Group "Rozhdestvo", leader Gennady Seleznev Composition: Gennady Seleznev - vocals, author of music and lyrics, Sergey Kalinin - drums, percussion, Viktor Boyarintsev - guitar, saxophone, clarinet, backing vocals, Dmitry Alekhin - button accordion, Andrey Nasyrov - arrangements, sound, bass guitar, artistic director. Full name Gennady Borisovich Seleznev Born on March 19, 1964 in the city of Dedovsk, Moscow region. FamilyMom, Tatyana Fedorovna, is a trade worker. Father, Boris Mikhailovich, is a truck driver. The parents divorced when their son was one year old. Gennady never met his father again. Childhood and adolescence The first bright childhood impression Gennady, associated with music - “Oriental Song” performed by V. Obodzinsky. It was him who little Gena tried to imitate, performing this song on holidays for his mother, standing on a stool. When I grew up a little, I learned to play the button accordion for some time in a music studio at a ceramic factory. But then he gave up, and as he got older, he began to master the then popular guitar. I learned to play mostly on my own, learning chords from more experienced friends. The musical preferences of his youth were very diverse. These are the Soviet VIA, Yu. Antonov, as well as the then popular groups Ottawan, Bony M and the “heavier” Black Sabbath. From 1982 to 1985, Gennady served in the Northern Fleet as a radio operator on a large anti-submarine ship. After demobilization, he entered the Institute of Food Industry, but left two years later, realizing that the work of a refrigeration engineer was not his calling. He worked as a taxi driver, while not giving up his hobby of singing with a guitar. Moreover, the time came when he began to compose songs himself, which were very popular among friends and acquaintances. Creativity Over time, I wanted to give my own songs a different look, replacing the guitar accompaniment with something more expressive. Gennady’s friend began making arrangements on the computer, and the voice was recorded in Andrei Nasyrov’s studio. Andrey, who liked the songs, suggested putting them in a more complete form, that is, attracting professional musicians. This is how the group “Christmas” was formed. The team received this name in honor of the holiday of the same name, since the idea of ​​creation appeared on the night of January 6-7. The composition of the “Rozhdestvo” group changed periodically at first, but each of the participants left their mark. Musical style the team decided immediately. In essence, this is a lyrical chanson with light, bright texts, in the high-quality vocal delivery of Gennady Seleznev. The musicians began working on their first album in 2007, but it was released only three years later. The debut work entitled “One of You” included songs about love, life, simple things, understandable to every person. A year later, in 2011, a new disc was released: “Bright Angel”. Here, as an experiment, there were songs in the “light rock” style, there was more electronic processing, and in some places there was even a slight nod towards pop music. But general concept creativity of the group remained the same: positive, lightness, desire to give good mood to all listeners. The third album - “Under Which Star...” - is not entirely ordinary. Some of the material that was prepared for this disc was sent to the archive. Almost every song has some kind of story associated with it. Thus, the song “Chamomile” is dedicated to good friend group, a former orphanage resident. This man has been helping his orphanage, which is called “Romashka,” for many years. The song “Two Comrades” was written under the impression of the May 9 holiday. And for the first time it was performed in Ukraine on June 22, Memorial Day, as a special gift to veterans. When recording, a small brass band was specially invited to the studio. And the group's accordion player, Dmitry Alekhin, found an accordion from the times of the Great Patriotic War, the sound of which helped to give a special flavor and reflect the atmosphere of that time. Ultimately, this record became a real gift for fans of the group’s work. Many note Gennady’s excellent vocal abilities. He sings really well, at a professional level, although he never studied this specifically. The group "Rozhdestvo" often gives concerts. The team is especially popular in Ukraine, where they have their own official representative. The music of the group "Rozhdestvo" is original and unique. The guys found their niche and confidently took it. They have a large number of fans, including people of different social groups and ages. Personal life Wife Elena and daughter Nika. Kuma is Nina Anatolyevna, she is also the director of the Christmas group. And also cats Dusya and Rosa, Labrador Chris and hamster Feofan. Did you know that... - There is only one reason for Gennady Seleznev’s excitement before going on stage - the fear of forgetting the words; - Gennady is absolutely not susceptible to seasickness. He believes the reason for this is that he is a Pisces according to the horoscope; - In the album “Under Which Star...” there is a song with which Gennady Seleznev’s life as a professional singer began. It was this that he presented to A. Nasyrov’s court on the day when it was decided to create the “Christmas” project. The title of this song is being kept secret for now. Hits “Indian Summer”, “ Winter evening", "Pencils", "Bright Angel"

Time passed, years flew by, we stepped into a new century...

And finally, the once-born dream began to turn into reality! Once in the city of Moscow, your humble servant ended up in the music studio of another lad, on some musical business, because at that time Gennady composed and sang his songs only with a guitar! And the boy was none other than my friend Andrei Nasyrov! He then listened to Gennady and invited him to musically cultivate the works into the necessary song forms! So then the friends decided to shake hands: to be the birth of our group and Gennady named it “CHRISTMAS” - as a sign of everything new being born on earth, and even in the yard, the leaf in the calendar turned out to be from January 6 to 7!
This is how fate itself dictated everything to them!

Since 2007, the group “Rozhdestvo” began to persistently rehearse, arrange, invent and create their first album called “ONE OF YOU”. All the songs on this album are imbued with love, friendship, faith in the future and that the soul is eternal. The members of the group changed, but each left their mark, for which we thank them. Thanks to Andrey Otryaskin, Slava Litvyakov, Seryoga Zakharov!
Special thanks to Oleg Kobzev, who helped us and continues to help us, as well as Lyudmila Naumova, who added new colors to the group’s music and provides invaluable assistance in working on the second album!

Today the main figures of our team are:

→ Pavel Voiskov – studied at Moscow State University, but doesn’t remember what year! Solemnly plays drums and percussion.

→ Gennady Seleznev – entered Moscow State University, but got caught in a snowstorm! He organized the group “Rozhdestvo”, is selflessly devoted to it, writes music, poetry, and sings them himself.

→ Viktor Boyarintsev – did not want to study at Moscow State University! He graduated from Gnesinka and a lot of other things, and then he took it and left for distant America, fortunately, not forever! Victor is at the origins of the birth of the Rozhdestvo group, its spiritual mentor, curator, editor, backing vocalist, guitarist, saxophonist, clarinetist and simply a wonderful and competent musician!

→ Andrey Nasyrov – MSU applicant! And also an attentive, responsive music teacher, part-time. All the rest free time dedicating to the group "Christmas"!!! Her arranger, sound engineer, music stylist and irreplaceable bassist! And in general, in my opinion, he plays everything he can!

Currently, the group has managed to make friends and perform with their friends, such as: A-MINOR TV channel, GOOD SONGS radio station, CHANSON radio, and continues to be friends with them! And all this thanks to our friend and group director Vadik Kozaev, who purposefully learns the intricacies of the show world, does not sleep days and nights and forges a bright future for the Christmas group! Thanks to his efforts, a business document was signed with the CD Land company, represented by its main man Yuri Tseytlin!!!

IN given time The band is trying hard to work on a new album!

Today we will continue to talk with the group “Rozhdestvo”, with its soloists Gennady Seleznev and Andrei Nasyrov.

Tell me, you say that at the age of 35 you started asking questions, but I think that the person who asks questions finds answers, and the answers lie in the fact that every moment of our life...

Gennady Seleznev:

I'll tell you a story now. When I read the Bible, studied it, and there were moments, I saw something for myself there... How can I tell you... Let's say, I remember, not one human government will solve the problem of man, for the Lord did not create people so that they would stand on top of each other friend, but in order to love. And therefore I treat the government as it should now: I understand that it is difficult for everyone there, they are doing everything they can. But it was in those moments that I began to understand that best fight the one that didn't happen.

A year after we studied the Bible (then this woman died), I was traveling once without a car, on a train. Moscow suburban train in winter.

- A fun show (laugh).

Gennady Seleznev:

You’re from there and know what it’s like at late times of the day. And so, one day we were standing in the vestibule, we were leaving, people were traveling from Moscow, I was standing in the vestibule, it was winter. You know, there was such a moment when they stood pinched like sardines. And I’ve been involved in sports all my life, I grew up in the Moscow region, I’ve been friends with boxing since childhood, because on our streets, where I live, in the city of Dedovsk, violins were not held in high esteem (laughs). Here, in my city, we still have world champions in kickboxing, combat sambo and football players. I bow to this city, my Dedovsk. I love him.

So here it is. Therefore, I grew up in a normal boyish environment, I was always ready, as they say...

- …stand up for oneself.

Gennady Seleznev:

And now the moment. We're driving, a drunk man comes in, well, a redneck, let's say. I don’t want to call it that, he did nothing in this life, in front of anyone, maybe, but he just behaved like that. And it just begs to be that a man is standing. I don’t like people like that, I looked into his eyes, and at that moment my two hemispheres worked. One hemisphere told me: “It’s cramped. The first blow is from the head, then from the elbow, or vice versa.” Second hemisphere: “Let me go in peace.”

I looked into his eyes as if I was saying: “You have two seconds to disappear from here.” And he probably understood me, he corrected me like this: “We’ll talk later,” I said, “With pleasure,” and he went into the carriage. And we go out, and I have this, you know, some kind of state inside me, that is, I was ready...

- Is this fire?

Gennady Seleznev:

Fire! That is, I was ready for some kind of battle. And I go out onto the platform, and my jacket was unbuttoned. I was standing, closing my jacket, and there was a woman next to me. I don’t know what her name is, such a sweet lady, at that time she was about sixty years old, intelligent, wearing a fur coat and a hat. She was standing right next to me. And when I got off the platform, I looked around, these people were not there. That is, I was ready, in principle, to continue all this in a different way on the platform, but there was no one. And this woman passes by, she didn’t even stop, she just “floated” for a minute, and what she said gave me goosebumps. She, passing by, said: “How much willpower you needed” - and walked away.

And at that moment I realized that the Lord saw, felt, I felt Him, that this was a change in me. And from that moment on, everything somehow went differently. I felt: most likely, there was some kind of assessment of what I had been studying for a year, through myself. Because there is a lot of, you know, this friction when “turn your left cheek, right cheek.”

- A person who comes from a different environment, of course, begins to study, and this is difficult to accept. Everything seems very simple.

Gennady Seleznev:

I know that your music helps many people, many reviews and letters come. Tell us a little about this, about the stories of your listeners.

Gennady Seleznev:

When did it start for us?

Andrey Nasyrov:

The very first time we were on Good Radio, a man called from Krasnodar and said that he had serious oncology, the doctors gave up on him, and he was already in despair. And he listened to our song “So I Want to Live,” and after two months, in my opinion, the disease subsided, the doctors simply could not believe it.

Gennady Seleznev:

Still, he went out into the garden every day, I remember.

Andrey Nasyrov:

Yes, he says: “I won’t name myself, as if I don’t want anything, I just wanted to thank you, that’s all. I don’t want to say anything.”

Gennady Seleznev:

Yes, he's in live called and said: “I thank you.” Apparently there was a garden and a hammock there. “I,” he says, “went out there, sat in a chair, and every day this song played for me. And then he went and was gone.” In short, everyone there was simply in shock. And then it was no longer the only person.

You understand? If people who write that they have already experienced grief, someone has passed away. I dedicated this song to my mother and all my family and friends. It was written... It has more verses, to begin with. What people hear is half of what was originally there. That is, I ground it all up. What moment? Someone no longer has a loved one, and when a person listens to her, he then comes up and says: “I now understand that you need to have time to love while everything is here, while you are alive.” Well, I don’t know how it happened, it’s God’s Providence.

- You are, after all, a witness to the miracle of the birth of a song. How do you usually do creative cooking?

Gennady Seleznev:

Look, we have such a wonderful song “Pencils”. It was a moment when my mother was still alive, but something wasn’t working out right, that is, her financial condition was precarious. I came home, sat down, scribbled it on a piece of paper, looked at it, crumpled it up and threw it in the trash, that is, I didn’t like it. In the morning I wake up, and like all mothers, she says to me: “Son, you shot something there yesterday, just wait.” (laughs). And just on this day there was a rehearsal. I was like, “Okay.” I’m driving in the car, Andryukha called and said: “So and so.”

- Well, it’s like the coal hasn’t been burned yet.

Andrey Nasyrov:

If there was a fireplace, I would burn it.

Gennady Seleznev:

And he came, sketched something, made some sketches. Andryukha says: “Are you crazy? Yes, this is a hit!” And then the song “Pencils” appeared. Mom, thank you! I'm sorry I didn't listen to your advice, Mom!

And I ate my pound of salt while I was looking for love,

But, thank God, at home. The prodigal son has returned.

On Easter, near the temple, an angel told me:

"I know what you've seen and everything you've been through,

After all, I was with you personally the whole time.

And he never left.”

The song "Pencils" is playing.

- Tell me, what are you working on now? Should we wait for the sixth album?

Gennady Seleznev:

Yes. It will be different, it will, as always, have lyrics and philosophical theme, what can you think about. I can even read a piece to you, if you want, although there is already a song, but it is still classified.

- Can I make an announcement, a little trick?

Gennady Seleznev:

Then I tell you this...

My friend has an apartment, a car, a dacha, good luck,

And by God's grace, he gives bread to the blessed.

And the neighbor on the right had the last mouse run away from hunger,

But he is not sad, but, praying, goes somewhere.

Both are happy in their own way,

When one does not envy, how one litters another with simplicity.

Happy in his own way, both friend and neighbor,

When he realizes that there is nothing but love,

We have nothing personal here.

Everything is only His - my God,

Yes, and love, and that from Him.

It seems to me that if you had started collaborating with Andrei, with musicians, when you were thirty-five years old, perhaps it would not have been the same, because such lines come with age.

Gennady Seleznev:

Most likely yes. With losses, probably, with some, most likely. We had a certain moment, that is, we started writing the first album, in principle, there are good lyrical songs. It included the song “Youth”, “So I Want to Live”. Second album...

- ...I see you are in a duet with Lev Valeryanovich.

Gennady Seleznev:

Lev Valeryanovich Leshchenko, yes, God bless him.

- But, all this is in open sale yes? All albums?

Gennady Seleznev:

No, you have an exclusive, my friend.

- I have an exclusive, I understand.

Gennady Seleznev:

Because what's here...

Andrey Nasyrov:

This is not on the disk yet, it is on the Internet.

Gennady Seleznev:

You can find it on the Internet, but not everything. Well, no, now, in my opinion, everything is there? (Addresses Andrey.)

Andrey Nasyrov:

There is a “Thank you” and...

Gennady Seleznev:

- “I See the Light” - there will be a wonderful song. And Andrei Anatolyevich has already done all these things, as it were, a little (who is talking about chanson)... whatever you want to call it. If it’s “ounce-ounce” it will be a chanson, but it will be delicious, for God’s sake.

Andrey Nasyrov:

Let it be an electronic chanson.

Gennady Seleznev:

Electronic chanson, yes.

The song “Cossack” is playing.

Gennady, Andrey, please tell us about your life on tour. Are there any events planned in the near future?

Andrey Nasyrov:

Of course they are planned. What is a concert for a musician? This…

- That's life?

Andrey Nasyrov:

This is life, this is the demand for a musician. If a musician is in demand, that means he is successful, right? When there are no concerts, it's bad, but when there are concerts, it's good. You see people who come, vote with rubles, buy tickets - these are your fans. Not those who write on the Internet: “How cool you are! Here, here!

Gennady Seleznev:

Who's come.

Andrey Nasyrov:

Who came, yes.

Gennady Seleznev:

That is, this person prepared, bought tickets for himself and his wife, and dressed appropriately. How many times have we seen that when people come, they put on patent leather shoes in the lobby. And I bow to these people. Why? Because they really came to support us.

We even had a case where one person first wrote on the VKontakte network: “Hello! Here, here." I was like, “Well, that’s very nice.” And he tells me: “Give me your checking account.” I tell him: “Dear man, why do you need it?” He says: “I’m singing your seven songs in a restaurant. Every day I sing “This is how I want to live” five, six times. You know, I teared up. I saw him later."

Gennady Seleznev:

Here's the level. Therefore, Andrey is correct. Friends, no matter what, the crisis is only here, in your head. A crisis is always change. We will show ourselves in what we are strong at. Come to our concerts and to the concerts of our colleagues. Why? Because the song is like a good movie, like good picture, like something so good, right? I speak in that sense, as if it were a piece of happiness.

Our group has a fan, Seryozha Bogachev. He lives in Smolensk, he works as a simple electrician in a housing office, he has three children. It doesn’t matter that dad and mom help there, but he follows us all over the country on tour: to Minsk, to St. Petersburg. I tell him once... By the way, he called me now to be godfather. Seryoga, we will! This is a big responsibility for me.

So, I ask him once: “Brother, how can you? Your salary is 12 thousand rubles, and you’re running around.” The thing is that I am so ashamed, sometimes when they come, there is Anya from Belarus, and we also have Nadya from St. Petersburg. In general, this is such a circle, these are people who gather and follow us all over the country. They come to Moscow for a birthday, that is, they live as a group, through our creativity. And I tell them: “I don’t feel comfortable, neither the hotel nor the hotel.” Well, it doesn’t work out financially. We leave in the car, they stay at the station, and for me it’s just...

They say: “You don’t have to worry. Go and mind your own business." I say: “Serge, how can you do this?” And he says that even his wife understands that he needs to rest. When our concert begins, he begins to prepare for this date, he can prepare for a month in advance, he says: “I live for this.” And when he comes to stay in our dressing rooms, he comes behind the curtains to us, that is, he is so close, he says: “You can’t imagine how I rest, how I recharge when I come home later, because I saw you here.” , all the guys, on stage." So, can you imagine what it’s about?

How I want to live! Unfortunately, our intimate conversation is not included in the broadcast, and at the end of our program I would like to ask you to say a few parting words kind words to all our TV viewers.

Andrey Nasyrov:

Friends, more positivity, more faith in the future, and so that there will be peace, as Gena says?

Gennady Seleznev:

Beautiful.

Andrey Nasyrov:

Gennady Seleznev:

What do we want to wish you now? In general, we are very pleased that you invited us, let’s start with this, because your channel, it really speaks about our Orthodoxy, about what is in the souls of our people. You can’t go far from faith, probably, right?

- Certainly.

Gennady Seleznev:

Therefore, we are very pleased that our creativity has received such a response somewhere, and we are here today, and I hope that we will come here more than once. What would I like to say? Friends, I’ll tell you like a poet, no, not a poet, it’s very loud (laughs), like a person who composes.

I was visiting God

Didn't talk much

I stood and listened more

And shook his head

The simple truth

The age-old truth:

When you love

So you are alive.

Therefore, the “Christmas” group wishes you all to live to simply love your neighbors and neighbors. And we wish you, as usual, at concerts I tell people all the time, health. And not only for you, but first of all for your loved ones. Why? Because when your loved ones are healthy, our nerves are calm, we can do something, create. Therefore, health to everyone and peace in the soul is the most important thing, because if there is peace in a person’s soul, there will be peace outside the window. With God blessing!

Thanks a lot! You know, we have also prepared a small gift for you. On my own behalf and on behalf of all our TV viewers, I would like to give you, Gennady, the Feodorovskaya Icon Mother of God, and to you, Andrey, “Support of sinners.” Let them guard your home.

Gennady Seleznev:

That's very pleasant, thanks!

Andrey Nasyrov:

Thank you!

Thank you very much for this meeting, thank you for helping people really live, and God bless you! Thank you!

Gennady Seleznev:

Thanks a lot!

Andrey Nasyrov:

The group "Christmas" will hold 18-19 in Kyiv. and now I’m posting a selection of videos for the songs of this group.

More information about the group "Rozhdestvo" can be found on its website - http://rozhdestvomusic.ru

It all started at the end of the distant, distant seventies! A boy once heard a very beautiful, melodic song from a box, under the proud name RIGONDA, he was such a receiver in those distant years, and then he fell so in love with this beautiful song under the mysterious name EASTERN SONG that he sang it from morning to evening with an unforgettable Valery Obodzinsky! And the boy dreamed to himself, when he sang this song on holidays from his stool for his mother, that when I grow up, I will be just like him!!! And this boy was none other than your humble servant Gennady Seleznev! But he didn’t become like that, and why? The most important event is the birth of a dream!!!

Time passed, years flew by, we stepped into a new century...

And finally, the once-born dream began to turn into reality! Once in the city of Moscow, your humble servant ended up in the music studio of another lad, on some musical business, because at that time Gennady composed and sang his songs only with a guitar! And the boy was none other than my friend Andrei Nasyrov! He then listened to Gennady and invited him to musically cultivate the works into the necessary song forms! So then the friends decided to shake hands: to be the birth of our group and Gennady named it “CHRISTMAS” - as a sign of everything new being born on earth, and even in the yard, the leaf in the calendar turned out to be from January 6 to 7!

This is how fate itself dictated everything to them!

Since 2007, the group "Rozhdestvo" began to persistently rehearse, arrange, invent and create their first album called "ONE OF YOU". All the songs on this album are imbued with love, friendship, faith in the future and that the soul is eternal. The members of the group changed, but each left their mark, for which we thank them. Thanks to Andrey Otryaskin, Slava Litvyakov, Seryoga Zakharov!

Special thanks to Oleg Kobzev, who helped us and continues to help us, as well as Lyudmila Naumova, who added new colors to the group’s music and provides invaluable assistance in working on the second album!

Today the main figures of our team are:

→ Pavel Voiskov – studied at Moscow State University, but doesn’t remember what year! Solemnly plays drums and percussion.

→ Gennady Seleznev – entered Moscow State University, but got caught in a snowstorm! He organized the group “Rozhdestvo”, is selflessly devoted to it, writes music, poetry, and sings them himself.

→ Viktor Boyarintsev – did not want to study at Moscow State University! He graduated from Gnesinka and a lot of other things, and then he took it and left for distant America, fortunately, not forever! Victor is at the origins of the birth of the group "Rozhdestvo", its spiritual mentor, curator, editor, backing vocalist, guitarist, saxophonist, clarinetist and simply a wonderful and competent musician!

→ Andrey Nasyrov – MSU applicant! And also an attentive, responsive music teacher, part-time. He devotes all the rest of his free time to the group "Christmas"!!! Her arranger, sound engineer, music stylist and irreplaceable bassist! And in general, in my opinion, he plays everything he can!

Currently, the group has managed to make friends and perform with their friends, such as: A-MINOR TV channel, GOOD SONGS radio station, CHANSON radio, and continues to be friends with them! And all this thanks to our friend and director of the group Vadik Kozaev, who purposefully learns the intricacies of the show world, does not sleep days and nights and forges a bright future for the Christmas group! Thanks to his efforts, a business document was signed with the CD Land company, represented by it main man Yuri Tseytlin!!!

The history of the Moscow group “Rozhdestvo” dates back to 2010 - that’s when its first album “One of You” was released. It is noteworthy that the musicians took their initial steps in Ukraine - their first concert took place here in the House of Officers, as well as their first performance on the radio. And even now the group “Rozhdestvo” does not forget about our country - on the eve of the Ukrainian tour, its lead singer Gennady Seleznev gave an interview to GolosUA. - Gennady, for sure, you are not just a guest vocalist, but are directly involved in the idea of ​​​​creating the group “Rozhdestvo”... - The group was created by chance, by God's command. I was working in a taxi at the time and wrote poetry for a girl I knew. By the way, this song “Flowers for Masha” was later included in the third album, and then I needed to record vocals. The man who now works as a sound engineer for us brought me to Andrei Nasyrov. He had a studio, and he is now one of the leaders of the group. - And a bass guitarist... But how did events develop that you decided to join forces? - We recorded vocals for this song, and then Andrey offered to sit with other musicians. Our tea party with a guitar successfully lasted until 5 o’clock in the morning in the orphanage for creativity, and he forgot to turn off the microphone and everything was recorded. Then he turned me on to listen to this party and asked: “Where did all this come from?”, and I answered: “These are my songs.” Then he said: "Let's try them"cultivate" and let's make a group." I got into the car and saw that on the desk calendar - January 6, Christmas Eve. I called Andrey and suggested: "Let's not invent anything, let's call ourselves "Christmas." This all happened at the beginning of 2008. - You mentioned that you worked as a taxi driver. Who else and do you have a musical education? - I was also the director of the Star Trek trading company, which sold red caviar. Then he threw it all away and took a taxi because he wanted freedom. And really on new job in the early 2000s, I began to compose songs and sing them to my passengers, observing the reaction. By the way, I left the taxi only when the group’s second album was coming out. Then I decided for myself: if music doesn’t start feeding me, it simply doesn’t need me. And I wrote poetry since childhood, but in music school did not go. I think if I knew the notes, I wouldn’t be able to create like this now. All the other musicians in our group have a musical education. - When you changed everything in your life so much by taking up music, did your family and friends believe in you? - I started doing what I wanted to do at 43 years old. At first there was no means of subsistence. My mother helped me, but she died soon after. The kingdom of heaven to her. Before her death she said: “All your life you have been involved in some kind of business, songs were your hobby, but this is the real thing.” I listened to her and everything started to work out. As for friends, those who know me well are not surprised, because they know that I am a daredevil in life. But recently I had a meeting with a person whom I had not seen for 20 years. He came to my album presentation in Moscow with a bouquet of roses and said:« When we found out that it was you singing, the pause from surprise lasted for a day». - You write lyrics and melodies. Where does inspiration come from? - I describe either personal moments that I experienced, or stories that I heard from friends out of the corner of my ear. Inspiration comes from the sky, from space. First I write poetry, they are this moment there are more than melodies in stock. Many of the characters from my texts really exist, they are from life. After I compose the words and melodies with the guitar, Andrey works on arrangements with the musicians. We recently released a new album"And I believe." In total, we already have 50 songs, officially released in four albums, not counting remixes. - Your first official video was recently released, which was filmed near Kiev in Pushcha-Voditsa. What were your considerations when choosing the filming location? - The choice is obvious: “Christmas” everyone calls Ukrainian group, after all, Kyiv discovered us in 2011, when we first played at the House of Officers. Also, our first radio broadcast took place in Ukraine, there are a lot of friends here. When we were thinking about where to film, we immediately decided that on this earth we like it here. The shooting of the video took place at night, it was raining heavily, I stood in a pond in the water for two hours, there were horses and dogs nearby. Italian director Luca Fachini fell from a stepladder before arriving to shoot a video and broke his leg. So his ideas were embodied by two fragile women - co-producer Irina Fomenko and Ukrainian producer Natalya Golub, known from the TV program"Heads and Tails". I like the result we got, a philosophical video came out. - It was filmed for a song« I want to live this way» from the first album. They say that once at a concert in the Kremlin, dedicated to the Day police, Russian President Vladimir Putin shed tears during its execution... - Yes, he got emotional. Then it was impossible not to feel emotional, the situation in the hall and the video sequence were conducive to this. It was a requiem. - What songs of yours are most often requested by the public? - The other day in Bryansk at a concert they asked" Pencils ". They often want to hear" Youth ", " I want to live this way» - they became folk songs who live their own lives. - Are you satisfied with the number of listeners the group has?" Christmas "? - At the concert that took place in Kiev on November 29, there weren’t even extra free stools. Also, the hall was packed, for example, in Penza. On November 28 they played in Bryansk - the hall was 85 percent full. Now we are going on a tour of Ukraine. By the way, we have already visited your cities in the spring. There is a wonderful audience here: in Poltava they listen carefully to the words, in Sumy they stand up and sing along. Ukraine is truly a songbird. - Did recognition quickly come to you? - In Russia they were already downloading ringtones for our songs with all their might, but in person" Christmas " No one knew. When the group was accidentally invited to a radio station"Chanson" in Kyiv, its director looked at us and said:« Wow, the song is booming in the charts, but no one knows you». At the end of 2011, we were presented with an award at the Ice Palace in St. Petersburg and the spectators, approaching the stage with flowers, whispered:« Finally we saw them in person». Fame and popularity are God's providence, which means our path had to turn out this way. - And to which musical genre Do you attribute your creativity? - This is a synthesis of lyrical rock, mixed with waves of chanson and pop. Our creativity reflects all five musicians - members of the group. Whoever is interested in anything in the musical direction is present: there is chanson - this“My Pears, My Pears”, “Pencils”. But “Birds Fly Away”, “Kama Sutra” - what chanson is this? We may have different songs on one album. In general, we bring something new, we have our own identity. - Why "Christmas" calls itself a Moscow group, not a Russian one? - There’s just a group in St. Petersburg too" Christmas ", who plays folk music. We appeared at the same time and decided that we needed to be different from them in the name. - Are you planning to sing in Ukrainian? - We’re still thinking about this, because we need to sing beautifully, we don’t want to distort the language. We have experience on Italian- I once sang from sight and people in Italy said that I had a normal Neapolitan accent (Laughs - Ed.). We’ll probably try it in Ukrainian too, I want to make a national hit so that it will blow your mind. - Do you agree with the statement that music is either good or bad? - To be honest, sometimes I don’t even know the name of the musician, but if it’s pleasing to the ears and heart, I listen to him. Of course, you need to treat all your colleagues in the music industry with respect, and I wish everyone only the best! Let there be more good songs, and we will go our own way. Each of our songs is verified by musicians; we do not have passable compositions. I believe that we are difficult guys, marked by God's grace. The members of our group are so brilliant that if you ask them, they will play in any style, in any format, but all the songs that end up in our albums are chosen with great responsibility. For example, saxophonist Viktor Boyarintsev is the curator of my poems. - By the way, you work without a producer... - Yes, we had a producer, but he turned out to be short-sighted. Because of him, for example, the song« I want to live this way» lay on the table whole year! We stepped on this rake twice and tried to collaborate with the producer, but now we are on our own. It’s financially difficult, of course, but I reconsidered my life a long time ago. Of course, money is needed, I won’t say that I’m an altruist, but it comes when it’s needed. The Lord will not let his soldiers offend anyone, but we are his servants, and he sees all this from above. We are happy to do what we love and are grateful to heaven. - Apparently, Gennady Seleznev is a believer, but your songs have no religious overtones... - All my songs are about love. They are written for common man in simple language, although, in fact, there is a lot hidden between the lines. Every song has something that a person should believe in the bright, the good, the good. - What will you do on New Year's Eve and in the new year? - In 2014 we will continue to create, sing, and release our fifth album. On New Year's Eve I want to be at work. It's boring at home, what about salads? After the holidays, we'll go skiing.