TALENT, BUT YOU DIDN'T KNOW
"FLYING SAUCERS START FROM CHILDHOOD"
Before telling about himself, the young composer Ruslan BOZHOK presented me his disk and told: "Listen up. If you like it, we'll talk." I realized that this is "my music" from the first sounds. Very melodic, imaginative and sensual, despite its computer origins. However, technology is only an assistant. Music is born in the soul… And here we are in Ruslan's studio. Small, modest, in a rented apartment. Of course, it's all packed with technology. But the atmosphere is special.
Oh, scales, scales…
Ruslan says that his parents really wanted to see him as a creative person, and therefore they began to develop musically at an early age. I didn't really know how to walk, but I enjoyed listening to the melodies of the band "Space", which my mother liked. It is with this beautiful French "electronic" ensemble that his first childhood memories are connected. Then, at the age of 6, they put him at the piano and started teaching him music. At first he really liked it, and then he quickly got tired of it. Isn't that right It's boring to play scales for hours when other boys are chasing a ball in the yard. But the parents did not back down. And when Ruslan turned 8, he started playing the accordion.
- And here, - says Ruslan, - the first interesting moment in my musical biography took place. The teacher decided to test my hearing: "I'm going to press the keys, and you're going to have to guess which note sounds", he said, and put me with my back to the piano. And what was his surprise when I was not mistaken once: "Boy, are you by any chance a telepath?!" So I myself and my parents found out that I have an absolute ear for music by nature. But, despite my natural inclinations, six months later I gave up the accordion, as I had previously given up the piano. But my parents did not give up again and made a third attempt. At the age of 10, I was no longer sent to private lessons, but to a music school in the main class - guitar, and piano was an additional education. I studied for three years - I didn't have enough time for more.
Keyboard instead of keys
I am surprised that with such a natural talent, Ruslan did not "get used" to music school in any way. Explains this by saying that he was boring to memorize notes and perform other people's music. I wanted to compose my own. In addition, at the age of 13, he had another hobby, the computer. It outweighed. Instead of a piano keys, there was a computer keyboard under my hands. But unlike his peers, he was not fond of games - he bought serious books on programming and computer "stuffing".
- It was a very interesting time, - he sighs with some sadness.
I say: "What about the music?"
- Yes, I was completely immersed in computers and electronics, but music was always there. I didn't learn new musical instruments, I didn't go to music school, but I was, as they say, a music lover. I listened to various kinds of music to the point of stupefaction, I memorized all the CDs and cassettes that were in the house. It was rock, rock'n'roll, electronica, and pop music. I especially liked the beautiful and singeable melodies. I could listen to European pop music for hours: my favorite band "Modern Talking", electronic music "Space" and "Laser Dance".
One day, watching the clips of "Modern Talking", he suddenly, but firmly decided that he wanted to be a composer and write music in the style of synthpop! However, after graduation, Ruslan did not go to a music college or Gnesinka, for example, - the sad experience of the music school affected him, - but to the law faculty. But soon the future lawyer was sitting at his first synthesizer all night and experimenting with sound.
I say: "Have you tried yourself in vocals? The audience and especially the girls love singing musicians more!" He replies that the vocals are something
for some reason, had not attracted to it, he liked instrumental music, synthesizer music more.
Soon the aspiring composer began to assemble his own recording studio, and then it became clear that communicating with computers on "you" was his foundation and support. Continuing to spend hundreds of nights and hours, he was engaged in creating his own sounds, programming synthesizers and experimenting in music.
A chance from the foggy Albion
It is not for nothing that they say that a lucky chance is important for success. Ruslan decided in 2006 to take part in the German electronic music competition of the 80s style. I sent the tracks over the Internet, and... right on my birthday I received a gift - a contract from the UK record company Alpha Centauri. The project was called SYNTH-DIMENSION (which means "synthesizer dimension"). A few months later, his first album "Dreams Of Electronic Mind" was ready. This year he it enters both the European and Russian markets. Then there were several tracks in the compilations, and now he is waiting for contracts not only in the UK and Europe, but already at home in Russia.
In the meantime, the demo track of the album could be heard on Ruslan's website https://www.synth-dimension.com/lander (not working).
The secondary nature of the rhythm
I can't stop being surprised that the electronic music that Ruslan Bozhok writes is so warm. What, I say, does the computer's soul sing?
- My music, - the author explains, - is a mixture of the good melodic spirit of the 80s with modern recording technologies. For me, harmony and melody come first in music itself, and rhythm is secondary. I believe that it is through melody and harmony that the emotions and feelings of the composer flow to the listener. I still spend a lot of time working with synthesizers. Creating an original, warm sound is a very big part of the job.
- Didn't you want to work in a movie? And if so, which is closer - "Star Wars" or a modern melodrama?
- I would really like to. I hope to do this in the future. It would be interesting to try yourself even as an actor, not just a sound producer and composer. I watch a lot of movies. Especially those where psychological collisions are investigated, where there is a deep meaning, and also there is a share of mysticism.
Mom and "Flight Of The Navigator"
Ruslan's music is very imaginative. He believes that it is impossible to write a good melody without an initial specific image! Now technologies are developing globally, musical equipment is becoming more and more available, new devices and synthesizers are appearing. But the music, in his opinion, is not getting better globally. And this is due to the fact that most of the current creators forget an elementary rule: the image and feelings are primary, and recording technologies and equipment are still secondary. Ruslan first has a feeling, an experience, and only then a melody.
"My first album," he pauses emphatically, "is stories. Stories from my life and the lives of other people. These are sensations, feelings, emotions… For example, there is a song "Flying Up Circles" in my album. I will tell you about the image embedded in this composition. Do you remember before there was such a children's toy in the form of a handle and a propeller? You pull the handle - the propeller spins and takes off! I was about 7 years old. My mother and I were walking from the cinema after the movie "Flight Of The Navigator." Mom told me: "And let's launch our flying saucers!" And we began to take turns launching these flying circles-propellers. I, like any child, was delighted! It was something interesting and unusual then. Especially after the movie about flying saucers! As they say, we all come from childhood… One day, as an adult, I was walking through that place and suddenly I remembered that evening in detail… Just like it burned! I did not have time to return home, as I hurried to get a synthesizer - the composition was written immediately.
- Grandiose light shows are in fashion all over the world now. Have you thought about voicing this?
- I am very attracted to pyrotechnics, light, laser shows. Now I am even engaged in the technical development of some new unusual accompaniment for my performances.
The stale world
- Does the chosen musical style affect the lifestyle?
- Perhaps. But it can also be said that my image influences my musical style. I don't have to adjust clothes to music or music to my lifestyle and clothes. And music and lifestyle fit each other stylistically because they are parts of the same thing - they are parts of me. To be honest, I am happy that I am sincere to myself in my lifestyle and in my music.
- Which girlfriend would a young modern electronic musician like to see next to him?
- I'm sure every girl is beautiful in her own way! If we talk about personal qualities, then in girls I appreciate spiritual development, education, femininity. But stupidity, hypocrisy, lack of spirituality repel me. In my opinion, the world is becoming more callous from year to year, as well as more dynamic, changeable, fickle, mercantile. The romance, mystery and beauty of the relationship between a man and a woman often dissolves, or even disappears. I believe that every woman is worthy of love, as well as every man should take care of his beloved and should be able to feel. The hardening of souls is very sad.
- How do you see yourself in 20... 30 years?
- A difficult question. It's probably not how I see myself that's more important here, but who I see next to me is more important. Joke. But seriously, besides music, I want to do movies more and more. After all, I am only a lawyer by first education. And the second is a sound engineer of television programs. I would really like to continue developing my recording studio and do producing young talented performers who treat creativity sincerely, for whom creativity is the meaning of life.
This interview was conducted by Larisa ALFEROVA
It was translated into English language on 27.10.2024.
It was translated into English language on 27.10.2024.
