Valeriya

As professional as I like to appear, I did a bit of homework before speaking to Valeriya. So off to Wikipedia to see if the pr blurb was correct stating that she had sold in excess of 100,000,000 record (that's one hundred million!!). A massive number written in either format!

Okay, so Wikipedia isn't he most accurate means to measure this but there she was, in the list of artists who have sold between 100 and 200 millions records. Most of them are household names having been around for many years, like The Beach Boys and David Bowie. Being an alphabetical list, Valeriya sits between U2 and The Who! As knowledgeable as I am about music and with that many sales under her belt, it's almost embarrassing to say that until a week ago, I had no idea who Valeriya was.

So who the is she, I hear you say, and why don't we all know about her?

Well, firstly she's "only" been making music professionally since 1991. I say "only", as most of her fellow musicians on the Wikipedia "World's Most Successful Musicians" list have been in the industry for 10-40 years longer than she has, and had the benefit of being released to a worldwide market. Born in Russia and growing up during the Cold War, isolation from the rest of the world's music industry has prevailed for the most of her career. Until now.

"My parents are classical musicians", she says after I ask how she got into music, "so it was natural for me to be a musician. It wasn’t exactly the profession that they wanted me to get into, pop music that is. They would have preferred me to be a classical musician, but they were very supportive of me. And not against it."

And with the sort of success you've achieved so far, and all those record sales, I'm sure they have no reservations that you took the pop root into the music industry?

"Oh, yes, they are very proud"

Being a teenager, growing up in Russia during the 1980's, what did you grow up listening to?

"I listened to whatever I could get hold of. As we were living behind the Iron Curtain, it wasn’t easy. But some big names came through, like Dire Strait, The Beatles, Pink Floyd....and The Bee Gees", she says giggling.

There is an obvious connection to The Bee Gees. On www.valeriya.co.uk, there is a link to Robin Gibbs website, which seems a bit unusual. On further investigation, there's been a collaboration with the man himself.

How did you get to work with Robin?

"It was just by chance that I got to work with Robin Gibb. We sent him a few songs, and he was very supportive of me, so it developed from there. We've also sang together on-stage, and had a great time."

It seems clear that never in her wildest dreams, would Valeriya have imagined working with a Bee Gee, when she was growing up listening to them in Russia. And it's her honesty of this, that makes her endearing. Many artists who have had the success that Valeriya has so clearly already attained, may be aloof and almost robotic in their answers to questions that have been asked many times over the years. But she never is, and seems genuinely pleased to be talking to me.

Her latest album, Out of Control, has already sold over 200,000 copies and if it's half as popular as any of her previous released, there will be many more sold in the coming months, years.. I'm informed that she does write most of the music and lyrics, but has used a co-writer on this record. Thinking that it might be because it's an English record, I'm updated that she's written in English as far back as 1990's. For the record, her English is impeccable.

With the sort of success that you've achieved already, is there any need to try and break into the UK market?

"It's a new challenge. I've got millions of fans in Russia and Europe, and performed in front of many people. I want to do something new, so we will try to get into the UK."

Have you any plans to perform live in the UK?

"Oh, it’s too early to talk about it. We will see how the album sells here, and then we will see. It will be like starting over again, with smaller crowds. But I’ve always loved performing live.."

Having performed with a Bee Gee already, is there anyone else that you would like to work with?

"Sting, that would be great", followed by a similar type giggle that Robin Gibb evoked.

Well, it's in the tantric master's court now. Sting, how's about it?

Lastly, I bring up the journalistic title that has been given to Valeriya, that of, the Russian Madonna.

"I don’t know why I’m known as that, I would just like to known as myself, I can’t compare myself to anyone else", finishing of the sentence with the customary laugh.

I think she's happy to be mentioned in the same breathe as Madonna, who wouldn't? She's earned it, and it has nothing to do with her blonde hair. It's got to do with her hard work, millions of record sales and ambitious spirit.

This might be the first time that you've heard of Valeriya, but it definitely wont be the last. You never know, maybe Madonna will be known as the English Valeriya one day!