ACHTUNG BABY!
On the Internet address http://drugie.here.ru/achtungled by Russian organisation Achtung Baby! you will find one of the biggest electronic encyclopedies oriented on radical innovative projects of any kind, regardless nation or position on the globe. In time of 10th Achtung Baby! anniversary here comes the interview with Igor Vaganov - organisation chief officer. In this material you will get detailed information about the possibilities and future prospects of radical culture in Russia and the social conditions of living in today Russia too.
Hello Igor. First question is aimed to your past. Can you tell us something about your beginning? What has inspired you to the starting Achtung Baby! activities?
Instinct. For Achtung Baby! activities start there were many reasons. First of all, it was a logical continue of all my long time interests and own interests in art, music, constructivism, philosophy, ideology, the best way for my own creative realization as ex-musician and graphical artist, for my personal development - as usually, the way for next seeking of adherents and true interesting things around the world. (When you keep hearing about things for years from one point of view only, you start wondering if some part of the truth is kept hidden. And if you are not satisfied with the level of information you get from the public media you need to be connected to the underground sources. It´s a natural process. I like art to be provocative, even if it were art against me as a person I would welcome it. Without negative there wouldn´t be the positive. As far as I remember I always loved creation, information (that formed my numerous knowledges in the times of totalitarian system limitations) and music - thanks to my mother in my earliest childhood years I attended very often a gigantic concerts of Wagner, Britten, Stravinsky, Shostakovitch, Bach, Mozart´s music. You can imagine what happened in my child soul that time! So the music was a way and message for me. I was sure always that creation and development as well as the choice too. As you know, long long years of totalitarism we all didn´t have a real choice here, except total terrible psycho-experiences with new type of man as homo-sovieticus race...Of course, the art itself is not a change of history, but people who make that art - yes.
First Russian "thaw" in political situation of 80´s end, first local indie-radio-stations, editions and usual problems with info about that sort of music, my wish to give any sort of free / non-totalitarian independent personal choice, all these things were ones of the reasons for Achtung Baby! start. I got an idea to use these totalitarian principles of the past for my new project as any sort of my creative ideology / propaganda for mass – something type of Laibach and NSK activity as you know. So, Achtung Baby! was born.
What about "so strange name", Achtung Baby!, nothing similar with U2 band, sorry! That name was born from my interests in some cultural language terrorism as a sort of new Esperanto for me maybe – inter-common language as mixage of different styles, cultures, innovations...something like sound-collage music. I got the idea from...post-communistic German punk – diva Nina Hagen that time who was very popular here. “Achtung Baby!” was also my interest in child apocalyptic vision, the most strong and expressive in my opinion (see David M. Tibet) and my other one long interest in German / WWII history as a part of Russian and World history really, especially in the occult essoterical side of the Third Reich. Also must to confess you, the first early years of Achtung Baby! existence in the air I had a good assistant – 5 years old little girl (“baby”), a daughter of my friend, who helped my vision that time very much. And finally, Achtung Baby! was (and still is) not just only any musical act for me, but ideological.
Could you tell us more about the whole range of your work?
In different times Achtung Baby! was (or still is) released via radio, TV press, Internet, concerts, recordings. Everytime that depends on the circumstances concret situation, idea and real possibilities, but we use every real chance for our goals / ideas propaganda and have a free choice in our “weapon”, without some sponsors, grands and money support all these long “mad wild years” of us. As I told you before, first of all the creation is a way of your own personal development. And if you ask about today´s interests for Achtung Baby! it´s first of all seeking and consolidation of the most interesting unknown musical acts from around Russia and ex-Soviet fro some concerts and recordings – in my personal opinion, the most important and actual things now and there.. So, our long awaited compilation release “Ten Years of Madness...” (both tape and forthcoming CD version), our planned fest in St. Petersburg and some other plans with our comrades on the West are our next steps for Achtung Baby! activities. I´m sorry that don´t have a time for anything else...
Is there any Achtung Baby! ultimate goal?
Goal? Hmm I never thought about it, no some special goals there really I guess, Just only instinct and my personal interest in it, who knows what´s else. That´s a liquid mercury for me and every next time it can get some changes maybe on the ways of self-realization. There are possibilities for it always, if you keep the interest for some exciting creative acts, I guess. Because that´s only your personal idea of the existence, but also your emotions, feelings, thoughts, endless discoveries, touches, your own reflexion of the environmental sound, lif, processes and people too. I don´t know really about so many amazing things around and I would like to have time to know it – that´s the true goal for me maybe. However, I think the goals are for some political, religious or other movements – communism, Christianity, Islam, total destruction...But for cultural structures (as we are, neverthless) any final goal is a type of own limitation really.
How many people do work on this project?
I find that I make it better on my own than in a group. I learn to express myself with my hands – by drawing and writing; it´s my way of talking. So Achtung Baby! was and stay be a mine vision. On the other hand, I guess everyone who contact and help and support me, this sort of music and ideas one way of other is a part of common Achtung Baby! creation. Different time different people helped me on the ways of my activity. And nowadays I have very nice friends who regularly support me, thanks to all of them! I sincerelly appreciate them. Because Achtung Baby! are the people, “the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn....Awww!” (Jack Kerouak´s “On the road”, p. 9)... But more concret, nowadays it´s me and my webmaster.
Internet plays very important role in your work, I think..or maybe the most important. Do you have any imagination about how many Russians watch your websites?
It was always the most difficult question for me – where I take / find my information. You´re right, from some time Internet role is very important for my more quick communications – not only as a Global info data base but also like e-mail too, for my more operative correspondence, no doubt. How many Russians watch our site? Hmm, I don´t know really and never interested in it. Because for many people here who are really interested jin that sort of music the computer and Internet are still very expensive toy. For me too, by the way. As far as I know many of them print Achtung Baby! pages on paper for their friends here. But I sure many people know about our activity well and visit our site time to time. Other thing is that Achtung Baby! website is not for Russians only, and it´s a big pleasure for me to get such type of letters, as for example one of States´ “Your site inclued all my personal Top of the artists now...since I visited if at first time, my personal tastes are changed and I discovered so many interesting music and artists! Nowhere on Internet I didn´t have a chance to find any info about them, except Achtung Baby!” Really nice to hear such words. And I really sorry about just one thing in connection with it – English translation for many of our texts, reviews, opinions, articles. But my English is not so good for it. Also all that problem with time...sorry!
First was the radio, then internet. What other media do you use for your work?
In particular order, first was my self.made and then printed mag “Rock In Opposition” (Rock – Opo). Then I released my next and inter-mag “Cry” (from Howl by A.Ginsberg). In the same time I released a musical page in local and official youth newspaper as paralleled of it and organized different concerts / festivals for local rock-club. So the first was a press, and it was a time of Russian rock – underground – very intensive and exciting time really, because rock-n-roll was a place for many interesting people there that time – actors, mims, film – makers, poets, painters, not only musicians....Type of cultural alternative to the system. Then, after my regular musical page success, three year ago I got invitation to make a special musical radio programm here on local radio, really one of the first true underground music programms in Soviet. I played there such bands as Joy Division, Swans, Big Black, Sonic Youth, Lydia Lunch, Eno, Non, Nurse With Wound, Coil, PTV, Throbbing Gristle, Zoviet-France, Einsturzende Neubauten and many others. That time it seems like a true madness!:) ...What else. I was art director of one of the first indie record labels in ex-Soviet (Russian subdivision of joint Lithuvian-Britain label “Blue Baltic Records”) and did a parallel distribution of similar labels (Zona, Fee-Lee), and other musical editions (books, mags, LP´s). Then, first indie-radio station, other one radio-station here in Rostov, “Achtung Baby!” in air, special underground TV-programm (very scandalous), newspaper (again with “Achtung Baby!” weekly page....attempt of magazine “reanimation...Internet...festival, concerts for support of Yugoslavia against NATO...”Ten Years of Madness” as a tape compilation for Achtung Baby! 10 years anniversary...That´s all so far (except my early “pre-musical” years of exhibitions with painting, concerts of my rock –band in 70´s, theatre...).
The release date of the compilation CD "Ten Years Anniversary Achtung Baby!" is coming closer. What bands/projects will be included and what was the key for the choice?
Date of realization for our so-called reissue on CD plan be in March. Earlier, as you know, we released a tape edition of “Ten Years of Madness” as a quite limited special work, not for sale, for our close friends from around the world only, and with special design, package, items. Some time later we got an idea to make any continuation as a more serious, professional and official release with more participants and real interesting names. The famous Russian economical crisis in August last year gave a many terrrible serious problems for us, but neverthless I´m glad that we kept the idea of compilation and got understanding and support from our friends – musicians. The thing is also that it´s a first compilation release with that sort of music and names in Russia really, and the possibility to realize it is a big honour for us. With the reissue we really had a very big delay, because some of our contributors asked us about the delay and our waiting for their tracks. And for us all these invited persons, bands and music quality were more important then some dates limitations. So, after our long waitings I am glad to tell you: we got a true masterpieces collection and I´m absolutely satisfied from the final result.
What about the bands and projects presented on the release, that´s only my personal taste and choice. The bigger part of them are my personal good friends not only any sort of usual “friendly” compilation with souvenirs from people who really all the time had a big inspiration and influence for Achtung Baby! activities and vision development as the best side of it. I would like to make a type of the sound prophets indivisible manuscript, something like a common soundscape (or soundtrack) for the Millenium and for the future as we all feel it. With our love and hate, memory and dreams, fears and reflexions, metamorphoses and permutations, our historical past, native inner roots, decay and decline, but power and steel will. That´s why so many countries have been included with our favourite and the most exciting artists. The name of Achtung Baby! is just only a conventional thing there, but the main heros on the compilation are all (these invited contributive talent persons and their art, no doubt. It seems great and I sure you can get your similar individual impressions from it soon, very soon! (about the name of contributors, see our official info and track-list that I sent you before). I didn´t have problems with our invited participants and their consent for the release.
How is developing your musical taste? What kind of music have you been listening in the beginning of Achtung Baby!? It seems that Zappa, Beefheart...
Hmm, I guess the “Revolution N1” by Beatles was a first stone in the wall as a first true revolution avant-garde experience fro me, don´t remember. Also of course, Hendrix and all British psychedelia, King Crimson and Robert Fripp works, Eno´s “Music for Airports”, Lou Reed “Metal Machine Music”, German “krautrock” (first of all, Faust) and electronics (Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream)...Also my school years I was a big fan of Led Zeppelin (!). But my second and more deep breakthrough in that type of music started in connection with my numerous voyages and life in Soviet Baltic Countries in 80´s, especially in Lietuva – Lathvia. That time for us Baltic Countries seems like a Soviet “West” and was a centre for many greatest radical and positive cultural innovations. It was a true, Europe here in Soviet Imperium for many Russians and many artists visited it for inspiration and freedom. There were always a great free-rock festivals and later in 80´s Lietuva got a very important musical organization “Centras” (Centre) – the Number One in Soviet. People from “Centras” were first who organised in Soviet a ive concerts of Western underground stars (Sonic Youth, World Domination Enterprise, Elliott Sharp...), who made a first indie-radiostations (Radio 1) and indie-labels (Zona, Blue Baltic Records). We were good friends and they helped me and gave me a big influence for my next musical tastes and interests. Thanks to them I found more avant-garde music in the vein of noise, sound collages, New Musical avant-garde from New York and England, sampling manipulation, home-taping and so on – Stockhausen, Cage, Glenn Branca, This Heat, The Residents, Z´ev, Fred Frith, Throbbing Gristle, PTV¨, Boyd Rice, Current 93, Zoviet- France, Whitehouse, Monte Cazzazza...Also “Centras” released the best (still) musical magazine in ex-Soviet for me – “Tango”. They also inspired my interest in New York no wave movement and my book about Lydia Lunch that I started to write that time...
What kind of music do you prefer now, in 2000?Do you have any newest “discovery”?
Hmm, still nowadays I prefer a quite intensive electronics and darkest pagan/essoterical apocalyptic folk, many industiral music and extreme noises – some Japanese things or type of American bands Macronympha and works of my friend Patrick from Self-Abuse label, German power-electro (type of Soldnergeist “Terror”), dark orchrestral gothic (Shinjuku Thief, Dream Into Dust), Swedish death industrial / occult folk (Brighter Death Now, Ordo Equilibrio), wonderful female – witch voices sometimes (Alzbeth – The Moon Lay Hidden... – is still my favourites!), Yasnaia / Hybryds, Ataraxia / Francesca (!)...) Also my personal favourites is Inade, Der Blutharsch, Les Joyaux de la Princesse, Currrent 93 and Death in June, Glenn Branca...the best way to find my interests is our website and TOP´s of the Year there really.
About my “discoveries” of the past year, well, Ultra United (on Drone), Herbst 9 (on LOKI), second release of American project IRR.APP (EXT) in the vein of Nurse With Wound, debut work of Dream Into Dust that some time ago I got from Derek (Rush) is very good, of course my great good friends Novy Svet from Wien! The main local Russian surprise for me is the band from Moscow region under the name REUTOFF – the best in Russia for me now! After our first meeting alive in Moscow with these nicest guys I got so incredible inspiration from their works (in the vein of Zoviet.France, Inade, Shinjuku Thief...) that then made a special concert for Reutoff in Rostov joint with our local good band Figura. That was a cultural sensation here!.. Also a big surprise for me was a new band of legendary Japanese avant-garde misstress PHEW (she worked with band Can in 80´s !) “Big Picture”- for my Christmas I got a first demo of Big Picture from her...Your band SKROL “Martyria” also was my discovery of the past year as you know;)
Tell us more about common Russian scene... What projects are the most promising under your opinion?
No any common “united Russian scene”, sorry, just only some autonomous groups, individuals, the ones who try to make something with self.realization of their intellectual ambitions, personal visions and any creative potential. They seek contacts via Internet (who really have the access from them) or some private relations. In the case of poor situation with that sort of musical scene (clubs, concerts, records, promotion) now here many of them have a very negative depressive vision for their cration ...any(??) future. The most popular form for their works realization is still home-taping on cassettes or CDR in the last time. They try to send their music on the West and hope to get any interest and support from anyone there for next realization. The Russian scene have a big influence from Western bands and projects, and have not any positive development with that sort of music because have not a real support here. So many good talented bands and projects have born and die here in the abyss of silence. The local expensive and commerical realities are very difficult for their survivalism – clubs, concert halls, professional studios are still inaccessible for them).
From music that I know well and personal here, I cna recommend you Reutoff, first of all, from Moscow region. I told you about them above. New interesting bands started some time ago in my home-place in Rostov-on-Don: Figura (very minimal, melodic electro-ambient with big influence fom slavic ancient folklor cultures), Solar Salt (project of my webmaster, a big fan of LOKI Foundation members – Inade, Dagda Mor, Turbund Sturmwerk…), Osskillator (technoids a la Ant-Zen & Imminent Starvation)…Saratov (the Volga area) have a small local experimental electro-industrial movement with DMT and Heavenly Legal Holland bands, Siberia have a good experimental ambient experiences from project Transplantant (Tomsk), Ural – a quite curious industrial performances of N.H.A. (New Artistic Ensemble) from Chelyabinsk – I saw their concerts in Rostov some time ago; also as far as I know NHA released some official records in USA; long time have a silence from them, but hope they are OK. Also I would like to tell a few good words about Northern Russia “scene” with bands Moon Far Away (essoteric gothic) and more industrial 10.000 Dead Bulgarians – both from Archangelsk. And of course few interesting surprises have a traditional Russian musical centres – Moscow and St. Petersburg. Noise and mystical power industrial – noir “Made in Peterburg “ it´s first of all two extremal labels – Black Dead Rabbit (bands Luciferato Catatonia, Reductio Ad Absurdum, Bogdanov – Potsukilo-Sturalin – the last band some time ago released their record via famouse Japanese noise label of MSBR band) and ULTRA (bands Linja Mass, Chervi, Veprisuicida, Vetrophonia) – nowadays the works of both labels you can find in the mailorders great catalogues of Cold Meat Industry and Artware labels. Both St. Petersburg is still very underground Russian city and Moscow is more commercial. Except the very good distribution label House of Mirkmoon (band Reutoff), Moscow is a mad techno-industrial experiments of one-man project Zima 23, electro-industrial (type of Cleopatra Records) sounds of Cyclotimia (I heard the rumours about their contact with German State Art label some weeks ago, but don´t know if this is a true…), techno-electro-ambient of Species of Fishes (type of Panasonic band), legendary Nochnoy Prospect – the veterans of experimental electro-scene and many many others…But for me personally th emost intriging music you can still find in small Russian places, not central big musical capitals where more commerical and snobistic environment for any sort of true creative experiences. Ihope we have a many unexpected good discoveries with real interesting music here ahead yet! Sorry for my more detail and full reply but I´m sure the review is more important for Russian scene situation than some subjective short recommendations (about it, I plan to send you special samples for your own opinion in the most interesting acts here).
You have moved to Moscow few months ago from Rostov on Don. Does exist any club-scene in Moscow? What is the biggest difference for your activities between Rostov and Moscow?
The biggest difference between Moscow and “the rest of Russian provincial world” is money in GENERAL. The more money the more activities, some actions, support and promotion. But that´s also question of commercialization for any sort of art. As I told you above, for example St. Petersburg traditional has a more creative innovative cultural musical scene (more wild, unexpected and non-conformistic) but have not a money for supporting it. And for their personal creative survival many musicians must go in Moscow. And as told me Alzbeth from The Moon Lay Hidden...one day, in that situation Moscow looks like a Moloh very often for many of them. She is right, I guess. On the other hand the cultural life of many small towns in Russia is very poor, so no some other ways for many. In the time of my last visit I got very exciting impressions from very dynamic life in Moscow, but I stopped my plans with Moscow so far because would like to finish our compilation here, neverthless – I don´t need some special active stimulus and inspirations for it this moment, except the feeling of my home as a “fortress”:)...But Rostov is dead city for me, therefore may be soon...who knows. I would not like to continue my activity and next plans here.
What are the possibilities for people who are just starting, without connections, without resource, without contacts, just with pure interest, enthusiasm and euphoria to achieve some unusual records?
Just only one chance for them is their own great and true enthusiasm, no some other possibilities! I think that´s very difficult for them to find something in the first time, some real orientires (...?) without contacts and idea of more clear situation around. I felt it personally some time ago when visited Europe in my trip- when I found myself alone at the south of Germany I didn´t have an idea what can I do with my wishes, plans, and where can I find that sort of music scene / people there: I saw there so many color musical magazines but only one had a quite short info about “my cup of tea”. And many nice people on the streets and in the musical stores told me about different shit (sorry) – about Garbage tour, local grunge – outsiders, gangsta – rap kids and I looked like as E.T. for them, I guess. My Internet friend from Germany finally saved me and told me about more clear situation – special places, clubs, people...I guess that is usual situation for true interesting art everywhere. Just only your instinct and enthusiasm! And back to Russia, the big problem here is still some info resources about that sort of music and bands.
Does exist any experimental music labels in Russia? or other organizations like Achtung Baby?
Practically, no one real label, just only some rare attemtps. The well – known enough association “Exotica” (Moscow) have their own label a few years, but I don´t like their artistic politics – between some innovations and commercial, commercial have win always. For me is mvery interesting last time the activity of small private label GRIEF in Moscow which released a quite curious unknown projects from around Russia on tape and CDR in a quite extreme limited editions. Thanks to Grief I know about these many bands that I told you above. Also as far as I know the www.gothic.ruorganization on Internet (from Moscow too) make a big concert work with gothic and industiral music in Capital. About St. Petersburg labels I also told you above. Archangelsk via self-made magazine “Resultat” long time make some propagandistic work in their area … That´s all. Sorry, I don´t know about some other examples. And this is very sad thing for me because true Russian / ex – Soviet creative – cultural potential is more deepest and all – round than you can find it – we still have many unknown absolutely the ones – musicians, interesting and talented, here. But in my opinion, the problem is that every group here is quite autonomous, live and create for their small isolated world and have not some concrete support, promotion, interest for their type of creation, don´t believe in better situation for them in the future, seek some contacts for their promotion and interest on the West, and often don´t have a long time of creative existence.
Are there any distribution channels or shops with this music in Russia, Moscow?
First of all, the main source to find any of this sort of music in Russia is still our legendary “black musical/ video market” Gorbushka in Moscow (metro station “FEELEE”, near DK GORBUNOV), high recommendations, and some special sections of “SOYUZ” company stores, then shops (in Moscow) as s “Purple Legion” and “Transilvania”, some other places – all in Moscow, and Moscow is the main market for it of course for all the rest Russian world. Also I know personal about few private persons who regular have go on the West amd bring some new records for sale here….My comrade Kirill have a personal Indiestate Distribution for it, for example. He has a stable long time audience and released the records via Gorbushka, but he is one of the few true competent persons there who knows this music very good really...Also some people try to make any sort of mailorder, but have not very big catalogue really and it looks more like a hobby for them. No some special local this type of activity in such places like Rostov, sorry…
I was just visiting the musical burses in Kiev in the beginning of 90´s. It was kind of dangerous - I wasn´t afraid of my skin but more of the records. There was one danger from the "raket" side and the second from the police. To beat everyone and steal what is possible. Does last this state of affairs in Moscow and Russia, in general, any longer?
Hmm, sad to hear about it, but today´s so called Russian reality keep many unexpected “surprises” and dangers, without doubt, that are inaccessible for any normal civil understanding. Of course we have very serious criminal atmosphere here – “raket” (both from usual bandits and from state officials as a “state criminal) and police “tour de force”, but I guess not for underground music area. Where is a money – turn, there always is a criminal (from local mafia / bandits or state officials) actions here. Underground music market is very poor existence and have not a money here, it´s only mad enthusiasm from the ones, so I don´t know about some problems there with the “raket”now.
Providing activities like yours must be very hard in Russia, I think. Information barrier, state control/censorship etc. How do you face and compete with those hardships?
The main problem si money only and stupid chaotic situation around, no other problems – especially with info – barrier and censorship. All is quite expensive here now and for any sort of non-commercial propagandistic activity survival it´s the main problem, be sure. Especially if you have so big and various interests / actions as Achtung Baby! and would like to give for your audience a regular / stable and good quality of your product. In the cause of our money situation last time we got some delays with our correspondence, Internet providers, have not a real possibility for our personal trips in Europe and conversations alive with adherents and friends about our interesting joint plans, creative acts and more. Achtung Baby! all these long years don´t have some “grants” or “sponsorship support” and was a type of self – bloodsucker in material maintenance. On the other hand, a lot of industrial- experimental music lovers in Russia have not good financial – material positions in their life and don´t have a possibility to buy so many favourite music as they would like to get. Many of them even don´t have their personal Internet connection and computer, and I sincerelly appreciate their heroism – to give their last money (that they collected for several months) for a new recordings, concerts and so on. I am sure all of us must get better access fo that sort of music. Therefore we (Achtung Baby!) are here and make our business. For itself, but for others like we too. That´s a daily struggle, if you want it.
If some other organizations on the territory of the former Soviet imperium exist, are you connected with them? Do you cooperate?
Via Internet, phone (it´s not very expensive), rare personal meetings alive – especially on concerts, rare fests. Earlier we had more free possibilities for our contacts, now the main problem are prices (phone, road...). So Internet and old good previous contacts are the best way. Also Russian postal service is better now and I am glad to know that the situation with letters and promo-parcels is more safe now than ten years ego, for example when each of Wetern world correspondence got a strong control from special totalitarian russian organizations (KGB) – I know, I had a big problems with it before. Internet is a free zone now, and previous contacts are the good way for our consolidation and individual development.
What do you think about today political situation in Russia - Chechnya, communists, nationalists, mafia?
Ohh, the situation is quite difficult here. This is not only some political problems and stupid state actions, but first of all the numerous social and cultural problems for me, th eproblems with human consciousness and colossal psychic permutations in the minds after long years of Imperium – stereotypes, instinct, total wearness of inner slavery, the lie, low-life level, indifference from officials, humiliating poverty of ones and irrelevant luxury of others…Total criminal authority, corrupted systém and “the dreaming American way” here now (Communistic Americanism or American Communism who knows…) – this is not my native country really now as I know it, sorry. After personal freedom adn all these Democratic / Independent reforms last ten years each of ex-communistic block countries got their headache, you know. But Poland had a big influence from local Catholic church, Czechoslovakia – from dissidents, Eastern Germany – from neighbouring Western Germany, what about any influence for Russia I don´t know really… All the today´s Democrats are ex-communists. And still we have a danger to return in our Past – future for Russia? Hmm, maybe near new Overturn and Dictatorship, that´s absolutely real fact always…Trans-national monopolistic “families” too (as everywhere). Mafia in the head of authority too. Wat too, as I can feel it – Rostov is a zone of Northern Caucasus, so…
I wish to organize festival of Russian innovative projects here in Praha - which ones would you recommend?
Wow, nice idea, all my support for it! As you remember maybe, I dreamed about similar idea sometime ago and make it in Praha, too, because I guess your city is a last years cult place in Europe and very inspiring. About Russian bands and my recommendations, well, Reutoff of course, the Solar Salt, … ah, it´s only my subjective opinion and I guess I must send you something like a special sampler of the recommended bands for your own opinion – it´s the best way. I asked my musicians about records for you and I am sure you will get them soon!
What is the situation on field of live performances organization in Russia? Do you consider that difficult?
That´s difficult and the main reason is quite expensive prices for hall lease adn problem with the true good organizers absence here in my opinion. The best way for good quality organisation is to get a sponsorship support of course but it´s practically not real for such sort of non-commercial events. Also club life from around, except maybe Moscow and St. Petersburg is very poor – Rostov have just only one such sort of music club, the rest ones – for stupid rich people only (bandits, “gold youth” and so on), with drunk, fucking pop-techno-dances and striptease, sorry. Poor situation for our local industrialists and more worse for some guests as far as I know. But Russian reality always has many unexpected surprises, so I hope we will get a chance one day maybe yet…
I know you plan festival in St. Petersburg - could you tell us some details?
Ahh, the fest idea is to give for Russian audience and our adherents the possibility to see a good music and interesting musicians here in Russia finally as well as get an inspiration of it. The idea was born after comrade Eric / Les Joyaux de la Princesse suggestion to organize a concert for LJDLP here in Russia. Then I had a conversations about the situation with my friends in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and unexpected the idea got their support. We planned to make the fest (under the name “Out of Christmas”) in St. Petersburg in December, but really we had not very muchtime for the organization (visas – invitations and so on), and our invited guests asked about the dates´s postpone till Spring…This is a joint project of Achtung Baby!, Indiestate Distribution ad Black Dead Rabbit (St. Petersburg). About bands there planned be Reutoff, Zima 23 (Moscow), Solar Salt (Rostov), Luciferato Catatonia (St.P.) and a few other interesting industrial Russian bands, plus special guest – Les Joyaux de la Princesse and our dear friends Inade. Much to regret we don´t have a fixed dates for the fest yet because hope to get reply from LJDP as soon as possible about his (Eric´s ) interest in dates. But I hope it will be a time of our long awaited compilation presentation in the same moment too!
What do you consider most inspiring from artistic world of today Russia? What about movies, video art, performance art or painting?
Ohh, it´s a very difficult question because for me personally the most expressive and important inspiration still I get from the Western / Eastern cultural, historical, natural, philosophical, essotherical worlds – from Holy Mother Europa and mysterial Japan. What about Russian cultural world and my inspiration of it – Tarkovsky films in my childhood years, Russian classical music and literature, Russian fairy tales and Soviet cartoons movies, Russian constructivism and Soviet films of 20-50´s, Mayakovsky, Vera Kholodnaya, Ljubov Orlova, Faina Ranevskaya, Sergei Eyzenstein, “Golubaja Bluza” art society, eraly revolution anarchism of 20´s, Vrubel …Today´s creative situation is not very inspiring for me really, because that´s only some stupid commercial fashion – acts or very poor copies of the Western art. The situation with local cinema is very bad for me, no comments – our screen have a grand invasion of Hollywood blockbusters, in literature the most loud names of last years were Pelevin and Sorokin, but except a few works of Sorokin it´s not my cup of tea, sorry.
Our interview tends to its end. Any message to our readers?
Power and steel! Consolidation is our weapon, and individualism is a key and way for it. Consolidation for more support of the most exciting creative aspects for each other, for more destruction of barriers and iron curtains. Remember, the iron curtain is not a political notion but our inner own limitation and nightmare only. Maybe the interview will change some stereotypes about Russia and people here. Some state officials, this is not all Russia. Thank you very much for your interest and questions, I´m glad to give you more info about the situation here. Thanks to Skrol again for their friendly participation on our compilation and the track. All the best for your bands and projects, for AMU activities! I hope our ideas, interests and plans with you will be continue and here is a small but important first step in it. Russia is not a country of Vodka, Matryoshka, Balalayka, bandits, Chechnya and Chernobyl only as you can see here. Take care and control. Hail Europa!
Thanx for your interview and hope see you someday in Praha.
Hope to meet you alive someday too.
Igor Vaganov / Tom Saivon 18 / 06 / 00