Boris Grebenshikov sing for an acoustic guitar, along with his longtime friend and bandmate Alexander Titov. The program favorite more than one generation “sycamore”, “the Art of being quiet” and “Road 21” and the songs that BG wrote not long ago: “it was Not like this”, “don’t Even think about it” and many others.
on the Eve of the concert of Boris Grebenshikov answered questions browser “RG”
the fact that the pandemic has caught you in London, and not, say, in Moscow or in Nepal, you see more pluses or minuses for yourself? On the one hand, European capital of rock music, Abbey Road, a lot of friends living close by: Alex Kan, Brian Finnegan, Alexander Titov. On the other – Prime Minister of UK, your namesake Boris Johnson, who is constantly reminding everyone on TV: “Stay home”… As you spend time in London, where to find you in the time of isolation? What songs are you more attracted to her.
Boris Grebenshchikov: All the questions about where I am is insignificant; I got to where it was, because record there new album “Aquarium”. And unconcerned about what is happening, because accidents in the world, and once I’m somewhere, so is a piece of a huge overall picture, where I is very small, but quite important part.
And I have never in my life had neither the regime nor mottoes; it would be artificially; it would be the game of life, but I prefer not to play, namely to live, taking it like it is. And reacting to what is happening around as only I can.
If you gave this concert is from London, and, for example, from his native St. Petersburg – would be the track listing any different?
Boris Grebenshchikov: It’s impossible to say everything in the world is what it is. And “if” does not happen.
Your show will be in the range of “OKKO” Theater of the Director and the General producer of this project by Ivan Vyrypaev. He is a very good theater Director, and you wrote music for theatrical performances… did you Discuss in advance the program, and, in theatrical parlance, was there any concert task?
Boris Grebenshchikov: To Ivan I have always been treated with the most light feelings, and we’ve been trying to remove a chamber concert of “Aquarium” in some small and cozy place – so it turned out the MSB. And the only task which can be any of the concert is to share with those who are listening, what’s in your heart. Well, we play always what at the moment is the soul otherwise it does not work.
But about music for theatre? Yes, a few times wrote it with great interest. But then, to do it for real, me is not enough, because the songs require a full commitment. This is my main thing to write, record and sing songs of the time where I live. The rest a distraction.
At the beginning of the year you said that you intend to work on six or seven albums at a time. You will change your plans now, because ideas at all, probably not as calm and optimistic as before the pandemic?
Boris Grebenshchikov: All those tricky words like “pandemic” in life do not change anything. Our new album is close to completion, and after it is over what to work. Yes, as long as there is a pause in the concert, but we had the opportunity to do more recording than usual. So all you can find their advantages… And yet, there are no songs “about”, every song is a piece of news from the invisible world; even the most stupid and ridiculous it may be important to somebody.
May, reflecting the current times and changes in people, you will want to move away from the short song form and is already plotting something else- about the events that happen to us? For example, a rock Opera or a new prose work (B. G. – the author of the novel “Ivan and Danilo”, published in the journal “Aurora” – Approx. Ed.).
Boris Grebenshchikov: my head is wired differently; I can’t think of how else to surprise; I do well only what comes from the heart. And the form or the name of a genre I really don’t care. After the concert, I sometimes don’t remember what we played; when the wave carries, and all so clear, and to remember that there is something there that is simply impossible.
It is the same with songs: I do not remember them, but when you start to sing, the song sings itself.
“face-to-Face person can not see, big is seen at a distance,” wrote Sergei Esenin. Being already more than six months far from his native city, and indeed of Russia, is there something that you saw as if afresh and with new eyes? Especially now the world is faced with big trouble – coronavirus pandemic, and during the troubles and misfortunes of all feelings and perceptions are often exacerbated… whether you Think about what will happen to the world next?
Boris Grebenshchikov: Never anyone anywhere it is unclear what will come next, so life now is no different from what it was before. In China, in America, in Ryazan – lift up your head, look at the sky and realize that life is a miracle.
What can be more?
What do you primarily want to do when coronavirus, finally, to recede: to go to the Studio, drink in a friends house for a good drink, go to the bookstore or to forget these times of pandemic, as if it never happened?
Boris Grebenshchikov: the Current time is as priceless as any other. Just look what you personally today can do good for people?! Here is the answer to all the questions.
