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Tatiana Shmailyuk, vocalist of JINJER band
Why did you choose such a heavy kind of music?
Living in Gorlovka. I don't know, possibly I should have done some depressive trip-hop or something like that.
However, in the reality NO, it is just the Western influence and that is all.
I think that in every part of the world you can play metal, let it be even in Jamaica where it is always sunny.
Where does your band come from?
We've got so tired explaining what Gorlovka is or Makeevka, where they are. So let's say Donetsk.
But even better to do like STALINO band and to say we come from Donbass. Now we gonna say we come from Donbass.
Is music a hobby or a job for you?
It was a hobby at the age of 16, but now little by little, year by year I understand that I want more.
That's why I want to develop professionally as a musician.
We played in Romania at a big festival in front of a huge number of people. And I realized that this is what I want. I want to multiple it ten times.
Is it possible to make your bread with music?
Not in our country. It is not appreciated. Being a musician. In our country you have to slave for the Government. And musicians are considered to be idlers scrounging off the country.
You have to try to break through abroad. Cause there are no perspectives here to be a musician. Professionally I mean.
Or you can be a musician at parties, bars or restaurants, office parties... and I had to sing at restaurants and bars. Those were parlous times.
Can you combine teaching and a Rock Star career?
I am not an aggressive person. Most of the day I am not aggressive.
Well, basically, it is more of impudence not aggressiveness. And I don't know, it doesn't make you a bad teacher, moreover I don't work as a teacher. I've chosen this direction for myself and music has pulled out my profession so to say.
And probably it stopped me, yeah music stopped me from this. I wouldn't like to combine.
It would be difficult to teach children and then they would come to your concerts and perceive you in a totally different way.
Are you afraid to experiment with your appearance for the sake of the image?
Since the very childhood, I don't know, since 9 years old I dressed like a boy.
I wore jeans, which I got after my brother, knee-long T-shirts, jeans jackets with badges, round sunglasses. I was 9. Since then started pointing their fingers at me saying "what a wretch".
I got so used to, so adjusted to this image. It is just very difficult to separate me and all of this.
Can it be sometimes difficult in the men's group?
You have to be a real man, to listen to talks about boozing, parties, chicks, about everything.
But what a ladette I can be, sometimes at concerts I want to talk to a person who has ***.
If I can't, I seclude somewhere, in my room, or just stand alone in a corner, drink my beer and think about my own. Sometimes it bothers a lot, in the reality.
Does your family share your interests?
I don't see understanding from my family. They try to show this on the other hand saying «good girl» though they very seldom praise me. Well... I cannot be different.
They always say «go and work as a teacher» and stuff like that. And I say that I don't want and it isn't mine. I say «I will show you, prove you, just give me some time». But they don't believe. Damn it!
Is Donetsk a provincial city in the respect of music?
Before the only club where we could play here was closed, it had been really awesome. Everyone wanted to get there and play a show. But not unfortunately...
Donetsk isn't the worst place. In Gorlovka it is just a hell. It is more interesting at home than out. No place to go.
Do you feel on yourself a stamp of the one coming from Donetsk?
Abroad -- NO. Abroad they only know about Donetsk Shakhtar club! Yuhu! But it was once in Kiev, when I heard at the concert from the audience «Donbass, go home!».
Well, very unpleasant. Even in Lvov, when we were giving a show there, they were very welcoming. And no one told us anything like "bullies from Donetsk». But it happened in Kiev.
What are you interested in except music?
Long to enlist. I play the flute, sew clothes, do embroidery, make tattoos, draw. I do many things, but it isn't of good quality all the time probably. Quality is of course better than quantity.
What is the most important in a good song?
For me first of all the most important thing is music. Lyrics is not the main, for me a song can be even without any lyrics.
A melody which can touch the heart. For me it is essential.
With a good song I can draw for example, I love it. If a song brings some emotions, that's everything for me. It will be the first somewhere in my playlist.
What's the most valuable you can exchange for the glory?
I won't sacrifice the most valuable. This is not what is worth sacrificing. I don't know. To sell my soul, but it was probably sold long ago.
The most valuable? What can it be? For example I don't have anything except my parents, do you understand?
To sacrifice them -- no way, never. I'd better stay here dying in poverty. I won't pay for this.
What's your contribution to the development of the society, your town and country?
I am so pessimistic here, and so self-criticizing... that I will say that I haven't done anything for my country and I don't want and I won't.
Because... Well, I don't know, I cannot say it hasn't given me anything. But... I don't know how to explain this. It is very difficult. I am afraid that they will come for me then and shoot.
I haven't done anything. But I want to do something for my parents. To make them be proud of me finally. And first of all when I earn a bunch of money I will help them but not the country.
I wanted to be similar to Sandra Nasic from Guano Apes.
But then it went away because you have to look for something yours. And I have always been impressed by Nina Hagen with her shock value, such a dark woman with such alive facial gesture... I just fell in love with her. And her voice is very exotic. But I don't want to resemble anyone anymore.