"Most of the Intervision participants have yet to learn"
Delegations from ten countries arrived in Russia on September 10 to begin preparations for their performance at Intervision. The competition will be held on September 20, and the artists will be judged by an international jury. Among its most respected members is producer Igor Matvienko. On the eve of the musical event, Izvestia discussed with the composer global trends in the industry, the difficulties of evaluating artists and the advantages of the latest technologies for young performers.
"I can't say that I was very surprised when I was invited to the jury."
— How do you feel about the format of the Intervision competition, which combines the representation of different cultures through music?
— The Intervision format is very close to me. This contest is my age, it appeared 65 years ago. And in my younger years, I was happy to follow what was happening there. Even today, the TV screen saver evokes very pleasant nostalgic memories for me. There were practically no such formats at all. And it is very good that our country has now resumed Intervision. This is actually a unique platform that allows performers from different countries to introduce each other to their cultural traditions. I think that today, more than ever, such a creative exchange is very necessary for the world and will definitely be in demand.
— What criteria will you rely on first of all when evaluating the contestants?
— Of course, this will be a kind of subjective assessment based on personal tastes, preferences, and experience. For me, it's primarily sincerity, vocal skill, and some kind of identity. You need to understand that a competition is not a sport where the first runner wins. It is very important to see that an artist does not just perform a song, but lives it on stage. You know, it also happens that an artist may not have some kind of strong voice, but the act itself and, as the youth say, the vibe that comes from what is happening on stage, from, I'm not afraid of this word, a work of art, immediately chills you, and you realize that this is the application. to win. When there is a strong number, the criteria for evaluating it become completely unimportant. So, as a rule, the leaders are determined immediately. I hope it will be the same at Intervision.
— What new musical trends do you observe in the participating countries?
— For work, I often have to attend various competitions and evaluate performances. Of course, you notice some patterns. But in general, and this is a global trend, people often become popular on social networks, where they perform their songs, sometimes not even very interesting from a professional point of view. In other words, the reverse process is going on: first, people create their audience, and then they promote their creativity and personal brand through it. But talented but modest performers may remain unknown because they do not use such technologies.
— How important is it for a modern music producer to participate in international projects such as Intervision?
— Such international projects expand ties, introduce new names and trends. Serving on the jury is an opportunity to promote Russian culture and our artists outside the country. Besides, communication in an international team of professionals increases your level as a specialist. The exchange of experience provides new approaches to promo and management, opens the door to various collaborations and commercial projects.
Singer, composer, Honored Artist of Russia Yaroslav Dronov (Shaman), who will represent Russia at the Intervision competition
— What does it mean to you to be a member of the international jury and with what expectations did you approach this role?
— I can't say that I was very surprised when I was invited to the Intervision jury, because lately I've been invited to the jury a lot. I took it well. I am certainly pleased that I am perceived as an expert of a level worthy of "Intervision". In fact, I've already, so to speak, got my hands full in evaluating other people's work. I hope to be as objective as possible and help identify exactly those performers who are ready for international success. I am currently at an important stage in my personal creative life — preparing for the October tour of the ethno-opera Prince Vladimir, which will take place in Samara, Kazan and Nizhny Novgorod, and I am immersed in the rehearsal process with the updated cast. And "Intervision" allows me to switch to something else and briefly emerge from the tenth century.
"Intervision" will be one of the key events of this musical year"
— Do you have any experience working with artists from those countries that are represented at Intervision?
— Over the years, I have worked with musicians from different countries, both the CIS and abroad. The names of some of the Intervision participants are familiar to me. But most of them have yet to be learned. And who knows, maybe we'll have some joint projects with someone in the future.
Intervision contestant from the USA Brandon Howard
— How important are music contests today for discovering new talents and supporting the music industry?
— They play a huge role: many of today's stars started with contests, which became their launching pad. It is in such an atmosphere that the character of the performer is manifested and tempered. And where, if not at a competition, can you declare yourself at the top of your voice? Social media is an important platform for aspiring artists, but contests certainly have a larger reach, and in this case, they are also international. Plus, the competitive element helps the artist to understand whether he can withstand the competition, to gain this important new experience.
— How do you assess the role of the ambassadors of the contest, such artists as Dima Bilan and Klava Coca, to promote the project?
— Their participation will help to attract the attention of a wide audience, inspire young performers and make the competition much more visible on the world stage, because each of these artists has its own army of fans.
— What difficulties do the jury members face when evaluating their performances?
— It is always a bit difficult to start any large-scale project, but we have already held a meeting with the organizers on how we will evaluate the performances so that the jury members with completely different approaches do not get lost in this musical stream, do not get lost and can remember all the performances, compare them and make their choice. The main difficulty is personal tastes and sympathies based on one's own experience and cultural baggage. You need to be able to abstract and evaluate only professionalism and creative contribution. This is what we will agree on before the start of the competition.
— What are your expectations from the final concert on September 20 at the Live Arena and what can make Intervision a significant event of the year in the music world?
— I look forward to a large-scale celebration of music, new discoveries and acquaintance with the unique cultures of the participating countries. I am a proponent of everything related to creativity, contests, and television shows based around music. Unfortunately, there is too much negative information around today, and people hardly notice the good news. There is no negativity in the story of "Intervision", there is a scale that attracts the attention of the audience. And it pleases.
To be honest, I was always sure that Intervision would be one of the key events of this musical year and would give a start to many bright artists. He already has that cool international holiday atmosphere, his fans, who, I think, will travel and personally support his contestants, a large television audience, his records and new heroes.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
