. At the age of 15, Julia enters vocal department of Gnessin's State Musical College and simultaneously becomes famous as a soloist of Tatu duo. In 2004 she had a baby. Now she is 20.
Lena Katina was born in Moscow on October 04th, 1984 in the family of the famous musician - Sergey Katin - who collaborated with "Dyuna", Marina Khlebnikova and other representatives of Russian show-business. Starting from being 4 years old, Lena began, on her father's initiative, to attend various sport and music clubs for the purpose of fostering plastic arts and artistic talents. When she was seven, Lena entered an ordinary school and within a year she entered music school, piano class. When she was ten, she became a soloist of the famous children group "Avenue" where she sang for 3 years. When she was 13, Lena became a member of vocal and instrumental group "Neposedy" (Naughty Children) where she met Julia Volkova with whom she became friends. At the casting, she sang a song in Spanish and the jury were astonished by the quality of her voice. Soon Lena left the group due to her age - children sing in "Neposedy" up to 14 years old. At the age of 15 she successfully passed the casting for the musical project which was later named "Tatu". Later on, another girl joined the project - Julia Volkova who turned out to be at the second position according to the casting results, right after Lena.
LINKS:
http://www.tatu.ru
http://www.tatugirls.com
Members of the band:
FELONi is a radical hip-hop recording artist born and raised in Detroit, MI. She also spent some of her elementary years growing up in Dothan, Alabama. At age 16, FELONi began writing and rapping in her bedroom. She would also write prose and poetry in an attempt to release the internal anger she housed for many years since childhood. FELONi's mother was always on the run as a victim of domestic violence. As a result, FELONi often changed schools and neighborhoods. To help her deal with the daily turmoil and conflicts within her home, prose, poetry and hip-hop became FELONi's refuge for venting anger and frustration, ultimately rebuilding a stronger sense of self-renewal and determination.
Canadian Recording Artist - Nancy Rancourt, is well known for her In Your Face & On Your Plate 'Cross-Genre-Music', including saucy dance tracks, such as 'She'd Rather' from her Skin & Bone CD, and more recently with her new single 'Rely on Simple', which has been released to commercial radio across Canada this summer.
