Gayana Boytsova: “I want to be not just a background, but to convey something important to people. Gayana Boytsova: “I want to be not just a background, but to convey something important to people

29.05.2015 16:11

Gayana Boytsova: “I want to be not just a background, but to convey something important to people”

Fragile and petite Gayana Boitsova (the frontwoman of the English-speaking Russian band Gayana) has a deep and sensual voice that gives you goosebumps (in a good way). This was also felt by those who came to the recent one, which the group just opened. Gayana captivates not only with a sincere attitude to her work, but also with her dissimilarity to the plastic young ladies who flooded glossy magazines. And looking at her open smile after the performance, you understand - here it is, that fresh real music.

Your performance opened the Bosco Fresh Fest. Nervous? Guess how many people will come?

Being the first assumes that there will not be such a full house around the stage as in the evening. But our group was ready. We are satisfied that in the middle of the performance the people pulled themselves up. Were you worried? We were preparing, but to some extent, yes, there was excitement, as we presented two new songs. This moment is always special for an artist. But the weather turned out to be the best. I'm even glad that it's cloudy today: our music is a little heavy in terms of perception and sunny weather would not create the right atmosphere. And it's so warm, it's not raining - just the thing.

How does Bosco fresh Fest differ from those festivals where you have already performed?

Bosco is good in that it popularizes conceptual music in a special style and gives young bands an opportunity to show themselves. In this sense, the festival is unique.

Perhaps the organizers did not persuade you for long?

Yes (laughs). We wanted to participate that year, but then we had a different program. I am glad that it was in 2015 that we showed the audience what we wanted.

- And what performers from the list would you like to listen to yourself?

To be honest, from the presented foreign headliners, I really didn’t hear anyone, but it would be interesting for me to look at each artist. I read who comes, of course, I want to hear them live. Musicians should learn from each other. It is also interesting to watch young teams that are interesting, have freshness and new ideas.

The group Terr Maitz completes, whose frontman, like you, participated in the show "Voice". Is television currently the most effective way to popularize creativity?

I believe that TV is not the best way. It is watched by a certain circle of people. The Internet is for a different audience. Actually, it's all a mystery to me. I don’t think so much about what brings more popularity. But large-scale projects like Golos give some feedback. They are helpful. The main thing is to show yourself correctly, because on TV they want to “comb” their hair to fit their vision, and it’s rarely possible to show yourself as you are. It's cool that Anton continues to bend his line, using television correctly.

In the context of being yourself, a quote from Breakfast at Tiffany's came to mind: Don't think I don't want to get rich or famous. This is very much included in my plans, someday, God willing, I will get to that, but just let my “I” remain with me.

I do not aspire to wealth and fame. This is not an end in itself. It's not particularly interesting to me. I just want to do my job. Every musician is pleased when his work is known and listened to. Yes, there is a dream that people all over the world know my music, feel it. To do this, you just need to work hard and do everything sincerely. The result will come sooner or later, it's just that the goals must be correct.

You mentioned on Facebook that your new album will be released soon...

Yes. He's in the active recording process. Already about 7-8 songs are ready. This album will be much more serious in terms of lyrics and general message, because you want to use your music not only to serve as a pleasant background so that you can move around and relax, but also to convey something important. We are believers and we want to talk about God, about faith, and we consider this to some extent our mission. If the Lord has given you a talent, you should use it to glorify Him first and not yourself. And the new album is inspired only by God. Of course, by different musicians, but the lyrics will be deep and serious. Today we presented two songs, one of which is "Judge". It concentrates the theme of the future album. We set a vector and people know what to expect. At the same time, the album is not overweight - there will be lighter compositions. But first of all, we want to convey something important.

Gayana Boytsova (Zakharova) was born in Krasnodar in May 1992. She inherited her musical abilities from her father's side. A bright singing talent manifested itself at a very early age, so the parents decided to support the girl's aspirations to play music at a high professional level and later devote herself to this profession. Gayana herself always speaks of her family with great love and rejoices that her abilities are passed down through the generations. Her father Valery was born in Ashgabat, and despite the fact that he himself did not choose the musical path, he gave his daughter the opportunity to fully realize herself in music. As for Marina's mother, originally from Yerevan, she herself, having nothing to do with creativity, did her best to help her daughter develop and grow in the profession.

Having first met the world of music at the age of five, little Gayana did not part with her favorite business for a moment. She successfully passed the audition and entered a music school in Krasnodar. At the age of six, little Gayana becomes a full member of the Premiere Creative Association. The girl is grateful to the experienced teachers of the studio, who not only brought up the taste and taught the most important basics of vocals, but also built the right attitude towards the profession. The kids were not allowed to be lazy, they worked on an equal footing with everyone else, which eventually formed a tempered character, and most importantly, an attitude to music as a responsible, difficult, but illuminated work.

The first tours and concerts began at a young age. Gayana successfully took part in various Russian and international competitions, recordings, trips with the team around the country. Such a stormy touring life literally captured the young vocalist! Nevertheless, Gayana stubbornly continued to work on her gift, managing to reach heights not only in music, but also at school, to find time for textbooks and notebooks in a busy schedule. At the age of 12, Gayana first performed on the Kremlin stage. She, in a duet with Joseph Kobzon, sang a song dedicated to the monstrous Beslan tragedy. From the age of fifteen, the girl herself writes songs, which she then performs and records.

Even before graduating from high school, Gayana collected many awards, diplomas from music festivals, she repeatedly became a laureate and owner of the grand prix of vocal competitions. Over time, she moved to the adult composition of TO "Premier" and became its soloist. Gayana's first big independent solo concert took place at the age of 17, at the graduation of the music studio that "raised" her. In the same year, Gayana Zakharova successfully entered the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music, "jumping" the class of the compulsory music school.

The Gayana team began rehearsals in 2010, and in the spring of the following year, the musicians gave their first concert. They became participation in Soul Kitchen parties, it is these performances that the participants consider the start of their concert activity as part of a young team. Gayana herself defines the style of music they perform as 80s Pop. The name of the group is consonant with the name of the soloist herself. In November 2013, the first album "Reborn" was released. The guys dedicated it to the legendary Chaka Khan, whose music had a noticeable impact on the musical tastes and playing style of the band members. Those who listened to the album invariably note the incredible effect of returning to the 80s, which was made possible thanks to the acoustics of the recording studio.

Today the Gayana collective is a participant of the largest jazz festivals. They perform at the Jazz Manor, Lady in Jazz, VDOKh, are known as residents of Jazz Parking. Gayana herself successfully took part in the Voice project and became one of the brightest stars in the "constellation" of Pelageya.

We met with the singer and participant of the Russian project "Voice" Gayana Zakharova during her visit to Armenia. Of course, enough time has passed since then, and for technical reasons this interview is rather late. However, at the same time, it has not lost its relevance - the Armenian audience still knows almost nothing about Gayan. talked with the singer about everything: about the creative path, upcoming projects and, of course, about the Armenian roots.

Gayana, you are the most mysterious of all the "vociferous" with Armenian roots. Here is what I found on the Internet about your family: “Gayana Zakharova was born in 1992 in Krasnodar. Having inherited musical talent from her father's parents, she showed it already in the first years of her life. Thanks to my mother, who noticed musical abilities, children's aspirations found a way out to a more professional level. And that's all. I would like to know more about your parents. Who are they, what do they do?

My parents are wonderful, wonderful people. Dad, despite the fact that his parents were musicians, did not follow in their footsteps. Musical abilities have been passed down through the generations. Mom is also not connected with music, but nevertheless devoted all her time to my creative development.

My father Valera was born in Ashgabat, my mother Marina was born in Yerevan. And I'm in Krasnodar. I studied there at school, entered the institute in Moscow. Now I study in Gnesinka, I work ...

I'm going to get married...

Yes, I'm getting married this summer.

And how is your surname written in the passport: Zakharyan or Zakharova?

According to Zakharov's passport. My father and grandfather have the same last name. Of course, for sure, once the surname had an ending -yan. But I don’t know how and when she changed, in what generation, but she is definitely Armenian.

Yes, you look like an Armenian.

I am proud that I am Armenian. She never hid her roots, especially since Russia is a multinational country, and there was no need for this.

And that didn't stop it from breaking through?

No. Of course, in any country there are people who are not quite adequate and can say anything. I think that it would be ugly to hide your nationality in order to achieve some goals. The guys and I (Margarita Pozoyan, Artem Kacharyan, Edward Khacharyan, Anzhelika Alferova-Harutyunyan) are a clear example that this should not be done.

And with which of the Armenian performers would you like to record a duet?

To be honest, I've already thought about it. And I even expressed my thoughts aloud that I want to sing with Gor Sujyan. I really like his music and voice.

Tell us about the projectGayana.

This is my group where I sing. It also includes my future husband, with whom we write songs, we think through everything. There are a lot of plans related to this project. So, our as yet untitled soul and R'n'B album is coming out very soon. I also promise a hint of retro and 80s music.

I heard from your friends that you are a very spiritual person. And how does this manifest itself?

Don't know. Perhaps the fact that I, like any creative person, is not quite down to earth. Besides, I believe in God.

You sing pop, jazz, soul,R'n'B. What is closer to you?

I sometimes perform jazz standards, but I can't call myself a jazz singer because it's a slightly different vocal school. Still, soul and R'n'B are closer to me. At the moment, these are the areas in which I work and would like to develop further.

P.S. During the preparation of the interview, Gayana presented a video for the song "Not a Word". As Kirill Saushkin, director of the video, noted, “the video for the song “Not a Word” shows the main character, whose memories sometimes arise in living forms, in particular, memories of her beloved. All of us, looking at a loved one, subconsciously reproduce in our heads the moments that connect us with him, even more often we do this at the time of his absence. It is this process, memories, that sustains feelings, and such simple things help us all to keep each other at a distance and in closeness.

Interviewed by Marina Adulyan

Follow on