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        Articles/About new second English International album

October, 16th in Moscow the second Alsou's meeting with the fans was held. The occasion for meeting was more than serious - announcement of Alsou's International Official Fan-club foundation.

The official part of meeting was devoted to the informing what will Fan-club be, and what will it do.

That's what Alexander Shevchenko, Alsou's Russian manager, has told about the Fan-club foundation: "We were building, building and finally we have built it! The fans do not need long to explain them what the Fan-club is necessary for, and, basically, it exists for a long time already, if you are interested in it, communicate among yourselves, try to share your thoughts. The organization of an Official Fan-club is an upper level of our communication. It will provide the fans with the most interesting information, you will learn all the news first, from our side you will feel support and a shoulder, and from that love to Alsou's music and to her will grow only and get stronger".

The official part was finished by unanimous voting for creation of Official Fan-club. In a nearest future the Official site will have a form of registration, and also the information on conditions of membership and the basic directions of Fan-club activity.

After that, perhaps, the most pleasant part began for all the fans - a dialogue with their idol.

What has taken place in creative life of Alsou for last year?

alsou: "I had time to write some good songs, and the work on a new English album, very long-awaited for me, is almost finished. Each day I put it it many powers and emotions. I participate not only in songwriting and voice mastering, as it was with an album "19", but also I sit in a studio, I work on the arrangements, i.e. I bring the songs up to such condition, that they sound how I want them to sound".

alexander shevchenko: "Alsou did not have such an active participation during the work on the first English disc because she had no experience in this sphere on that moment. Maybe, that's why the album has turned out such average. Concerning the second disc, Alsou is being shy - 95% of songs are written completely by her or in the co-authorship. And it is great! She is not only singing, but also thinking singer! Just tell me, do you know even one Russian singer, who writes songs in two languages, and sings on four (Russian, English, Tatar, and now also Bashkir)?"

alsou: "Sasha already has told, that I wrote myself or in the co-authorship 95% of songs. Those 5%, to which I have no relation as the author are 2 songs, one of which is a cover-version of Lionel Richie's song - "Hello". I adore it from childhood, and always have dreamed very much to sing it. I am pleased with the result. I hope, that you soon will be able to hear it too. We will try to make so that the fans could become if not first, then one of the first listeners of new songs."

And here are the questions, which were asked to Alsou by the admirers:

question: Alsou, when there will be a new album?
alsou: Basically all songs are already recorded. Now there are some projects, I won't speak about them yet. But there are some creative offers - a pair of duets with stars of world level. Now the mastering of the album goes in London, that's why the most part of my time I spend there, and in Moscow I arrive not for long. I think, that the album will be completed up to the end of year, but we will release it in the beginning of the next one.

question: Alsou, when there will be the first single?
alsou: While there is no exact answer to this question. By the way, firstly we precisely knew what song will be the first single, but as more songs were written and recorded, it became more difficult to decide. It seems, that 80% of songs could become singles, therefore it is very difficult to choose. And, again, everything will depend on these duet projects.
alexander shevchenko: When we began to record a CD, we were sure, that the first single will be song "Teardrops". We have rerecorded it in USA, it has turned out beautifully, pretty. Then we have recorded 3-4 songs... And with every recorded song we thought - and maybe, with this one?! Till now Denis Ingoldsby, a skilled producer, says, that first time he collides with a situation, when there is a problem with a choice of the single. Usually it occurs in such way: oh, there is one good song, this one I like too, and the rest of the songs... And here... 100% natural!

question: Alsou, when there will be a new clip?
alsou: Again, it is difficult to name an exact date. When the project is not indifferent for you, and you put all your soul in it, it is very important to finish it up to such level, that you were pleased with result on all 100%.

question: Alsou, who helps you in choosing clothes, do you have stylists?
alsou: Before the project called "Trilogy" I chose all the clothes myself and did not use the help of stylists. But before the concerts of "Trilogy" I got acquainted with the stylist Natalia Pilat, which since then helps me in the work on my projects, photosessions, shootings of clips. I like to work with her very much.

question: Alsou, tell, how the work on the album goes in studio?
alsou: In London I work in studio with one man, together we think on the arrangement. There is one song, which I made him to redo 3 times. We have recorded it, have ratified, everything was pretty and smart. But I came next week... I am a very impressionable person, a person of mood, which constantly varies, and I said: "Morton, we should change this song!" And he already has prepared to do the mastering. He has taken his head into his hands: how can it be?! And during half of the day we have made a new arrangement, and it has turned out how I wanted it to sound. And I have found out, that my vocal range has increased on 1,5 notes. I did not suspect it. Basically I always knew my highest note and if I hear any note, I always ask: "What note is it? I will tell if I can sing it or not". And Morton has gone by other way, he has deceived me. He has told, that is the note, which is lower on two notes. I believed him and sang the higher note I have never sang before.
There is one song in this album, which was very hard for me to record. I swore and cried, said: "No, I can't!" But Morton shouted: "No, you can!". When I have arrived in Moscow and has put it to my guys, they were surprised very much, that I have such a progress.

question: Alsou, what music video will be the following?
alsou: We wanted to shoot a video for "Perviz Sneg" ("First Snow") by winter, but now I think, that it will fail. Because lots of different creative projects has fallen on my head, they are very important for me and from them depends my career on the West and all over the world. Therefore, probably, the next video, which you will see, will be shooted already on the song from my English album.

question: Alsou, whether the performance "Romeo and Juliett" in your actor university concerns to these projects?
alsou: Actually I've already bored my teacher with this idea. It was planned to make this performance in autumn, but in result nothing has turned out, because there are only 24 hours in day. But at one time it will be necessary, because it is very important for me. The following term, which while is present, is spring, but for some reason it seems to me, that it will be the next autumn.

question: Alsou, why didn't you begin to promote the first English album?
alsou: Actually, the first singe from this album was promoted, it occupied good positions on MTV, on MTV Select and VOX it was on the first place. But there were certain problems, which did not depend on us, they depended more on the recording company. It has just helped us to realize, that I have chosen a little bit not that direction for myself, though I love it very much. It was not that result I would like to listen to. That album differed from Russian albums very much. Probably, any singer could sing those songs, which were in my first English album, and they, probably, would have success. And I would like to make something different, the most important thing - to write songs myself. We have stopped the promotion, when the second single was already released, and have decided, that we shall wait and make a really qualitative product, which we will finish up to an end.

question: Alsou, what are your plans after the release of the an album?
alsou: There will be very much promotion - trips and shootings in Europe and America.
alexander shevchenko: Now I will make you all sad. When the album gets in worldwide promotion, the advertising campaign lasts 18 months from the moment of first single release, to go solemnly everywhere in the world. Therefore, we will meet probably not so frequently, but we shall arrive here. And in the rest of time we will carry the banner of Russian popular music in foreign language proudly and high, with the help and support of Official Fan-club, which we have opened today and we can be congratulated with this!

Having answered the questions, Alsou has sat down an electronic grand piano and has played two new songs, fragments from which the fans could hear earlier - "Love Me" and "Mama". Alsou has admitted, that she loves these songs very much, and the song about her mum in general was composed during one night. After that at the request of the fans and under accompaniment of Alexander Shevchenko, Alsou has performed the song "Vchera". Then the new song "Complete" has followed. And this mini-concert was finished by songs "Teardrops" and a choral performance of "Zimniy Son".

The end of meeting was dedicated to signing autographes and photographing with Alsou.

Translated by alsou.net