Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Liliya Rodionova
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
My very first memory is probably from when I was about five years old: my grandmother really wanted me to play the piano, but I didn’t want to—I dreamed of playing the guitar. Still, I attended piano lessons at music school; I first quit right before my final exam, then went back a couple more times, but I never finished the course because I just didn’t have the desire. Later, I was finally given a guitar, but I didn’t start learning to play until after I graduated from college.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
Back in my school days, when my sisters and I listened to the Spice Girls and the Backstreet Boys ))) I didn’t want to sing pop music, but I can’t say for sure how what we listened to connected to what I wanted to create myself. Back then, I didn’t know how to write songs, I couldn’t play any instruments—except maybe a little piano—but I wanted to make music specifically on the guitar. I even dreamed of having my own little studio, but I don’t have one, and my guitar playing is very basic, but part of that dream has still come true a little bit )
What’s the story behind your current music project?
The story of this project began in 2013, when my guitarist—who, by the way, is my ex-husband—and I took the stage at a local art club to participate in the “ART-Talent” competition for young artists, performing two of our original songs. We won then, but gave the prize to someone else; later, we entered the same contest again and took the victory for ourselves. After that, we started getting invited to various competitions, festivals, clubs, and TV shows, and soon we began giving concerts in other cities. Lately, I’ve been performing solo more often, but from 2013 to the present, we’ve had over 140 different performances in total. We have 1 contest winner’s prize, 2 certificates of participation in contests, 4 certificates from internet radio stations, 2 certificates of participation in a festival, and 1 letter of appreciation for participating in a charity event and helping to organize it. We also have 2 live albums, 3 albums with concert recordings, and 1 studio album.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
Our musical style is probably somewhere between folk rock and art rock.Different people see something different in each song—perhaps memories, both pleasant and not so pleasant. As a host of music and vocal competitions once said:“The songs effortlessly and unobtrusively transport the listener into a vivid world of familiar and intimate images and sensations, where all boundaries are blurred: planes easily fly the ‘Spring-Paris’ route, and in ‘Three Seconds,’ sometimes an entire life changes…”For me, it’s not just the music that matters in songs, but also the lyrics, and I want my songs to evoke emotions and resonate with listeners.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
I’ve learned to take a more relaxed approach to things that seemed complicated at the start of my journey. You can make perfectly decent recordings and arrangements in a home studio, not just in fancy studios with famous sound engineers. The main thing is to just get started! And don’t try to meet anyone’s expectations, because there are many people and even more opinions, and by trying to please everyone, you might end up doing nothing—or doing the wrong thing. You can only ask for advice from professionals on the big stage, though even that will just be their opinion; but at least there you can rely on their experience.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
A guitar, my voice, and people who appreciate creativity. That’s what matters most!
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
I recently discovered Sufjan Stevens—he’s a really enjoyable and interesting artist. Sometimes I listen to Tame Impala; I especially like their album *Deadbeat*. Otherwise, I mostly listen to rock; my favorites are: Diary of Dreams, Depeche Mode, Marshroot, Ivan Duch, Tarja Turunen, JordanBeats, Ozzy Osbourne, Tina Turner, Warlock, and Doro Pesh
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
I don’t try to reflect my own story in my work, because I find it much more interesting to give the listener the opportunity to imbue my music with their own meanings. My experience doesn’t matter here—what matters is what a person feels when they encounter my work. Any piece of music I hear, any visual image, or even just the atmosphere of the place where I am at any given moment can become the subject of a song, even if I’m not trying to inject anything personal into it.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
I love songs with meaning, and I write songs like that myself. As I mentioned earlier, everyone sees something different in every song—perhaps memories, both pleasant and not so pleasant. I want my songs to evoke emotions and resonate with listeners.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
I don’t even know… I create music not only for myself, but also for other people. My music is sad, but people don’t listen to it just to feel sad—maybe they’re looking for more positive emotions. At least that’s how it is for me: I see beauty in sad music. Through music, certain experiences can be transformed into something that supports someone else. Music has taught me to see the beauty in the moment and to live it fully.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
It’s hard to say. I’ve performed at many venues and festivals, even if they haven’t been very big so far. As for Ukrainian festivals, I’d love to perform at “Chervona Ruta.” In general, I’m always happy to take part in any large-scale festival or event.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Collaborating with someone more experienced is an incredibly valuable experience for any newcomer or lesser-known artist. I haven’t really thought about who I’d like to perform with, but maybe the band “Bez Obmezhen” or the artist Marshroot. They have great music and wonderful voices.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
Instagram:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/liliya.rodionova.singer
Tiktok:
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/@liliya_rodionova
https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCiQ-zv9ZtQmUH4n0GhFwyaA
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
My goal is simply to keep writing songs and reach new audiences. Of course, I’d like to reach a wider audience, play at new venues and festivals, and perform abroad. If that happens, it’ll mean that everything I do isn’t in vain. And, of course, I’d love for music to become my main occupation, because work is work, but any job you do to make a living should be something you enjoy and that brings not only money but also satisfaction from doing it.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
It would be best if listeners learned more about themselves, because everyone connects with music in their own way, drawing on their personal experiences and emotions. In my creative journey and my songs, everyone will still find something that resonates with them in their own unique way.
