Alsou info
        Articles/Alsou in Glamour (September 2004)

Star of the East

By 21 Alsou Safina has become the prize-winnner of <<Eurovision>> and first Russian singer to have a deal with <<Universal>>. She's a star in Russia for a long time already. Now, after the release of her new single, Always On My Mind, she will be star on the West as well. Alexey Munipov has met Alsou in London. Photo: Kim Knott

<<How are they boring me! They just call and call me: "Hi-i-i-i, is it Alsou? So, Alsou, let's meet and party? - Alsou stretches the words very funny and starts laughing. - Of course, I'm not a fan, but I like you. A-a-as a woman. Wut's up with ya?">>

Truly, we were going to speak about other things. Alsou has just finished recording her second English album with most of the songs written by her, and now she is preparing to collect the crop. There's no noise about her album yet, but soon it will start: the promotion of first single is dated to October, and in the end of December or, maybe, in January, the new album will be out in UK. It's already recorded, all who have heard it are in delight. As I wait for Alsou in the lobby of Intercontinental Hotel, her press-agent, Lorrane, roughly gesticulating, tells, that in British record-industry they speak only about the album: <<Everybody is in anticipation, absolutely eberybody, - he convinces me. - I started working with Alsou recently, half a year ago, but I can tell you - this girl has a great future>>.

<<For example, my duet with rapper Nelly, - Alsou tells me later. - He refused to sing with many artists: Britney Spears, Madonna... But as he listened to my song, he agreed immediately! At the record-labels they say: we are ready to release it any moment, even now! I'm not bragging, but yes, cool song. If I heard it somewhere in the club - I'd dance with no questions>>.

Listening how Alsou tells about work with Nelly and guys who made albums for Eminem, is extraordinary interesting. But our conversation stops for a while on one place, it accurately avoids the names of producers and leads directly to more fascinating things.

For example, Russian people in London: they say, there are about 200 thousand Russians here. Walking through the Kensington - seems like Alsou's apartment is somewhere inthe neighbourhood - I saw four guys riding in open <<jaguar>> and singing loudly the popular Russian song. In the shop of organic meals one lady asked where they had the berry juice. The Russian speech sounds more often - and Alsou often hears it in her mobile. <<The community is small, everybody knows each other. And they call me - first, second, third... What are they doing here - I have no idea. But they definitely don't learn here. They're just young men with rich parents and plenty of time, they don't know how to spend it. They just change hteir cars every month - Ferrari today, BMW tomorrow - they ride from one disco to another and litter their money. Fools. And when I hang up, they start to threaten me: "What are you doing, don't you know who am I?!" My God, I think, who are you? No, I know really who they are - they're just children having a good time. I don't know what they are

<<The main thing - to find my second half. Family is the main in life. I'm ready to leave everything for the sake of the family>>.

cointing on. One young man used to call me in the night: "Alsou, it's boring, let's talk." Pretty normal, is it? There were two times after which I had to employ the bodyguards. But it's for calmness of my daddy. Actually I do not need bodyguards in London>>.

Two years ago I talked with Alsou before her three big cobcerts in Moscow. She has got out from some song's recording and looked as the very sad tired grasshopper: she occupied the armchair, putting her legs under herself, plaintively asked for tea with honey and told me how tired she was of Russian show-business.

Today's Alsou may not be recognized at first sight: she somehow became softer, with smoother lines and even looks higher. She is very relaxed and speaks without pauses: condemns Britney Spears, praises Christina Aguilera, pities Mariah Carey, tells me that it's very fashionable to have a Russian girlfriend in Los Angeles,

<<In Moscow if you come anywhere, they will examine you, condemn you - what are you dressed in, whom are you with. I hate it>>.

and highly praises the just read book - intellectual thriller about changing opinions about Christianity and Catholic branch of it. <<I didn't know many things written there. The author is Dan Brown, it's titled "Da Vinci Code". If you see it - buy it necessarily. It's precisely sold in Heathrow>>.

The link to airport is logical: Alsou reads mostly in plains. <<Recently I have read Coelho. They have presented me toons of him. And I also got a pack of Boris Akunin. Murakami was also presented, yes. This one, about sheep. I didn't got interested in sheep and left them alone. Maybe I'll try once more. But I have at last read Mikhail Bulgakov's "Master and Margarita". I'm trying here to pass the literature program as in Russian schools: my education limps a little bit. I have left Moscow in 12 and missed many things. I want to read Leo Tolstoy's "War and Peace". Don't know if I manage to do this. But I should, I should>>.

Though, she soon may need bodyguards in London too. Universal has put her new album in the list of main priorities - it means that there will be massive promotion, advertisement, videos and everyting that should be. She may hardly walk alone down the streets after that.

<<They look at this more simply here, - Alsou informs me. - And now I don't think about it - I walk in jeans, T-shirt, the main thing is comfort>>. But concretly now Alsou is wrapped up in some beatuful semi-transparent shawl with cream color. <<It's in Moscow so - if you come anywhere, they will examine you, condemn you - what are you dressed in, whom are you with. I hate it, - she continues. - Funny: I was afraid of people since my childhood. Was very afraid of superfluous attention. That's why I always tried to dress more modestly: I didn't have make-up, didn't wear anything bright. Just a grey dwarf. And you see how it went: now I'm a public person>>.

In five minues of our conversation this mask for communicating with strangers, fans

<<My ex-boyfirend was just learning, he didn't have own business. Of course, he was upset: I am Alsou, and he is just "Alsou's boyfriend">>.

and journalists disappears as it never was: and from under the shawl cautiously looks out that wonderful girl who in 1999 ran thought the snowy decoradions of her first video <<Zimniy Son>> with actor Makovetskiy. Alsou twirls a cookie in her hands and tell me what an excellent picture she has drawn for her girlfriend - a crounching tiger in grass, and in what a funny movie she has participated in. <<In a horror, do you imagine?! Everybody is expecting a romantic comedy from me, and I have acted in a real English thriller about ghosts>>.

A little bit later, having lowered her voice, Alsou admits that only two weeks ago she had an awful depression. <<It was, possibly, the most awful week in my life. I don't know what wa happening with me, everything has collected together... Actually I had birthday. A big party on 100 persons. I ran so much, worried about everybody... They told me: "Can you be an egoist only this day, even for a while?" And I can't. The showmen were entertaining us, and I sat and worried that nobody understands nothing - the guests came from England, America. By the evening I was just shaking>>.

Alsou is silent for some time. <<I have a very good intuition. I start feeling something, I become nervous and irritated. In the evening I though: well, it cannot be worse already. And in the morning there was a call: my grandfather has died. And I can't even fly to the funeral: the last day of shooting, it's unreal to cancel. After that, - Alsou shakes her head, - my nerves were exhausted. I have turned my mobile off, sat in the plane, flew to France and several days I stupidly did nothing. But I seem to recover now, I'm ready for the fight>>.

<<"Glamour" magazine, yes? - she smiles gloomily. - Everybody thinks that I have such a glamorous lifestyle. And all this work without days-off, sleepless nights, moving, flights, neverending shooting... Do you know how much energy they take? Singing is about 5 percent of things I have to do. For example, I want to go to Bugulma - just to visit my grandmother, I missed her - and in the airport a whole army is meeing me: television, press, the mayor>>.

After the story about Bugulma follows the story about Kogalym - the town of oil industry workers, where there were only barracks,

<<Rapper Nelly refused to sing with many artists: Britney Spears, Madonna... But as he listened to my song, he agreed immediately>>.

and now there are airport, theatre, mosque and everything you want. I catch the word <<mosque>> and ask her, how long ago she visited the mosque. <<Well, for the first time - you understand, when I was born. Imam has read a pray, everything according to the rules. And in conscious age - six years ago, when by brother was born>>.

<<Yes, I'm moslem. But I can't say I was brought up in some strikt Eastern traditions. Nobody told me: moslem girl should do this and this. But I felt some things without words. I have my own point of view to religion. I won't say - I may offend somebody>>.

Alsou honouly tried not to offend somebody: you won't hear any sharp words from her. Then I discover that for already five minutes we are discussing her break-up with her young man and the candidature to replace him.

Alsou is upset: <<It's so hard! Earlier I though: he should be a good man, and he may be anybody - even the cleaner. In ideal world, maybe, it's so. But now I understand that he should achieve some heights. And money are important. Can it be differently? In other case he will feel discomfort. My ex-boyfirend was just learning, he didn't have own business. Of course, he was upset: I am Alsou, and he is just "Alsou's boyfriend". What man can like this?

<<I was afraid of people since my childhood. Was very afraid of superfluous attention. And you see how it went: now I'm a public person>>.

Besides this, I travel a lot, and he sits in London all the time. Imagination works. And he thought out different things... This person had a rich imagination. I will say honestly: when I broke up with him, I had to calm my nerves for half a year>>.

<<I think, - Alsou continues to reason. - I need someone older. On five-six years older. Young men achieve something in 21 seldom. Now I have grown up, I know exactly what I want. I need a man who would trust me - on 200 percent. It's main. It would be better if he was from show-business - to discuss all the problems, all-all-all. But not a singer. Or... Well, I don't know yet>>.

We recollect the stories of different celebrity pairs, and come to conclusion that everything is not so easy, and we go to the question about plans for the future. <<I have great plans! - the singer informs me. - I'd like to work for a long time. Like Madonna does. I've got plenty of time, thanks god. 21 is not a real age, I think. I don't need to earn for living, so I can make everything without hurrying. I want to shoot in cinema once more, but in serious movies, of Hollywood format. And the main thing...>>

Alsou becomes silent, and her face suddenly gets an asking expression, with which all Russian women of all times tell their girlfriends <<you need a good man>>. <<The main thing - to find my second half. Family is the main in life. I'm ready to leave my career, cinema - everything - for the sake of the family. If I need. What? I'm telling the truth!

How we shooted the cover

Alsou has come to the shooting in London's studio without delays, in 10 AM. She was dressed in a blue sport costume. And no gramm of make-up. She tried a million of dresses, and she liked the dresses underlining her figure. She was ready to any make-up experiments, the only thing she resisted on was black lines under her eyes. During they made hee make-up, she ate salad from paste with olives. During the shooting they turned on CDs of Alicia Keys and Beyonce - and Alsou dang alone with them.