Happy New Year

Anna C. Nova,

Russian singer, songwriter, performer and producer (who has been called “the best and most famous producer of the international level in Russia”) is a household name in her hometown of Saratov, Russia, (an old city of two million, on the Volga, 400 miles southeast of Moscow and 200 miles north of Volgograd, whose climate resembles Chicago’s) where her artists regularly perform to standing ovations, win music competitions, and receive half-page articles in the local paper. What is unique about the bilingual Nova is that she writes and sings music in English, and her style is international, not traditional Russian. She also performs electronic music and makes recordings with her artists at her own award-winning studio in Saratov, near the apartment where she has always lived, and shares with her mother and seven cats.

Nova at home (L); Saratov and the Volga (c) and Saratov’s Troitsky (Trinity) Cathedral

Her first CD, Paradise, which she sings herself, received attention from noted producers Luis Rodriguez and Dieter Bohlen in Germany, and was 1st on the “Music in Demand” chart in Germany in 2002 for 16 weeks (Britney Spears was #8!).

Nova quickly attracted other young artists and wrote and produced and recorded music to help them launch their careers. The result was a series of singles sung by other artists including “Where is my Santa”, a whimsical Christmas song that received great reviews, and was loved in Saratov, where the Russian audience did not know the words but still asked for repeated encores. “We need a clone of Anna” said artist R-Oxolana—“no one else can do as many things as she does, or do so much work. She is a fanatic.” Nova works at her art 6 days a week, until 10pm each night. Despite Paradise’s success, Nova’s real joy is developing talents of other Russian artists. “I don’t make a star” she says, “I build the real artist.”

Best of Nova, released in 2006

Nova’s next step was to start “musical bridge”, a project to make Russian artists known in the West, which attracted the interest of Goettel Publishing, a Santa Monica company owned by Jim Goettel. He met her by accident—he asked her about another Russian song that intrigued him, and she emailed him that she too had some interesting music. Jim was skeptical—he had just been with another company whose owner promised huge success from his artist friends, but which failed. He listened to her demo, however, and was impressed. “Nova can write anything. Paradise is pop with classical elements; there is a hip hop song, ‘Out of Self Control’ and pop songs with dance and electronic elements. There is just enough Euro pop flavor to make it distinctive. And the lyrics are powerful. In addition, she already had success in Russia and Germany, and should do even better in the USA where people speak English.” He then shared the songs with other music professionals and “got awesome comments, like the head of SESAC telling me that Nova is the European Madonna/Britney Spears, or a review calling her ‘my new dance diva,’and I had friends assuring me she would be successful, even after witnessing the prior company fail.”

Jim Goettel

Anna, in turn, was impressed by Jim (who had traveled to Russia) knew some Russian. “Anna is easy to please—just say something in Russian! Russian with an American accent is amusing, for some reason” Jim said, adding that the accents of Anna and her artists “are also amusing at times.” Together they formed the record label Nova Songs, and released “Best of Nova,” a compilation of songs from Nova’s artists and a website, www.novasongs.com. More recently, Nova’s artists have released 3 singles, most notably the inspiring “(You’ll Be) Mine” by Elena Cherkasova, which is soaring up internet charts.

Nova’s current artists: R-Oxolana, Elena Cherkasova, Dasha, Aleger,

And Ellison Nail

Versatility and originality are Nova’s strength. The music is full of hooks, and the artists have impressive voices. But classifying it was a dilemma. “Out of Self Control” is described as hip hop by pop artists, pop by hip hop artists; Paradise is described by Nova as “pop with classical elements” but others call it electronic or too original to categorize. The new songs are called 70s club music by some people, electronic by others, and some even called it Euro pop, a label Nova wants to avoid. “Where is My Santa”, in a review giving it 5 stars, was called “a crazy song in the best sense of the word.” “That is why I really love ‘(You’ll Be) Mine’” says Jim, “it’s a perfect upbeat pop ballad that reminds people of Irene Cara’s fame or Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” or other great pop songs. It sounds like it came from an American pop icon.” Adding to the confusion was that Nova looks like a glamorous model, not a serious producer, as do some of her artists. “I get people saying ‘I knew Russian (or Eastern European) women were beautiful, but I didn’t know they were so talented’” Jim adds. “Well, now they do!” He noted that Nova simply wants to be a great musical producer. “She isn’t spoiled or self-centered. She just loves music” says Jim.

Multi (L), which performed “Where is My Santa, and Roxylight, which performed “Out of Self Control

Nova is currently having her music promoted online on sites like Musicrush.com and seeking American artists to collaborate with. This will give her and her artists a chance to tour the USA and make Russian artists known in America, and vice versa. Though she has been to Western Europe, Nova and her artists have never been to the USA. “We would love to visit the USA—the people seem so funny!” - says Nova with a smile. –“seriously, I think American people are very flexible, easygoing and opened to everything new and progressive. Progressive way of working is my style, that’s why I’m sure that collaboration with American artists can bring us new ideas and success”. In the meantime, she will be writing more music. New singles by Dasha and Elena Cherkasova are planned, and Nova Songs may re-release Paradise in the USA. In the meantime, sample her music online!


You can buy “Best of Nova” or sample or download any of Nova’s songs at www.musicrush.com. For more information, or to contact the artist, go to http://www.novasongs.com/

Graham Sclater

What was it that first influenced you to music?

"It was the early 60's Rock and Roll - Chuck Berry etc but then the Beatles and The Rolling Stones.  I also remember hearing Del Shannon's Runaway and Chris Montez - Let’s dance. I think that was what took me towards playing the organ."

Who are some of the greats you have met and played with over the years?

“I jammed in Sweden with Jimi Hendrix in 1967 and he was the best guitarist I have ever played with or seen. Strangely, he was reluctant to sing and it was only later that I heard that he didn't rate himself as a singer and hated it. I toured Europe for six weeks with Fats Domino in 1979; the biggest gig was in Munich to 10,000 people. I also worked with James Taylor at Apple, the Beatles shop and offices in the centre of London, a very crazy time. Elton John in Germany and many others. I also worked as a session  musician around the studios in London playing on many records but at the time I had no interest into who it was, just to get my part right, first time if possible."

Any one of them standout for you more so than the others? Was it a positive or negative Influence?   "Jimi Hendrix was the highlight and listening to the Sergeant Pepper album all the way through in Sweden before it was officially released. There were no low points regarding music and musicians but sometimes I became disillusioned with the business and the
way we were treated as musicians."

Of all the changes over the years that have occurred with music, do you have a favorite period? 60's, 70's, 80's, etc?

 "It has to be the 60's because at that time everything was new and changed so fast, fashion, music, films, radio and even television."

 "It's a toss up between Jimi Hendrix or the Beatles but I do like certain one off songs by other artists but I don't have a favorite band or singer.

  

Can you tell us a little about your book?

 "Ticket to Ride" is and was inspired by the 60's and my exploits in Hamburg, Germany during that time.  I have wanted to write a novel for some time and at first it was destined to become a television series but when that fell through I started on the book.  And of course now it's finished I have got used to writing and am working on several projects at the same time, screenplays, television films and another  two books."

What brought you to writing it?

 "Well I think I said it above but the few  books I have read about the 60'sd were not based on personal experiences, purely third hand and of course they missed so many of the facts and the feel of what it was really like back then and what the Beatles went through a few years earlier." 

Have you ever thought of getting out of music? 

 "Yes, of course but as I have a music publishing company and I produce records it is hard to change or get completely away. I would love to write full time and unusually whenever I write a script I include a CD of possible music for the project. I don't know of anyone else that does that. So you see the link is always there and the songs we publish sometimes give me ideas for certain scenes. Things I would not have thought of if I didn't have music. "

Where you ever discouraged to the point of just quitting, but yet you didn't', what kept you in?

 "In March 2004 I was diagnosed with renal cancer and stopped everything but as I got better I had time to think about the book and completed it.  I sent it to numerous publishers, I even read chapters and sent the CD's to publishers without success. As a result I became so frustrated and in March 2006 I made a decision to stop writing but two weeks later I received an e-mail from Flame Books offering me the contract to publish Ticket to Ride."

 

If you were able to do it all over again what would you change or not change? 

 "Not much, I think I would have taken more photographs and made lots of notes. Apart from that I would not change anything. I feel incredibly lucky to have lived through the 60's and still be here."

What music do you like now?

 "I like so much, Coldplay, Muse & Joss Stone who come from my home town and once again individual songs by many and varied artists. I play different music depending on what I'm writing; if it's moody I may play Andrea Bocelli or classical music. When I was getting close to completing Ticket to Ride I played a lot of the early Beatles songs."

What approach would you suggest to new Artist? Any advice?

 "Today is very different. It is easy to record music onto a PC using sequencers and even beats and backing tracks so in all honesty you don't need to be so creative. If you play in a band I feel that live gigs are the key to perfecting your own sound before going into a studio. Too many bands have never played live, they record their music and the sound emanates from the studio engineer and studio so many bands never create something original on their own."

What is the most significant change you see today in the industry from when you started?

“I think the previous question answers it. Anyone can make music on their own with a PC and get it on to web download sites. It's great, but I think there is no quality control and most sites are cluttered and it is difficult for the good music to be found and heard."

How do our readers buy your novel?

"It's available from my publisher Flame Books - http://www.flamebooks.com/. They will post to anywhere in the world."

Do you have a last word?

 "Yes. If anyone interested in music wants to read what it was really like in the 60's then they should read my book. It will certainly give a greater insight into those times. MAKE THE JOURNEY."

Interviewer: Eddie M. Diamond

Thanks Graham!

FEDDY “Ts’u’n’me & Tsunami”

Songs off an upcoming full-length solo album Released on The Orchard, iTunes, FG Nikitin (Russian edition), CD baby (Russian edition)  Feddy Lavrov – a well-known singer songwriter, guitar player, multi-instrumentalist and sound producer from St.Petersbourg, Russia. Ever been sorry for the fatal blunder of being not born an Englishman. Started learning English at the age of 25. Started playing drums, guitars and singing since school punk band “Self eradication Dpt.”, which was banned by the KGB after few tape records been promoted by friends. 

After the entire situation of corruption in the Russian show business had turned Freddy’s ex-band BEGEMOT to split, he decided once and for ever walks his own way, never listen to those who insisted to write songs in Russian never follow the streams of Russian Pop, radio formats and sink down in the quagmire of Russian Pop Music deeper on. The BEGEMOT had existed for five years already since the very first gig in 1996, released four albums and few compilations, gigged and toured a lot, been praised as “The best New Act” in 1998 and never earned a penny, thanks to piracy, money default, corruption in Moscow’s show business and total poverty of music lovers in Russia these years. 

It’s been said “Rock Is Dead”, but it has never been even BORN or LIVING in Russia! 

In 2001 Feddy recorded his first solo demo called “Daddy’s Old Drum”, using possible outdated recording equipment (old mixing desk, microphones, ADAT, tape recorders, speakers, guitar amplifiers, his first ever drum kit presented him to his 14^th birthday by his mum) in order to produce some different sounds. Feddy performed all instruments but violins alone. 12 tracks of an outstanding record quality were out and very highly reviewed by different people in the world. There is a page dedicated to this Feddy’s record written by Leigh Silberg from United Global Artists, USA (http://www.u-g-a.com/Somnambula/main.htm). As a sound producer Feddy succeeded a year before the bands like Strokes and White Stripes appeared, however “Daddy’s Old Drum” has never reached its goal. Still unsigned but indefatigable Feddy started his new recording term with friendlier studio based on a computer. After some of new tracks were finished and sent out to labels and publishers under name of “Somnambula” Feddy made close friends with Graham Sclater from Tabitha Music Ltd, Exeter, UK in 2003. His new publisher persuaded Feddy not to keep on waiting until any label is interested in investigating in the new project but keep on recording the album on his own. With increased quality of sound, fine performance Feddy can provide it should be cheaper and faster. With his fingers crossed and loads of money earned by selling rights to performing some of his songs to other band from Moscow, Feddy upgraded his home studio and settled down to work. 

It took him more than a year to get all tracking recorded, all arrangements many times re-done and ___THE BRAND NEW STYLE was born! By the time the album is finished up and Feddy comes to your town with his new backup band, everybody will know ROCK’N’RAVE and how to ROCK and RAVE at the same time! 

As on the previous record all instruments were performed and recorded by Feddy alone. No other band’s samples were used. With Pro Tools as an analog, Propellerhead Reason as a MIDI software Feddy could have produced the sound very close to or even indistinguishable from the expensive studios’ as so some of musicians turned their heads to Feddy’s ability to mix down and ordered him to finish their records. This is how Feddy became a well paid sound producer in St.Petersbourg. 

From Feddy’s point of view he has made a mixture of ideologically and historically contrary styles of music – Rock and Techno. Pumping kicks, rocking drumbeats, heavy guitars, mellow keyboards, heavy synths and sweet guitar solos – everything along with always catchy melodies and lyrics is on the upcoming album. This is a romantic (sometimes even gothic) but still full of good humor and harsh protest work of art, a slice of life of a common contemporary person, described in unforgettable songs. 

Find FEDDY on http://www.myspace.com/feddymusicBEGEMOT’s music on http://www.myspace.com/feddybegemotOther Feddy Lavrov’s sound producing work onhttp://www.myspace.com/selferadication   Selferadication Dpt.http://www.myspace.com/feodorlavrov      Soundtracks written by Feddy Lavrovhttp://www.myspace.com/dunmusic           Dunja’s music arranged and recorded by Feddy LavrovReviews: http://www.phase9.tv/musicreviews/fedia-fedia-a.htm  (about “Daddy’s Old Drum”)http://www.u-g-a.com/Somnambula/main.htm (“Daddy’s Old Drum” and “Feddy”’s demo)http://www.zvuki.ru/A/P/47 (Begemot)