Valeriya Interview

3 months ago 12th May 09:17

Your debut single here in the UK is The Party’s Over why did you decide to release this as your first record?

I think it’s the main song on the album it’s really big, that’s not my opinion but the experts opinion, and so it’s a really big song and we have already made several mixes that have been distributed to five thousand clubs, nightclubs, in Great Britain. Reports are very very good we are very happy and hopefully it will become a big hit.

And you are not on a major label here

No we set up our own label called Vision Inc because I think that the major labels are not in the best situation nowadays they are not developing new projects anymore so we thought it would be much more effective to do it ourselves.

Why is artistic control so important to you?

Of course I’m not a beginner I‘m an experienced artist I have my life story and my experience so I think a lot depends on my opinion. My music is my life story and I believe that I should choose.

On your album you collaborate with Robin Gibb how did all that come about?

We met when we recorded Staying Alive, as a tribute to thirty years of Saturday Night Fever, and we sent it to Robin, who responded and invited us to his house. We went to his house and they are great people, him his wife and his children, we went into the studio to work together and he is very dedicated in every way.

And what does he bring to the record?

We worked on one sing together he inspired me with his music; I was a fan of Bee Gee’s music since my early childhood.

you have purposefully sought to work with western talent, working with a string o f European writers and producers why did you think that was necessary?

We wanted to combine different styles and cultures to make an album of international sound. Each album they are not alike because I want to develop myself and his album is very different from the previous ones.

as you get more experienced in the industry how does the recording process differ?

Recording process doesn’t differ but the whole thing is more or less alike, for me I’m a beginner here so it’s not so easy to put my songs on the radio or to move forward but we are doing it. It’s always difficult to start we had the same problem in Russia, my husband is a music producer in Russia and he is having the same problem with new projects.

You are a co-writer on the album how does the writing process work for you?

It happens in the studio during the recording sessions just ideas come and we change one thing for another it’s just a process. I very much enjoy the recording process although I cannot say what I like most or more.

You are a mother of three children how do you juggle parenting with your work commitments?

I try to combine them and it seems to succeed my children are fourteen, thirteen and nine.

It’s well documented upon that you suffered from domestic violence what was it like seeing your life splashed all over the newspapers?

It was not my idea, it was my ex-husband who did it, I as silent for over half a year but he spread gossip, saying things about me, so I had to defend myself and defend my honour and honour of my family. I gave my first interview half a year later and told the truth, the whole truth.

You left the music industry in 2001 why did you feel that was necessary?

Because I felt hurt and my children as well and I realised that we needed some time to relax and forget about the worse things, it took time. And time has come that I could return I had to support my family and earn money.

You also wrote a book about your marital issues why did you do that?

It’s very important for many people in my country who have suffered from domestic violence and I feel them I understand them very well because I remember my living in desperation without any hope and, for many women, my book becomes a ray of light and I received many letters with words of gratitude.

You have become symbol and role model for women in Russia how does that make you feel?

Great I didn’t think that the result would be like this I just wanted to help and there are many women who have changed their lives.

How are you finding the UK?

Great it’s a great country very friendly people they speak to you on the street and smile at you. I thought that the British were more snobbish and your not.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw

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