Interview - Petr Elfimov (Belarus 09)
Image taken from www.eurovision.tv
By Diarmuid Murphy
After being contacted to do this interview, Petr quickly agreed with no hesitation, taking time out from his very busy schedule and studies.
1 - What part of Belarus do you come from?
I was born in Mogilev city - nice and light place, which historically was supposed to be the capital of Belarus. But as you probably know, Minsk became the capital, it is also very beautiful place to live.
2 - Could you tell us about how your career started and your highlights to date?
My stage debut took place when i was six. When I was eleven, I heard the famous Queen for the first time, and forever fell in love with rock music, with its truthfulness, extraordinariness, sincerity and melodism. I was overwhelmed by the unlikely harmony between the harsh instrumental sound and the incredible vocal polyphony. I had always tried to absorb as much beautiful professional music as possible (classical, jazz, blues, soul, heavy metal) which, no doubt, influenced my creative philosophy – it has "trace elements” of such widely popular music genres as heavy rock and romance.
At fourteen, I became the solo singer of a vocal band called Double W. I turned to the roots of rock music and revealed for myself a constellation of brilliant performers, including The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, and Bryan Adams. My admiration with the vocal capabilities of Ian Gillan inspired a spiritual journey into the creative heritage of Andrew Lloyd Webber. I still cherishe the hope to perform the part of Jesus in the famous rock opera Jesus Christ Super Star.
1998 - I finished the Mogilev Music and Choreography Lyceum.
1999 - I created the Egoist band, where I was the solo singer and the song-writer. I wrote my first song, If You Only Knew, when I was eighteen.
In 1999-2003, trying my hand at various creative pursuits, I was the leading singer in a number of KVN (Merry and Inventive People Club) panel game teams, including the teams of the Belarus State University and the People’s Friendship University of Russia. I hold the title of the absolute champion of the International KVN Union.
2004 - I won the Grand Prix at the International Popular Song Contest Vitebsk 2004 within the framework of the International Arts Festival Vitebsk Slavyaskiy Bazaar. Then there were victories in Estonia, Poland, Serbia…
I graduated from the Belarus State Music Academy in 2005, where I majored in Academic Singing. Currently I am doing a master course at the Belarus State Music Academy, and I am hoping to get my master degree this June.
Since 2007 I have been teaching Popular Signing at the Modern Knowledge Institute named after A. M. Shirokov.
I had given more than 50 solo concerts in Belarus. I also extensively tour foreign countries. I am a constant participant of charity concerts with proceeds going to sick and orphaned children. To date, I made two solo albums: I Want (2005) and The Bells (2007). Now I am working on a new album, Glance of Love, which will include the track Eyes That Never Lie in the English and Russian languages.
Image taken from www.eurovision.tv
3 - This year, you are representing Belarus at the Eurovision. What are your feelings about this and what made you decide to enter?
Eurovision has a special place on today’s musical map of Europe. It is not just a popular song contest, but also one of the most significant European forums. I would compare Eurovision with a crossroads, the meeting place for representatives of different cultures who come together not only to demonstrate their professional skills, but also to socialize and share their experiences. I was lucky in that I had an opportunity to perform on many European stages, and Eurovision has become the logical extension of my personal creative “shopping list”. The only difference is that instead of just being an onlooker studying trends, watching the contest grow and develop, like I did before, this time I will have the honour of representing my country. I am certain that I will do it well.
4 - Could you tell us a little more about your song 'Eyes That Never Lie.' What does it mean to you?
My song is autobiographical. Its a little story of my life, my search, my love! It is dedicated to the person I love. I am happy, that we had a chance to make the new production of the song in Finland in collaboration with the well-known finnish sound producer Tero Kinnunen, who works with the famous NIGHTWISH band.
5 - Have you any plans of yet regarding a stage presentation or what the audience can look forward to?
I have a professional team, which works at my stage performance. We are in collaboration with the famous polish producer and director Janusz Jozefovich , who created on the world stage such great musicals as "Metro", "Romeo and Juliette" and many others, so we want our eurovision performance to be bright and to be in harmony with my song.
6 - Belarus will be performing in the 1st semi-final in May. Are you happy to be in that semi-final or does it really matter what semi-final you are in?
Actually it didn't matter in which semifinal I was going to perform. I believe in my song, I believe in myself, I believe in my team and I believe in God. Main things, that I feel now are support and love of my country!
"My song is autobiographical. Its a little story of my life, my search, my love!"
7 - Should you take Belarus into the final, what would this mean to you?
It will be great to realize, that european audience fittingly estimated my performance!
8 - The best result Belarus achieved was Koldun's 'Work Your Magic' in 2007. Last year, Ruslan Alehno missed out on the final. What do you think happened?
Maybe he hadn't much experience to perform at such huge events like Eurovision.
9 - Do you have a favourite Eurovision song that sticks out in your head?
Oh, yes! Its EYES THAT NEVER LIE by Petr Elfimov! Of course its impossible not to remember Waterloo of the legendary ABBA.
I also liked the performance of Sertab in 2003 with 'Everyway That I Can,' I can mention 'Ange'l by Chiara and 'Molitva' by Marija Sherifovich as eurovision songs that I like.
Of course, Wild dances of Ruslana is on the brightest performances in the history of eurovision. The same thing with «Hard Rock Hallelujah» by sweet scandic monsters from Lordi.
10 - What are your plans between now and May? Have you any promotional tours planned?
Yes we've been to several countries like Moldova, Greece, Macedonia, Ukraine, Finland, Turkey, Bulgaria. We are going to visit Russia soon, also UK on 17th, Belgium and Netherlands on 18-19th of april. In the same time we have rehearsals, shootings and other preparations to the contest.
11 - Finally, is their anyting you would like to say to our readers?
If you are in friends with love, soul warm, if you have desire to be near to the person you love, if you have romantic feelings in the bottom of your hearts- - share it with me during Eurovision, please!! God save all of you!
We would like to thank Petr for taking time out for this interview and wish him the very best of luck at this year's Eurovision.
You can view Petr's entry for the Eurovision by clicking here
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