Music plays a special role in everyone’s life. It inspires, motivates, lifts the mood. It is said that a song can do something that is beyond words. But how to convey your song to people? And is it easy to be an artist at all? Zhytomyr.Travel searched for answers to these and other questions together with singer and artist Artem Kondratyuk
«All my conscious and unconscious life revolves around music, creativity, stage, publicity and emotions. I can’t imagine my life without music, and it’s hard for me to imagine what I would do in life, except singing. I give myself completely to my profession, without a trace. Sometimes it’s hard, but without it I wouldn’t be able to live»
«As a child, I was very creative and dreamy. At parent meetings, teachers often complained to my mother that I was distracted in class and mentally «flying in the sky». On May 9, in the third grade of the Ozerna gymnasium, I appeared on the school stage for the first time, where I felt who I wanted to be in this life. An artist! After this performance, I often «disappeared» in school activities, participated in many concerts and events. However, I had another dream. I wanted to become a priest. This desire appeared after the death of my brother. He was hit by a car in front of my eyes. My family and I often went to church, where I saw little boys helping the priest at the altar. And I really wanted to join their cause. After many services, I approached Father Demetrius and asked him to help. He hired me to serve as a palamar. I served in the church for nine years. The very atmosphere of God’s service fascinated me, and from this came the desire to become a priest. Later I realized that this is not for me, but that’s another story»
«Usually in modern society, my profession is perceived as entertainment. At first glance, so it is. But, in my opinion, a real singer should bring a person energy from which he should change, heal or think about certain issues. We need to understand that the Almighty does not just give talent to people in various spheres of our lives. This talent must serve people. Through the source of this talent, the Lord transmits energy to each person. This applies to any creativity. Therefore, for me, this profession is more than just an entertaining interaction. Singer, artist is a rather difficult profession»
«When I first came on stage, I immediately felt a passion for singing and music. I realized that it was vital to me. I want to do it for people. I believe that this is how a person should choose a profession – to follow their inner feelings. However, more often we are guided by financial arguments – we choose to work with a good salary. This is normal. But over time, a person chokes on such a choice, internal problems and troubles begin. I have seen many examples. That’s why I advise all young people to listen to their inner voice more often and follow their most cherished dreams»
«My mother was not very supportive of choosing my profession. She still doesn’t consider it a «man’s business.» For a long time I was offended that I did not have the support of a relative, but she has her own views on this. Now she is neutral in my creative life, although there is a feeling that she would like a more earthly profession for me. However, I love my mother very much»
«The most important support in my work was given to me by my teacher from the Music School Ivasenko Larysa Petrivna. She has been my producer for over 15 years. She and her family still help me today. I am very grateful to them for that. I think that in such a friendly tandem we will give people many more beautiful creative works»
«I wrote my first song at the age of 15. I made a professional arrangement and recorded it in the studio. The song was about love. This is logical, because what can a 15-year-old think about? I am currently working with different authors and have recorded two albums of songs. The first is called «For you», the second «I only love you». Now I’m working on the third album .. Each song is a story of feelings and emotions … However, I can highlight the songs that the listener loved well. The song «I love only you» sounds at almost every wedding in our country. The newlyweds dance their wedding dance to its sound. The music video for the song garnered more than a million views on YouTube, and the song «I’m in Your Sky» – more than two million listens»
«Any kind of work for me is divided into two categories: «real art» and «sausage business». Why sausage? Because people consume it every day … And it happens in music – every day a one-day song is released, which very well «enters» the mass audience. Most of these songs are slag, and have nothing to do with art. This is business, period. But I’m glad that good music also reaches our people, not so fast, but it does. Many TV channels and radio stations influence and shape people’s musical and intellectual tastes. Unfortunately, people are often accustomed to low-quality content that does not stimulate society to develop»
«I gave a lot of interviews about the Voice of the Country, so it’s hard to tell anything new now. I can only draw conclusions. I will say for sure that I got more than I expected: I hoped to stay in the project at least until the battle stage, but I reached the finals and stayed with the coach alone in the team. For me personally, this is more than a victory. It was an unforgettable half a year of impressions and emotions, and for that I am very grateful to fate»
«My profession is an artist and a teacher. In the second year of Zhytomyr Music School named after Kosenko I became a vocal teacher at the music school where I once studied, and I still work there. During the first year of work, I could not get used to when the children turned to me «Artem Valeriovich»! I think I was seventy then. Working with children on the one hand is interesting, and on the other – very difficult. It is much more difficult to teach someone than to do this or that job yourself. Sometimes it seemed easier for me to do ten solo concerts than to do one day at music school. Then I got used to this mode and format of work. I often remember myself in vocal lessons, especially when I start raising children and giving them some guidance for life. I understand that it is not easy for children to accept my instructions, I myself did not take them very much as a child from teachers. That is why I am looking for interesting forms of work with children. And now I have someone to be proud of: many of my students have won vocal competitions»
«If I had enormous possibilities, I would fill the whole world with love. This is what I try to do through creativity»
«There have been many TV projects in my life with diverse and interesting experiences. Once I was specially invited to sing the song «Falcon», which opened the performance of the team «30+». I liked my performance, and the guys started to involve me in performances on the TV project «League of Laughter». This experience is interesting because musical cuisine is very different from humorous. Here I had the task not only to sing well, but also to do it charismatically and with humor. The League of Laughter is a world of joy and laughter. The viewer sees a good picture on TV, but he does not even guess how much work, strength and nerves are behind the scenes»
«In 2015, I was invited to take part in the creation of a music video for the song «My Home – Zhytomyr». The first action was as follows: famous people from Zhytomyr sing about their home, show the beauty of their city, and highlight the shortcomings with humor and love in their hearts. The song itself is a cover of a famous French composition. The people of Zhytomyr liked the work – I still get good reviews. Such creative works unite people, charge with positive, and we, artists, do everything for that … And in my own repertoire there is a wonderful song – «My Zhytomyr». I am also proud of it and consider it the unofficial anthem of our city. I am often invited to sing this song!»
«Success is a very ambiguous thing. The main thing is not to compare it with happiness. I used to be wrong and think that success and happiness are one. And as it turned out, these are different things in general. Success is more about career and work issues, and happiness loves silence and lives in a personal space … If I am compared, for example, to Bill Gates, my success is simply nothing. That’s why I stopped comparing myself with other successful people a long time ago – everyone has their own destiny, success and opportunities. I try to compare myself yesterday with myself today. I can say with confidence that I am a successful person»
«When I return to Zhytomyr from other cities or countries, I have a feeling when I am ready to hug every tree and sidewalk in this city. Zhytomyr gives me the feeling that I am at home, calms and inspires me. It was here that I began to make my first professional steps on stage. My student years passed here, I learned a lot. Many good people live in this beautiful city. For all this I love Zhytomyr!»
