Alsou is a fairytale come true. She's beautiful, talented and in her home country of Russia, she's the biggest selling artist of all time. Just don't mention Britney Spears!

How did you get started?

Well, I've wanted to sing ever since I was a little girl. But I think my big inspiration came when I heard the Mariah Carey ballad, 'Hero', that's when I really got into imitating her and started buying songbooks from her, Whitney Houston and Celine Dion and just really started singing.

How did you turn professional?

Well, I've always been singing in front of my friends and stuff and then the audiences just got bigger and bigger. Three years ago, my brother asked me to sing at his wedding. I sang the Whitney Houston song, 'I Will Always Love You', and afterwards a friend of my Mum's came over, and she said 'Wow! That was great! I know this manager you should go and meet him. He could really help you.' So I went and sung for him and he really liked it and we went into the studio and started recording straight away. My first song was released two years ago in January and it was number one in Russia! I really couldn't believe it. Then I had a couple more number ones and a really successful album and then I got noticed by Universal Music and got a contract for seven albums! So, I've been working on this English album for a year or so now and recently finished it. I'm really happy with it. Hope you guys are!

How do you feel about being compared to Britney?

If that comparison is in terms of my success, then I'm really flattered 'cos she is just soooo huge. But if that comparison is musically or vocally then I'm not so flattered 'cos I like to be individual.

How would you describe yourself then?

Pop/R 'n' B, I guess and ballads, oh, and I'm also a songwriter.

So who is your biggest inspiration?

Mariah Carey, definitely, and Whitney Houston. Big voices, basically, rather than the production on the song.

How is your English album different?

There's no real big difference but on this album I've been working with a lot of different producers and in Russia I just have one sound producer. In a way I prefer working here 'cos every producer has their own style and I like that. I don't want my album to sound exactly the same all the way through. It's quite a mixture!

How did you end up working with Enrique Inglesias?

Well, when I signed to Universal, they wanted me to do a duet with someone well-known, and someone found this song on his album, but he was singing it on his own and they thought it would be really good as a duet, so I recorded my part separately and sent over the CD to his management for approval. He was doing a couple of live shows in Moscow, which is where we finally met, and I got to join him on stage for the song. It was a lot of fun and a great experience. In the future I'd love to do more with him, he's great fun, but right now I'm concentrating on my own stuff.

What's the immediate plan?

This summer I have loads of promotion all over Europe and Asia, and in September I'm going to America. The American album will be slightly different again to The English album. There will be some tracks the same but largely it will be new songs, and hopefully I'll break the States!

What do you think is the biggest preconception about you?

That my Dad and his money helped to get me where I am today. He is a very successful businessman in Russia and he is also my biggest fan. He's supported me every step of the way, which is so lovely, not many kids can have that. But he can't buy me talent. It's unfair to say that. It really upsets me.

What's your biggest dream?

To be an actress. I'd love to star in a big Hollywood movie. Watch this space!

 

 

 

 

Hosted by uCoz