Names

Alsou - it's her real name. It means "rose water" in tatar language. Her mother says the name was chosen by herself, the father says he has found this name.
Aguilera, Christina - an american singer, her voice is just amazing. Alsou likes her songs because they are very "R&B". Christina has taken part in "World Music Awards" 2001 in Monte Carlo. After the ceremony she visited the disco with two bodyguards, where at the same time Alsou danced with Sisqo & everybody looked only at them. Christina felt she was not welcomed and the public hasn't noticed her. Then she has turned around and has gone. By the way, two of Christina's producers, Sturken & Rogers were invited to record some tracks from "Alsou" album.

Barnes, Brandon - the author of "Solo" lyrics. Brandon is known as respected & talented poet-songwriter.
Baikov, Vadim - the musical director of Alsou. He's the author of two songs from her debut album (one of which has been recorded in english).
Bell, Cathy - the director of "He Loves Me" video, which was shot in London on the Brimstone studio & in the park not far from the British Museum.
Belotserkovsky, Valery - the ex-producer of Alsou's russian carrier. Earlier he worked with Alexander Shevchenko & Vadim Baikov, organized the concerts with many russian super-stars. He met Alsou in 1998. First he was invited to Alsou's brother Marat wedding, where she sang "I Will Always Love You". The second time was when she appeared in Valery's working cabinet (her mother's friend offered Alsou to go to the producer). That's how he describes it: "I was sitting & working. Suddenly - not mother, but daughter came in. Silent, shy, the light flies from her. I told her to sing. She sang the part of "I Will Always Love You" very exactly, with all the intonations, but on her own way. I stopped her. I understood - that's a real gold". Then the work on her debut russian album started.

Carey, Mariah - one of the favorite Alsou's singers. She was considered as one of the best soul singers but last years her carrier is not doing well...

Darren - the bodyguard of Alsou. She names him "dear friend" "thank you for looking after me so much" (the cover of the english album).
David, Craig - the favorite artist of Alsou. She likes his songs very much. He made a mix of R&B, soul & garage. His producer Mark Hill from "Artful Dodger" produced Alsou's single "He Loves Me". The photo is made on MTV "Europe Music Awards" in 2001.
DioGuardi, Kara - one of the authors of "Alsou" songs. She produced Alsou's vocal in "BYLM" & other songs & sang in back-vocal of "100% Natural", "Never A Day Goes By" & "Let It Be Me" as well.

Franglen, Simon - the producer of "Break The Silence". He is the producer of Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" as well.

Headstrom, Thomas - the vice-president of "Universal Music East Europe", one of the producers of Alsou's english album. He said the following words: "We have seeked the east-european artist for an international contract for a long time. We have found Alsou & we are sure she has enough talent & individuality to to earn success out of Russia. The most important thing - we are not trying to make the second Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera. Alsou is Alsou firstly & she will become the world star thanks to this".
Houston, Whitney - the favourite singer of Alsou. Alsou's russian carrier started sa she sang "I Will Always Love You" to Valery Belotserkovsky. Whitney has an unbelievable voice. She has the contract with "BMG", & it costs $100.

Iglesias, Enrique - one of the most popular latin artists. He is talented, of course, but some people say he wouldn't reach the top without his last name. But Julio Iglesias has never interested in his son's carrier. Enrique sang in spanish at first, but the real success came to him when he recorded an album in english - "Enrique". It contained the ballad "You're My ¹1" which has become a duet with Alsou.

Jaimes, Juliette - one of the authors of "Butter Wouldn't Melt", the author of english text of Alsou's russian song "Svet V Tvoem Okne" (the english variant is called "Not Over Yet") & the performer of back-vocals in this song.
Junk, David - the general director of "Universal Music Russia", the producer of Alsou's english album. That's what he said: “When I heard the music of Alsou for the first time, I thought she could get the attraction of different audience not in Russia only, but all over the world. Her voice is beautiful, she's charming, work-loving & that's very important. We are sure she will be the first russian singer to become the star of world level".

Krutoy, Igor - the most popular russian composer. His work with Alsou started in the beginning of 2001, when she recorded a song "When Love Will Come To Me" for a soundtrack of the russian animated movie "The Snow Queen". The new russian songs were presented on Krutoy's concert in Kremlin, Moscow (autumn 2001).

Lane, Andrew - the author of "Solo" music. He was born in 1962 in San-Diego, CA. He dreamed "Solo" to be performed by his own son, but he gave the song to Alsou. The text of the song was rewritten.
Levine, Steve - the producer & the author of "Solo" arrangement, one of the authors of "Now I Know" (along with Alsou & others).

Mendez, Lester - together with Enrique Iglesias the author of "You're My ¹ 1" & it's arrangement, the producer of other Enrique's songs.

Napier-Bell, Simon - the manager who has taken the promotion of Alsou on the West. He worked with "Wham" earlier (the group where young George Michael sang). Firstly he was asked to find the manager for Alsou, but as he met Alsou he understood he shouldn't seek because he will be the manger himself. "She has a sensational voice & charming manners. She's not like those auwful schoolchildren with no character" - do you understand whom does he mean?

Royes,Tim - the clip-maker who shot many videos with Madonna, Janet Jackson, Five & Queen ("We Will Rock You"). In November 2000 he has shot an amazing "Before You Love Me" video. Alsou says her meeting with him was impressive & gives him thanks in her english album cover.

Safina, Alsou - see Alsou.
Safin, Ralif - Alsou's father, the vice-president of russian oil corporation "Lukoil". When she was little & went to the musical school in Russia, she played piano for her family (only what she learned in the school), but for the father she played everything he wanted...They lived in the north of Russia & moved from one oil town to another. First time they even couldn't buy the piano for little Alsou. Then they lived in USA, Danmark, until the family got the possibility to send Alsou in England to get foreign education. Many russian journalists think Alsou would never have success without the financial help of her father. Ralif Safin says he had bought all the songs from Alsou's debut russian album. But would Alsou have a success without her beautiful voice, charming appearance & showing her soul in her songs?
Safin, Marat. Somebody thinks Alsou is a sister of famous russian tennisist Marat Safin. But the truth is that her brother just has the same first & last name (Safin is a well-spread surname)! The photo of Alsou, her brother & his wife Julia is here. Alsou lived in London with them during her education in MPW College.
Safin, Renard - the littlest child in Safin family. Alsou says he's just the cuttest person in the world & her favorite little man. When he sees Alsou on some TV program, he shouts: "Mom, Alsou is in TV!" Here is his photo with Alsou.
Sisqo - the rap artist who has taken part in "World Music Awards". According to the words of Alsou's ex-producer Valery Belotserkovsky, as Sisqo saw Alsou he jumped & ran around trying to have her attention. After the ceremony Alsou, Sisqo & Anastacia went to the discoteque. On the radio interview in Russia Alsou said about the possible duet with Sisqo.

Shevchenko, Alexander - the wtiter of many Alsou's russian songs.. All the russian videos of Alsou are shot on Svevchenko's songs. Alexander is her russian producer as well (since 2002).
Spears, Britney - "the pop princess", "new Madonna" - that's how this girl called. She sings simple songs, sometimes lyrical, sometimes agressive. But she gained the widest popularity all over the world, bacame a millionaire, released 3 albums. How is it concerned with Alsou? Britney became the law-maker in music fashion & there are many young girls singing such songs now. Alsou is often called "the next Britney", especially ot the West. But they don't see she's much more individual. Her voice is not like Britney's. Britney sings her songs with shouting, screaming, "oh babe" etc. Alsou's voice has an infinite tenderness & I'm sure we don't know all it's possibilities yet. Alsou doesn't like when she is called a Brit Spears clone (who would like that?). She dreams somebody will say about the new young singer: "Look! She tries to copy Alsou". Alsou says she likes Britney because that's a real pop, but she likes Christina Aguilera's songs much more, because they are more 'R&B'
Sturken & Rogers - two western producers who worked with Alsou on her english album. They are the authors of "What Your Girl Don't Know" (with Christina Milian). They produced "Teardrops" (written by Alsou), Carl Sturken wrote the arrangement, & the back-vocal of Evan Rogers may be heard in both songs. These producers worked with Britney Spears,'N Sync & Christina Aguilera as well.