The songs of the group “Leap Year” were firmly established on all kinds of radio stations and were liked by many listeners. Everyone has heard such hits as “Metro” and “Best Love Song”.
Today the lead singer of this band came to visit us. popular group Ilya Kalinnikov.

Ilya, I always wanted to ask: for a person who writes poetry and music himself, how does the process of writing a song go? How do hits come about?

Songs are composed at the moment of some vague state of mind. You just grab something by the throat, sit down, take a piece of paper, and you get lines, motives. The main theses come to my mind first; I usually start composing not from the beginning, but from the middle. Then I take the guitar and try to connect the lyrics with the melody into a single whole. For me, the meaning is always primary, the song should be a small story. I think the success of our songs is that they bring out the goodness of your past, they are suitable for people of all ages. It is no coincidence that audiences from 17 to 57 come to our concerts.

Why were no video clips made for your well-known 100% hits “Metro” and “Best Love Song”?

In my opinion, videos for these songs cannot be made. “Metro” and “Best Love Song” are story songs that evoke their own personal associations and emotions in each person. If you impose your idea, your visuals on people, it will not benefit the songs. In addition, all the scenarios that were offered to us were banal.

-Do you take the subway yourself?

Not anymore, I bought a car. For me, riding the subway became a very hectic, one might even say unpleasant, experience. People constantly find out and begin to show excessive attention. As soon as you enter the carriage, you immediately hear shouts: “Oh, Leap Year! Metro!" Therefore, for those who strive to become very famous and popular, I can give good advice: guys, don’t waste your time! Popularity is the absence of peace, free time, personal life, the right to solitude. These benefits can only be truly appreciated when they are no longer there. Touring alone is incredibly exhausting...

-Do you like your profession?

If you mean the profession of an artist, then I have never and will not consider myself one.
We just play for people, share with them our thoughts, feelings, and attitude. And we like it.

-In which cities does the public accept Leap Year the warmest?

Yes, in principle, there is a pleasant atmosphere everywhere. In Moscow, performances usually go very well, and in Tula too. And in your city after the concert people came up for autographs for about 40 minutes and said nice words. Honestly, I feel funny in the role of a star. I'm actually not the right person for this. I have no ambitions, I didn’t have the best face or figure, I was never sociable by nature. Therefore, I am pleased when such positivity comes from the audience.

-Did Pugacheva invite your group to the “Christmas meetings”?

Yes. Alla Borisovna simply liked our songs, and she invited us to the shooting. Therefore, let no one think that we paid her.

-Ilya, where did you learn to sing, and in general, how did your musical development happen?

I didn’t learn to sing at all, I just played for myself whatever I wanted. I was always focused on making my work enjoyable for myself. I don't have any special education. We record music in amateur conditions on personal equipment, which we collected from around the world for several years, bit by bit. We do not use the services of a producer; we decide everything ourselves.

-What kind of music do you like to listen to?

My tastes in this regard are very varied. The main thing is that the music is of high quality.

-Which of your stage colleagues are you friends with?

We have friendly relations with many. For example, with the group “Zhuki”. Although we meet chaotically, mostly at airports. Unfortunately, there is simply not enough time for true friendship.

-Do you go to concerts of other performers?

Very rarely, again due to lack of time. Besides, for some reason it’s hard for me to relax during a concert, I’m in an excited state, even though the concert wasn’t mine. In addition, visiting the concert of my favorite band, “Polite Refusal,” lasted me a long time.

-How do you feel about all kinds of rumors and gossip published in the media?

Of course, if this is a merciless lie, distorted facts, then, of course, it is negative. But a person who has chosen a public profession must be ready to discuss his personal and creative life, there is no escape from this.

-Ilya, what are your plans for the future?

Since I am a believer, I never think about plans. Nobody knows what awaits him. This is God's Providence. When I need to do something, I will feel it. In general, I would like to lose 20 or at least 10 kilograms, maintain physical and psychological health, and get more rest.

-Would you like anything for our readers?

May all your dreams come true. They must come true, the main thing is not to dream about the impossible!

Denis Bessonov

FANS of the group "Leap Year" are certainly romantics. Moreover, they are hopeless romantics. It seems to them that Ilya KALINNIKOV and his guys are playing for those who are just about to sing their best love song...

And you, Ilya, you who sing about love, are you a romantic?

For me, romantic means innocent. Like all people, I was once innocent. Like all people, I stopped being one. But I still remember what I was like. The people's favorite song "Metro" is a childish mood for adults.

And it's also a hit! On all radio stations today, among the usual pop music, among outright hackwork, they play “Metro”.

- “Hit” is a good word. If you remember the etymology - this is a “blow”! It's not hard to write a hit song. Maybe this is immodest, but for five or six years now I’ve known how to make a hit. This is a studio, production craft. I respect the desire of radio stations to capture large audiences, to fight for the masses. If my songs help, that’s nice. I don’t know what our musical direction is called. I can only remember two definitions that we have already been awarded. First: bard rock. Vile name. Second: KSP easy listening. It's a joke. With our songs we awaken the good from your past. And the secret of “Metro” is that this song is for any format. But why was “The Best Love Song” constantly listed on “Russian Radio”? I do not understand. But don’t interfere with this. Now our audience has suddenly become so wide that I completely give up the idea of ​​somehow feeling and understanding it. The audience is from 17 to 57. Concerts in clubs are held with a squeal, although our songs seem to be such that you have to sit and listen thoughtfully.

You probably don’t have to go down the subway anymore after the success of “Metro”? And if you go down, will you pass your station because of the signing of autographs?

It’s no longer possible to calmly go into your grocery store. I am pleased that now the songs of “Leap Year” are much more famous than the group itself. And the group is more famous than its members. It's good that this is exactly the case, and not the other way around. I would like to take the metro a little more quietly. I was recently driving along the line where I always sleep. I wake up - two girls are sitting opposite me and are afraid of my appearance. The same man who sings: “We fall asleep in the subway,” suddenly sits nearby with such a sleepy face. They recognized me, that is. Maybe this is the fashion for Leap Year? I don’t know how you can say this to yourself: “I’m fashionable”? I am not involved in this internally. But for those who want to become famous or fashionable, I’ll say: guys, don’t worry, it’s not worth it. This is the lack of free time, including sleep, this is the lack of loneliness.

I'm asking you as an expert on romantic love. What's worse: when someone stops loving you or when you stop loving you?

Very good line. It's scary to lose feeling. The feeling of love is a manifestation of human nature. This is a catastrophe. Because a person is deprived of natural grace.

How do the lines come to mind? You sit down with a piece of paper...

You sit down, put down the paper, get ready, talk to someone on the phone, say, leave me alone, I don’t have time... The process of writing a song consists of 99% preparatory and final time. And the text is written quickly. Although I have already begun to forget how they are written. First, the main points of the song come to mind. But not the first line, as many believe. I always write diagonally, starting from the middle. The second stage is when you, with a piece of paper and a guitar, try to connect everything into a single whole. In a song, the text is always primary, because a song is some kind of story, right?.. I have a better command of music: in a day with a group I can scribble out three or four pieces. But this won’t work with text.

How did this whole Leap Year thing start? One morning you suddenly woke up famous?

What happened first? At first there was an idea to name the future group “Leap Year”. This idea was born in 1988, when I was still in school. But the date of birth can be considered either 1994, when he gathered current composition, or the year 1996, when he did something for the first time. We didn't play music on the weekends. We've never been a band willing to play anywhere for $100. They did not develop classically. Over the course of two years, we had only three so-called rehearsal sessions, when the guys made songs in home, country, and beach conditions. Somehow in 1995, we got together in a group and left for the 101st kilometer, in my hometown Orekhovo-Zuevo. In the apartment where I grew up, we built a studio for a month. This is how the first recordings were made. Two or three things were included in the first and only album so far - “Which Is Returning”. In 1996, a demo recording of the future album appeared, which already included “The Best Love Song.” The famous "Metro" appeared even later, in 1999. All accumulated material was set aside. Postponed because the publishers did not smile. Several years ago, without thinking about the consequences, I distributed cassette tapes with our songs to friends. The things recorded on these gifts would be enough for two more albums. I'm afraid this material will surface on the Internet. The album “Which Is Returning” has already become, according to Russian standards, platinum. But, by the way, it might not have reached people at all. And all because we are lazy and unambitious. If it weren’t for one wonderful woman, let’s call her Masha, nothing would have worked out. One day she burst into the group’s presence shouting: “You, Ilya, have gone completely crazy from creative torment!” She quietly stole my cassette with songs. And then she dropped it off at Nashe Radio. So serene, originally from Fryazino, “Leap Year” went on air and touched vulnerable souls.

In “The Best Love Song” there is this story: “When she was 36, he died very quietly...” Did the man’s health fail him or his age?

When he is older than her, this is a normal situation among human beings. And it all starts with the girls. They sometimes perceive their peers poorly. This is why we men, in the prime of our creative powers, walk around with calluses. This theme will be present on the new album.

An intimate question: do you drink before a performance?

Sometimes it happens that someone really spoils the mood before a concert. And then you allow yourself 50 grams. But they don't have a strong impact. Everything goes away with the second song. We need to tune in to the public. We need to play theater. And the range of techniques and improvisations is limited. Theater of one group is very complex.

Leap Year is a rock band from Fryazino near Moscow.

Critics note her closeness to the domestic stage, warmth, sentimental lyricism, " rare soulfulness and trustfulness of Leap Year songs", among which the phrase " We invented Windows, we declared default“has actually become popular.

In 1988 the Leap Year group arose as a “concept” in the mind Ilya Kalinnikov when he contemplated the landscape from the window of the Fryazino-Moscow train and composed a song. He thought it would be nice to call this song Leap Year. Then he thought it would be nice to call the group that. And so it happened. And the song Leap year it remained unfinished.

In 1990 The Leap Year group arose as an amateur group of very young people.

The Leap Year group included:

In 1994 joins the group Pavel Seryakov - Bas-guitar.

In 2000 joins the group Dmitry Kukushkin - button accordion, guitar.

The night of April 5, 2000- the first radio broadcast of the song on Autoradio. In the same year with a song Metro the group is rotated on all leading Moscow radio stations, including Nashe Radio, and is included in the hit parade Chart's dozen, and then wins it, remaining in first place for 7 weeks. In the same year, the album was recorded and released.

August 2000- an experienced concert manager joins the group Alexey Kan, and from this moment the concert activity of the Leap Year group begins. Alex Kahn- permanent administrator of the group from 2000 to the present day.

October 2000 - the group receives an invitation from Alla Pugacheva to take part in the “Christmas Meetings”. The group gets a rare opportunity at Christmas Meetings to perform not one, but two songs ( Best Love Song, Metro). Performance at “Christmas Meetings” brings the group national success.

March 2001- song Quiet light becomes the theme song of the popular television series "Truckers". Also in 2001, Leap Year was nominated for an award Ovation, becomes a laureate Songs of the year and award winner Stopudovy hit.

In 2002 Ilya Kalinnikov hand over Golden star of Autoradio.

In 2003 Ilya Kalinnikov invites you to record one of the songs Mikhail Mitin - drums And Dmitry Shumilov - Bas-guitar- legendary musicians. From that moment Mikhail Mitin becomes the permanent drummer of the band Leap Year.

In 2005 the group disappears from the sight of fans and critics, having stopped performing in Moscow. Ilya Kalinnikov abandons the idea of ​​recording a new album. The band continues to tour and perform only at private events.

June 2006- leaving the group Pavel Seryakov And Ilya Sosnitsky (organized a project In the world today ).

August 2006- returns to the group Dmitry Guguchkin - Bas-guitar. Place keyboard player takes Ilya Murtazin.

October 2006- Leap Year resumes concert activities. Young musicians join the group - Yuri Vanteev - pipe, And Renat Khalimdarov - trombone.

Leap Year has never had a producer, and traditionally in show business, “ promotion“Not a penny was invested.

September 2007- Ilya Kalinnikov is awarded the second “Golden Disc” from National Federation phonogram producers for the album.

February 2008- the group releases . All songs have been remixed and 4 bonus tracks have been added.

Composition of the Leap Year group:

Other news

In 1988, the group “Leap Year” arose as a “concept” in the mind of Ilya Kalinnikov, when he contemplated the industrial landscape from the window of the Fryazino-Moscow electric train, trying to write a song. He thought it would be nice to call this song “Leap Year.” Then he thought it would be nice to name the group that. It happened that way. And it was already too late to change anything.

In 1990, the Leap Year group emerged as a group of very young people with rhyming

guided by internal messages and equally directed vectors of effort. Since then (and before) the truth has existed (and exists) in an articulated capacity quite rarely. And people came and went, but that’s a different story. And the song “Leap Year” remained unfinished.

The Leap Year band included Ilya Kalinnikov (vocals, lead guitar, songwriter), Ilya Sosnitsky (keys), Pavel Seryakov (bass

Guitar), Dmitry Guguchkin (solo guitar), Dmitry Kukushkin (guitar).

1995, January - “The Best Love Song” was born. The first person to mix the song was Alexander Kutikov (“Time Machine”). The first version of the song remained on the collection “101 hits. Issue 4". (1997).

In winter, the song “Quiet Light” was born, again under the influence of Alexander Kutikov, who hinted, as in the case of “The Best Love Song,” that more hits were needed. 1998

January - first radio broadcast (“The Best Love Song” recorded in 1997). 1999, March - lead guitarist Dmitry Guguchkin left the group. 2000, March - the final version of the song “Metro” was recorded.

2000, night of April 5 - the first radio broadcast of the song “Metro”, “Avtoradio”, Moscow. In the same year, with the song “Metro”, the group was rotated on leading Moscow radio stations, incl. “Our Radio”, enters the “Chart Dozen” hit parade, and then wins it, os

staying in first place for 7 weeks. In the same year, the first studio album was recorded and released.

In 2004, the group disappeared from the sight of fans and critics and stopped their musical activity. The group of musicians disbands before the end of 2006. At the end of 2006, the group reassembled with an updated lineup and began preparations for the release of their second studio album. Its release is scheduled for August 2007