Ruslana: "The secret of Eurovision is to be original and to be yourself"

Its July and the best way to start this month is with an interview but its much better if the interview its with one of the most talented, creative and amazing artists. She made us dance like wild dancers in 2004 and with all her energy won the contest.It's a big pleasure for me to ask her some questions and here we have the answers of Ruslana!

I will start asking you how are you right now?
I’m working hard on a new album right now. All last summer and part of autumn I worked on my new album in a fantastic studio in Los Angeles in the US. I want to show that Ruslana can be different. I was a gentle, sensual princess of spring at the beginning of my career, then I was a wild and free woman from the mountain tops, then a female element – the Amazon.

And now I will be fresh, I will be new, I will be WOW (smiling).

We have already released the first single and video. The song is called WOW. I believe we will release the second single very soon.

I know you have been doing some shows in Romania & Bulgaria, what is the general reaction of the audience when you are doing shows in their countries? are you going to do shows in other countries soon?
The reaction was great. The audience was awesome. I’m very pleased to be invited to Romania quite often. It’s a wonderful land with a rich culture and an interesting history. During our visit to Sofia (Bulgaria), I participated in the most popular Bulgarian TV show - Slavi’s Show on bTV. I already was the guest of this show few years ago.

This time I performed my new single WOW! I spent wonderful time in bough of these beautiful countries.
In the beginning of autumn I will have shows in US and China.

You are promoting your new song "Wow", can you tell us what is the song about? what did you want to show or tell to your fans with this song?
The track was recorded in Los Angeles by sound-producer Luke Tozour, who worked with Katy Perry and Pink and mixed by sound producer Richie Stites, who worked with Michael Jackson, Outkast, Tupac Shakur.
The song was written by me in a cooperation with Alexander Ksenofontov (TFC band leader and the singer’s husband) and Vlad Debryansky (Jack Spade, TFC band lead guitar).
The single WOW made in a genre of parody.

It’s ironic and sarcastic about people who consider themselves “so amazing!” and such traits character as narcissism, selfishness in love, self-affirmation at the expense of the beloved.

Wow have a WOW video, i have to tell you that the video its amazing, i love it. What is the idea of the video? How did you feel filming it?
Thank you! The shooting took place on a exotic location - Kyiv Lenin Smithy shipbuilding plant. The main idea - a competition. A battle between girls and boys - who is better, who is cooler and more AMAZING. This is the battle of two styles and images: “Ruslana-boy” on a powerful iron horse Harley vs “Ruslana-girl” in a rock glam style on a shiny Lamborghini.

In the final episode we can watch Street Dance Hip Hop Battle between her two alter egos: Ruslana VS Ruslana!. The music video was directed by Semen Gorov. Director of photography – Brandon Cox.

Are you preparing a new album? It is already done? or when we will get a new album from you?
The new album will be released this year. I hope that it will be released not only in Europe, but worldwide. I am working with some amazing people in the US. It will be a very joyful, happy album with tones of positive mood. It will be a new Ruslana.

I hope im not wrong, but you are participating in a talent tv show in Ukraine? what can you tell me about that? what is the show about? and how do you feel in it?
You are absolutely right! I’m one of the couches in the The Voice talent show.
The Voice is a multinational singing competition television franchise. It started in the Netherlands as The Voice of Holland in 2010, followed by an American debut series called The Voice in April to June 2011. And now it’s in Ukraine. It’s huge! The best thing about this show is that we are choosing voice and not matter how one looks.

You were present in this year eurovision cause you were one of the juries in the Ukrainian National Final and you were the one who gave the Ukrainian votes in the final,What do you thing about the competition, songs and results of the Eurovision 2011?
I like this year's Eurovision winners, the guys from Azerbaijan, because they were touching, sincere, romantic. They deserved to win!
I liked the performance by Amaury Vassili from France, Zdob si Zdub, Blue. It’s a pity that Dana International didn’t make it into the Final.

Some contestants are trying to make an impression, pretending to be someone else, not themselves. But the secret of Eurovision is to be original and to be yourself.


Ukraine is one of the most successful countries in Eurovision but in the last two years it has been one of the most controversial talking about the national selections, you were in the juries this year, how did you feel being there? and what do you think the channel has to improve to make a fair and better national final?
Yes, it’s a pity. If i have to be honest, I think we don’t need all this selection with juries. I think the choice should be made only by the Ukrainians or only by the head of First channel of Ukraine 1TV. And no matter who will win we need to support this choice because he/she will represent Ukraine.

Lets go to back 2004,(i will tell you this as a fan not an interviewer, 2004 was my 2nd year watching Eurovision, you were my favorite and you can’t imagine how happy i was when you won) Before Eurovision you were a famous successful artist in Ukraine, when the national channel asked you to represent Ukraine, how did you feel and why did you said yes? and can you describe your career after winning Eurovision?
I gave the answer very fast ( laughing). Yes, I wanted to represent my country on such a great competition.
It was an honor me!
I’m so thankful for a chance that the Eurovision Song Contest gave me. For me Eurovision was a “window on Europe”. Thanks to this competition, Europe got to know me. It gave me the opportunity to move forward, to conquer new peaks. It gave me a wider audience and opened the boundaries of creativity.


You are the only Ukrainian artist that has won Eurovision, what do you thing Ukraine needs to win again? and which artist do you think can bring the Eurovision to Ukraine?
Yes, we need it. Ukraine is a unique, ancient, beautiful country. I would love us to have a good image in Europe. We have a lot of talented artists. I think the main thing for the artist who want to take part in Eurovision is to be positive, true, original. To have special fire in the eyes, then it could be a good results.

Have you ever thought about coming back to Eurovision? Would you like to represent Ukraine again as an Artist or composer making a song for other artist?
Never say never (smiling). If I ever take part in it again I definitely will surprise you!

Do you have a message to the Eurovision fans?
I love all of my fans with all my heart and I’m grateful to each one of them for voting and making me the winner of Eurovision! I’m very thankful for all the support and love, for every smile that comes my way every day! It means a lot to me!!!
And special thank to you for a good and interesting questions!

Well all i can say is Thanks to Ruslana for the answers and i know we all cant wait for her new album and to see her someday representing Ukraine again.

You can visit Ruslanas official web here.
Be her fan on Facebook here.
Follow her on Twitter here.