Who is Natalia Ivashkevitch?
I am a seeker and striver. I seek and strive for knowledge and excellence. A picker upper…I pick up what’s good in life and dwell on greatness. Stories of people overcoming disabilities mental and physical interest and inspire me. I am a believer in our tremendous inner power and in ‘you can accomplish anything you set your mind to’. I like to be inspired and inspire. I am a giver and over comer.
You were born in St. Petersburg and started your musical career over there. Then you moved to the USA, why did you decide to do this and was it hard to adapt to a different culture?
I started pursuing music after moving to US actually. I wrote my first song in 2004. I took some voice lessons first and met a girl at one of my lessons who encouraged me to give it a try and write some songs. I did and it worked. It was big news to me that I had this ability.
I was always fascinated by America. It wasn’t hard it was a great and fun experience, from learning the language to a learning to drive. I find United States a very progressive thinking country and people are very polite and nice to you. That appeals to me a lot. And I am very influenced by that progressiveness in my lyrics. By the ‘can do’ positive attitude and mentality.
What role did music play in your childhood? To what music did you listen and when did you start to sing?
I had this ‘what you hear on the radio’ kind of childhood. No one was exposing me to a lot of different music. Because of that I listened to what was on the radio: Modern Talking, Bon Jovi, Roxette and I was into some of the Russian pop music. At high school I was big on Depeche Mode (they are still my favorite band). Then I discovered Pink Floyd in college. I was involved in children dancing and singing groups since early age. Then I was a part of Polish dance and song groups when I was in college, in Krakow Poland. I started taking voice and writing songs in 2004, I consider that my start.
I was going for something science fiction-y and futuristic. I wanted something that sounds like a name of a spacey girl warier. My friend in UK did an anagram of my first and last names. And AVIAN came out. This band name was already taken so I came out with adding X at the end.
That extra X made it sound exactly like I wanted it.
Is Avian X a real band or is it you with session musicians? What is the current line-up?
It’s a solo project. I wrote all of the songs, found a producer, put up my Myspace etc etc… I have some great musicians that musically and visually fit AVIAN X. It’s not random, I was very picky about who I want to play with live. Per-C from “Cylab” is my bassist/synth player, Andee ( from Acey Slade) is my guitarist, and Matt Real ( who I was introduced by Joe Letz-Combichrist’s drummer) is a drummer.
Your music is a blend of different styles of music, from rock to electro. Is this broad range also the music you listen to being at home?
Yes. I absolutely love anything with synths and guitars. Songs with great lyrics. I listen to IAMX new album right now in rotation with Brooklyn based BM Linx and some Depeche Mode of course :)
If you could organize the ultimate festival with 5 artists playing (dead or alive) who would play there?
Depeche Mode. IAMX. Massive Attack. Curve. Portishead.
What is the hardest, most challenging, for you in composing tracks? How do you manage to use all these different styles and blend them together in one song?
I don’t do the programming. My producer (Josh Harris) does. I just tell him what I’d like it to sound like. Set the direction. He did a great job in reflecting my influences in the way my songs sound. Some songs were created around tracks I received from other producers and then Josh would build bigger sound around it. Add live bass, guitars, layer with synths etc. Some songs I wrote and demoed with my friend on keyboard and then production was build around just vocals.
The challenging part is to gather information, lyrically and musically. It’s not easy to find music (to listen to) that really moves and inspires me. Then based on what I like it’s challenging to find inspiring tracks. Three of the songs on my record were written in matter of 20 minutes. I was so inspired by the music that lyrics & melodies just came out of me (Dark Circles, Fierce Explosion and Place Called Home).
I didn’t send it out for reviews yet. So no comments yet apart from some blog comments on my song ‘Dark Circles’. There are some great comments from fans and bloggers. I am very proud of the songs on this album.
Why did you choose to release the album yourself instead of waiting for a record deal?
It wasn’t a choice it was the only option to release it myself. I think it’s silly to wait for record deal (which is not easy to get and requires a good management and label connections to start with) when you can make music available and make fans on-line. I still consider this CD a demo though. I am planning to add few more songs and find label or some sort of financial support and then release it properly. With proper marketing and promotion.
Besides 9 tracks the album also has 3 remixes, are you a big fan of remixes? Who would you love to do a remix for Avian X one day?
I am a fan of remixes. It’s refreshing to hear new take on your song. It’s a great way to introduce your music to a whole different fan base too. I love Designer Drugs and KOLT13 remixes of my song Dark Circles. I’d like to hear Dave Dresden and Buffet Libre DJ’s remix of one of my songs.
You have already won several prices, what prices did you win and did you benefit from winning those?
Not prices just some on-line songwriting contests. They send you a certificate. There was no price involved. It just made more people believe in me.
We read some great reviews on your live shows, what can people expect from an Avian X live show?
It’s a rock show. So it has great rock energy. Those are ingredients we put into my live show : Enthusiasm, Love, Energy, Skills, Black& Yellow outfits and Fun…we enjoy playing together a lot.
By always including all of the above ingredients :)
My take on that is that performing is a giving experience. As long as you are true to yourself, believe in your lyrics and music and you are giving, you can’t go wrong. Same goes with anything you do really.
How do you prefer for a show, any strange rituals?
Knock on the wood three times, spin around 5 times and jump up and down 7 times. If you miscount any of the above…we are done here…everybody can go home, bad luck for the show. Joke :) No strange rituals. Taking some time to warm up and focus.
It seems there are labels interested in signing Avian X, when can we expect to hear news on this?
Oh really? I didn’t hear anything like that. What’s up with that?! :)
How does your ultimate day look like?
Mentioning all the details is like being naked in public :) I can only say it involves reading, working out and setting goals, envisioning what I want to achieve.
Any last words for the readers?
Two things:
1. Thank you Ed and An of Cyber-Angels.nl for your interest in my music and your support! I appreciate it :)
2. My leading Thoreau quote of course :)
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined.” Henry David Thoreau