Sergey_Lazarev's Xanga

Sergey Lazarev exclusive interview

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 11:14:53 GMT

Sergey Lazarev is without a doubt one of the most successful singers in Russia today. Before going solo, Sergey, a multi-talented singer, dancer and actor, started out in a band called Neposedi which also included Julia and Lena who later formed Tatu.

He then went on to form pop duo, Smash!! with childhood friend Vlad Topalov. They were signed by Universal Music Russia, had five Number 1 hits, airplay on MTV Russia, numerous awards and millions of copies were sold in Russia, CIS and South East Asia.

Sergey debut solo album on Be Fake?/STRONG>, released in Russia, instantly sold more than 300,000 copies which led to the prestigious Russian National Music TV Channel MUZ TV Award as est New Act?in 2006.

After having recent success in the UK club charts, Sergey is now set to release his latest single, verytime?/A> on December 3rd, 2007 in the UK.

Sergey was gracious enough to take some time out for this exclusive interview with me for BandWeblogs.com.

Jenny May: Can you tell us about your latest single, verytime? How it came to be your next UK release?

Sergey: verytime?is the second single from my new album. The first single hattered Dreams?is very dynamic, so I wanted the next one to be kind of sad, and especially the fall is the time of the year that has something melancholic about it in the air. But the remixes of verytime?will make everyone jump up.

Do you write your songs? If so, what is your song writing process like? Or if not - how do you select your songs?

I have lots of ideas about music, the ways it should sound, its concepts and creativity, but as for writing music it kind of difficult for me so farhat why the songs for me are written by professionals. But I always take an active part in the process.

Who are your musical influences?

There are many artists whose work I respect and I listen to their songs a lot. I have over 100 cds of different artists and music styles in my car. What I really like are the artists who make an incredible and bright show out of their performance on stage. I respect and admire artists who have a lot to say by their work, real leaders, artists who are not afraid of experiments and radical changes?/P>
What are your views on western music?

I think that Russian music and show business in general have a lot to learn and to look up at think there such a massive stream of new music coming and it very hard for young artists to make their ways without the support of a serious big label. And the audience is becoming very picky - it very hard to surprise it with something.

Have you toured the UK and/or the US? Do you have any plans for a large scale tour?

I have this idea in my future plans. But there so much to be done before I go on a big tour. So far I have a lot of concerts around Russia and other neighboring countries. I have a perfect team of dancers and musicians from Britain with me. And of course my dream is to perform with my new show in Britain.

Do you keep in touch with your old Neposedi band mates, Julia and Lena (who went on to form Tatu)?

Of course we do. We are good old friends. Julia and I are very closelways supporting and helping each other. She is like a sister to me.

What is your favorite style of music?

As for me, the right style of music is the one which is best to your mood and situation at a specific moment?/P>
Do you have plans to act in more projects in the future? If so, what?

I have taken part in many projects in my life - different TV projects as well as contests. The last two of them were Dancing on Ice, where I took the 2nd prize and Circus with the Stars, where I was the winner. I used to spend lots of time training and as you can see the results speak for themselves. But at the moment I am 100% in music.

Do you prefer to act or sing?

I just love being on stage feel totally comfortable there. I remember myself singing since childhood and I can imagine my life without music at all. Music under my skiny the way, the song with the same title is in my new album.

How and/or why did you start singing and performing?

Since childhood I was a very energetic kid: was doing something, jumping, running around all the time - and never had a minute of rest. When I turned 6 years old my parents took me to a sports school, but because of the injury I got, I had to leave professional sport at the age of 8. But except for being a very sportive child I was good at singing, that why after I had to quit gymnastics, I started taking vocal classesnd since then I have been singing?/P>
Since you started in the music business at a young age, what are your feelings about child stars and do you think youe coped well in the business?

It is obvious that it is very hard to be in the centre of everybody attention since a very young age. At a certain point you are getting used to being very successful and it hard to surprise you with anything, and you start to want more and more, which you don get all the time, as success is a very unsteady thing, so sooner or later you start lacking it. Then the panic starts, sometimes you get depressed, you don know what to do and which way to go. I have been through that. At a moment like that, it is very important that your close friends and your family are with you - they can always help you to go through hard times.

Do you prefer the recording process or performing live?

I really enjoy recording songs at the studio. But there nothing compared to a live concert. I love touring. And now when I have an incredible team of dancers and musicians that I work together with - it is even more exciting!!!

source: http://bandweblogs.com/blog/2007/11/12/sergey-lazarev-exclusive-interview/

EQ Interviews Russian Sensation Sergey Lazarev

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 11:07:11 GMT

So if you haven't noticed, I have been going on and on (probably a little too much) about how much I love Sergey Lazarev's music and it shouldn't come as no surprise to you that I bugged the heck out of him for a little interview in which he finally conceded and took some time to chat with me in the middle of his busy touring schedule.

You should know that Sergey is one of Russia's biggest superstars who has his sights set on crossover success and I probably won't stop talking about him until he's as big as let's say, Paolo Nutini. Call me obsessed, call me an uber fan now - it's all good. Just make sure you get your hands on as much of his great pop music as you can. Download 'Shattered Dreams' right now and check out his brand new (and somewhat comical take on fame) pop-tastic video to 'TV or Radio' below. Enjoy EQs!

Hello Sergey and welcome to EQ. So tell us, what made you decide to cover 'Shattered Dreams' by Johnny Hates Jazz? It's a rather brilliant cover version of a song needing resurrection if you ask us!
Thanks, I really appreciate your opinion! I covered it after I heard a dance demo of it and I really liked the track... and decided - why not?!

Any plans to do any promo in the UK? We'd love to see you perform on our little island...
I did a couple of performances there already, but mainly for Russian audiences. I will definitely come back in the end of this year or beginning of 2008.

Well, count us in if you're visiting! Is it true you used to be in a band with Tatu?
Yes, Julia and Lena are old friends of mine, especially Julia. We met when we were 10 years old and sang in a children's band called "Neposedi" - its like a Russian version of the Mickey Mouse club.

We also heard you used to be in a boyband called Smash!! in Russia...Are Russian teenage girls as crazy for boybands as they are here in the UK?
Yes, Smash!! started my career in pop music. For three years I sang together with my childhood friend Vlad Topalov. It was a lot of fun, we were very popular and girls indeed went nuts for us! Unfortunately it was not very satisfying in terms of finances - for thirty shows a month I used to get something like 1000 pounds. I didn't care at first, but then lots of other unpleasant things came along after that... so I decided to split and go alone.

Good decision if you ask us. Now 'Fake' is an absolute gem of a pop song that we somehow missed along the way - what was it like filming the very wet video for this song?
When we shot this video, it was boiling hot outside - something that happens very rarely in England, but I was lucky I guess - I was actually pretty happy to be wet and the girls in the video had a lot of fun as well!

I bet they did! So tell us about your last album 'TV Show'. Is there a theme going on? Can we get this album if we want to give it a whirl here in the UK or America?
I am not sure you can buy the album outside of Russia for now. There is a theme, connected to a bunch of TV shows that I took part in - the biggest of them was "Dancing on Ice" where I took 2nd place, and "Circus With The Stars", where I won! There as aspects of those performances that are going to be reflected in my live show...

Oh really! Very curious about that! Now, you obviously have a thing about your hair. How long does it take to style those lovely locks of yours?
Actually its my hair stylist who has a thing for my hair! I myself would never change it at all if she wasn't telling me all the time - "lets try this, lets try that"... another great thing about her is that I don't have to worry about my hair at all - I wash it and that's it.

'Everytime' is such a beautiful piece of pop perfection. Can you tell EQ readers what's this song about? Did you have fun filming the video for this one?
'Everytime' was recorded when I wasn't feeling too happy. Its actually about a broken relationship. The video for this song is the only one of my videos that's actually made in Russia. It was pretty tiring to shoot it because we had to do it at night because of my busy schedule.

Great - that's it. Thanks for chatting with us Sergey and we do hope to get to see you live at some point - we wish you the very best and hope you won't be a stranger to our little pop/electro blog. Any parting words for our EQ readers?
Thanks so much for your support. I hope I won't disappoint you in the future! Best luck and love to all!

And thank you Mr. Lazarev...let's take a look at your new video to 'TV or Radio' shall we...

More Sergey Lazarev on EQ
Sergey Lazarev video vault on EQ

source: http://zxlcreative.blogs.com/electroqueer/2007/10/eq-interviews-r.html

09 October, 2007 14:00 The Far East will not see TV SHOW

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 08:42:26 GMT

Greetings to all!!
We have successfully begun tour round TV with October, 1st show, every day the new city, every day the new spectator, every day a new unforgettable concert! Has already passed(has already taken place) 7 concerts and I can tell to you, that I am very happy(am) with show, all musicians and dancers, happy(enough) with myself. Show has turned out, it is already obvious. Spectators somewhere are shocked, somewhere are surprised, but all of them is very positive and with admiration speak about it(this) SHOW. SUCH was not! COMPLETELY the ALIVE SOUND charges tremendous power and it is pleasant to me to realize, that together with me kajfuet all auditorium... Unfortunately, the Far East and will not see it(this) show. Organizers of concerts in the Far East have put beshenno dear(expensive) prices for tickets (2500 thousand rub) and people wishing to go on a concert were simply not in a condition to pay SUCH money. To us called from cities and complained of such prices, for organizers, spoke, that huge quantity(amount) of admirers call in cash departments, with horror learn(find out) about the price of tickets and with tears on eyes do not buy tickets. As a result, organizers the decision to not spend these concerts was accepted... For us it was full unexpectedness and a shock as all my group has been very adjusted(has been set very up) on these concerts, we were in a way, we very much wished to show TV SHOW IN the FAR EAST. Alas! It(This) will not occur(happen)! Excuse, the Far East! Excuse, my favourite fan? we have made all that could to arrive!!
Yours faithfully, I and all my group... TV SHOW....

P.S. Thanks everyone who was at concerts Tv show!!!! Support was excellent(different)! super!!

Moving to London

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 06:26:19 GMT

sergey lazarev might buy a flat/house in london and might be moving to london. This is because not only he loves london but because for the past 3 years he has been moving from russia to london to do his album and stuff.
and another reason is that he has a lot of friends in the UK and he enjoys the life in london.
so all you fans out there who live in UK you will be seeing sergey soon!

source here: http://z6.invisionfree.com/SergeyLazarevAmerica/index.php?showtopic=124&st=0&#entry11572187

Sunday, August 05, 2007

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 04:24:52 GMT
see, with xangazon, now you can tell ppl about sergey's single in uk!
go and check it out!

Sergey 17 July 2007

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 02:30:05 GMT

Chances are youe never heard of a certain Sergey Lazarev. In his homeland of Russia, however, he known in the business called show as a star of some considerable wattage. Starting out as an actor in prominent theatre productions in Moscow, he quickly garnered a strong rep as The Next Big Thing. From there, he followed the familiar rising star road to multimedia success and decided to try his luck at that pop star malarkey, first as a member of the band Neposedi (which also hatched the pseudo-Sapphic twosome Tatu) and then as one half of the duo Smash!

Now solo, he bidding for world domination and is propelling himself into the increasingly cluttered and competitive global music market with his debut effort outside Russia, hattered Dreams? out on 16 July - hence doing the press promo rounds.

Trouble is my Russian is limited to ordering vodka and I wager his English isn Oxford Uni standard and an interpreter has been despatched to sit in and help with the flow of bon mots, which could make for the most awkward threesome since Adam, Eve and the apple and we all know what happened there.

As it turns out, I needn have worried as Sergey is friendly, charming and, even though he keeps apologising for it, his English would shame most of us monolingual Brits. The interpreter only interjects the odd word or phrase as well as adding a dash of Bond villain to proceedings.

So as Sergey embarks on brave new musical worlds, he tells us what it like to be mega-famous in Russia, how he feels about being a sex symbol and why he wants to be the next Robbie Williams.

After having had so much success in Russia, how are you feeling about launching your pop career in the UK?
To be honest, I really, really nervous. I so nervous because it very difficult to break through. It hard to get new fans, to get people to take notice basically. It like starting out all over again - like being back at the beginning of my career in a way.

It difficult because in my country I have so much success and fame it strange to come here and nobody knows who I am and you have to really fight to get your music noticed. Over here, I nobody [laughs.]

As it so hard to launch a successful pop career, why did you want to come to the UK to aim for chart success?
Basically, it because Britain has such an exciting music scene. There are a lot of good quality artists here. Actually a lot of music around the world is influenced by what going on musically in Britain and I think that why British music is so well-respected so I wanted maybe to be a part of that. Also, I want my music to be heard in other countries and not just inside Russia.

 won an award last year for Best Sex Symbol in Russia, or something like that, and it was very flattering, but you can take these things too seriously. But everyone likes to be told they look nice, no? I don think I anything special, though.?/FONT>

With that in mind, how would you describe your sound to anyone who hasn heard it?
It definitely pop music, but very high-quality pop music. It mixes R&B with dance with sometimes even hip-hop. I like lots of different types of music myself so I want my music to reflect different styles and influences.

Who are your musical influences then?
I like Robbie Williams. I love to have a career like him and he makes music that I really think is high-quality pop. I love to be like him, actually. I like Justin Timberlake. Madonna I like, too. I really like Keane at the moment and Coldplay so I like lots of different sorts of music. What I listen to depends very much on my mood really.

Have you always wanted to be a pop star?
I always wanted to be an artist of some sort. I started to sing when I was eight and now I 24 so all my life really Ie been singing and performing so much so I have no idea what I could do in life if I couldn perform.

So if you weren a pop star you couldn imagine doing any other career?
When I was six, I went to sports school so maybe I could have been a gymnast or something like that, but now I too old [laughs.] I can imagine doing an ordinary job, though; it would have to something that involved performance of some kind.

How would describe the pop scene in Russia compared with other countries around the world?
It different a little bit over there because it more experimental and progressive in a sense. In Russia, there are a lot of exciting new artists becoming well-known and theye making some great music that I hope one day will get more attention from the rest of the world.

In Russia youe very famous; what do you like and dislike about fame?
Well, it funny but when youe so well-known you can even walk around, just go for a walk like everyone else, so since Ie become popular I have to drive everywhere. I can just leave my house and go shopping like normal people. I spend all my days in a car which can get a bit boring. That why I enjoying being in London so much: I can just take a walk around the city if I want.

The positive side of fame is I get to do what Ie wanted to do all my life. And I do love being an artist; I love the touring - live performance is very special because you get to see your audience enjoying themselves - making videos, doing interviews like this [I think this last one might be a lie, but very sweet nonetheless], I like to meet my fans. I enjoy all aspects of being a pop star. There are only a few negative things about being famous.

In Russia] I have so much success and fame it strange to come here and nobody knows who I am and you have to really fight to get your music noticed. Over here, I nobody.?/FONT>

You took part in the Russian version of Dancing On Ice. How did that come about?
Well, the producers asked me and I just thought it was a good opportunity to try something different, to perhaps challenge myself by doing something new. Also, I wanted to learn how to ice-skate but had never gotten round to it; I never had the time, I suppose.

The show is very big in Russia so it was a good way to introduce myself to a whole new audience because mostly it younger people who listen to my music but doing the show made new audiences aware of me and what I doing as an artist. I discovered a new side of myself as well because it really pushed me in a new way. And I came second, which isn bad, no?

You say doing Dancing On Ice changed your fan base. How would you describe your average fan?
Like I said, it definitely younger kids, teenagers generally, but it is split quite equally between guys and girls. After appearing on Dancing On Ice, though, Ie noticed there are people of different ages coming to my shows so I think my fans have become broader.

What it like to be a sex symbol?
[Laughs] That not for me to say really, but of course it a nice compliment. I don know, it strange, but I don think of myself that way, for sure. I won an award last year for Best Sex Symbol in Russia, or something like that, and it was very flattering, but you can take these things too seriously. But everyone likes to be told they look nice, no? I don think I anything special, though.

Which, actually isn true because I think in an industry where egos run more rampant than most, his attitude is wholly refreshing and I wouldn bet against him translating his home grown Russian success into transnational appeal. Sergey may not believe he anything special, but he has the charm, the looks, the talent and, most importantly, the drive to get the job done.

So, there you have it. You heard it here first: Sergey Lazarev, the next pop star is born.

If you want to find out more about Sergey or get a sneak preview of the video for his debut UK single, Shattered Dreams, out now, visit www.sergeymusic.co.uk

By: Jason Jones (http://www.rainbownetwork.com/Music/detail.asp?iData=28102&iChannel=17&nChannel=Music)

In the Spotlight

Sat, 21 Jul 2007 04:03:45 GMT

*sorry for kinda old news again*

The tabloids are having a good time with "Dances on Ice." Zhizn reported that pop star Sergei Lazarev was in agony after doing the splits.

By Anna Malpas
Published: August 25, 2006

After a Russian version of the British show "Strictly Come Dancing" proved a hit with its formula of famous people learning to dance, television bosses took an imaginative leap and commissioned shows in which famous people learned to figure skate.

Unfortunately, two different channels had the same idea. The result is that Rossia began broadcasting a show called "Dances on Ice" last Sunday, while Channel One is due to launch "Stars on Ice" on Sept. 2.

It's an unfortunate situation that could perhaps only occur in Russia, where there are so many skating champions available as partners for celebrities that, quite possibly, no one was even double-booked.

The show on Channel One is going right to the top for its professional competitors: The channel's web site says that all five of Russia's gold medalists at the last Winter Olympics will take part, as well as Irina Slutskaya, who won bronze. So no pressure, then, for their celebrity partners, who will include pop singer Glyukoza and jazz musician Igor Butman.

The show now running on Rossia is a remake of Britain's "Dancing on Ice," which was something of a remake itself, having been inspired by the success of "Strictly Come Dancing." Rossia's show is hosted by actress Anastasia Zavorotnyuk, who does a lot of scripted repartee -- while showing a lot of cleavage for an ice-rink event -- and veteran host Yury Nikolayev, who is more the straight man.

In charge of training the celebrities are Olympic champions Natalya Bestemyanova and Andrei Bukin, while the professional skaters who get paired up with them include former world figure-skating champion Maria Butyrskaya. The jury has one non-professional judge: Nikolai Tsiskaridze, a top dancer at the Bolshoi.

The celebrity competitors vary in their level of fame. The most enduringly famous participant is probably Tatyana Dogileva, an actress who became well-known in the 1980s and recently starred in a sitcom called "Lyuba, Children, Factory." Others include singer and actress Lada Dens, rocker Sergei Galanin and actor Pyotr Krasilov, who played the boss' sidekick in the smash-hit sitcom "Don't Be Born Beautiful."

The only pair to score a perfect 6.0 in the first episode was that of pop star Sergei Lazarev and obscure figure skater Anastasia Grebenkina, who skated for Armenia at the Turin Olympics -- although Krasilov's pair did an impressive turn to music from the "Pulp Fiction" soundtrack. Since ice rinks aren't exactly rare in Russia, it was sometimes hard to believe the wobbling and falling-over montages shown before each number, but at least they looked more authentic than the scenes where the participants cooled down with the soft drink that sponsors the show.

Tabloids are having a good time with "Dances on Ice." The newspaper Zhizn has already run stories about the professional who refuses to work with her lazy celeb partner (Butyrskaya, who partners with the rocker Galanin) and the amusing sports injury (Lazarev was in agony after doing the splits, the paper reported).

Also in the news this week was the filming of yet another show about celebrities learning a new skill: this time, singing. Media reports say that star journalist Leonid Parfyonov, who was fired from NTV's current-affairs show "Namedni" in 2004, is making his television comeback by hosting a show on Channel One called "Two Stars," which features singers training celebrities to perform duets with them.

The new project -- which sounds similar to a show called "Celebrity Duets" created by Simon Cowell -- got off to a bad start when Parfyonov broke a bone in his foot by falling off the stage on the first day of filming, and the whole thing has been postponed for at least a month. At least he won't have to do any ice-skating.

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Sat, 21 Jul 2007 03:50:45 GMT
see, TV Show is now available for the xangazon
add it to your currently listening to show your friends that u r listening to sergey's new album!

Sergey Lazarev Album Release Today!

Sat, 21 Jul 2007 03:48:23 GMT

*sorry for kinda old news*

The ever popular song, "Almost Sorry" has been recorded by Euro Super Star Sergey Lazarev. The artist has achieved International success with over 5 #1 singles, millions of records sold, and an array of prestigious awards including his recent nod as Best Male Artist / MTV Russia. He intends to release both the ballad version and the dance mix in 2 different languages. The album is due out May 10th, and "AS" has secured it's place as the second single/video scheduled for later this summer. The tracks were produced by hit maker Brian Rawling the man behind Cher's, "I Believe" as well as hits by Enrique Iglesias, Kylie Monogue, Britney Spears and more. We'll keep you posted!

5 readers will win Sergey albums, singles and signed photos. From Russia with love...

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 23:53:53 GMT

Sergey Lazarev, the latest musical sensation from Russia, is unleashed on the UK this month. Russian superstar Sergey first commercially available single, the rework of the Jonny Hates Jazz classic Shattered Dreams, is released on Style Records, Monday 16 July 2007 and to celebrate, we have a selection of Sergey merchandise to give away to five lucky readers.

Sergey is one of the biggest music artists since Tatu to emerge from Russia. He started his career at an early age, singing in Loktev's children's choir in Russia. From this point on, music has been the most important thing in his life. When he was 14 he was already receiving his first musical awards.

Sergey Lazarev's Shattered Dreams is released on Style Records on 16 July 2007.
Visit: www.sergeymusic.co.uk for more information on Sergey and to watch the video online.

source: http://www.nowmagazine.co.uk/competitions/?id=2080