Egor Shishkovsky met with extravagancy Erasure vocalist in penthouse of his London hotel. Drinking some coffee and smoking they were talking not only about music but about private life of the musician also.

   - First of all tell us how idea to record the album of cover versions was born?

   - Being teenager I've listened so much music that was buyed by my parents. My mother very liked Elvis Presley and the father - Buddy Holly and the main part of their collection was formed by country music. So I've often sung that songs in a shower or in front of mirror dreaming that one day I'll can sing them on the stage. When I began to work on this album two years ago I was planning that it will be my first solo album. But one day Vince came to me in Spain, listened first two songs and said: "It's a great idea! Lets make it together". And then we collected the songs we like on a three cds. So as you see in the beginning the choice was very expensive.

   - That means that you wanted it to be your solo album but nothing turned out?

   - Yes, because all the people always talking about Erasure but I think that I have a good voice and I wanted to demonstrate it. So it was such an egoistical idea but my own project again changed in Erasure project but its fine.

   - "Other People's Songs" album is your second cover record for all your fifteen years career. In 1992, ten years ago, was released your famous mini-album with Abba songs - "Abba-Esque". On a new album you choose the songs from other era. Probably it was harder to work with that songs than with Abba ones?

   - Yes, with Abba thing was easier because it was more the fun project and all Abba songs were written by the same people. So it was easier to me to focus on their atmosphere, on the rythm. This time all the songs were written by different writers and in different decades. And it was harder to play the role.

  - Isn't it true that you needed more than half a year for only to choose the songs that you will cover?

   - Generally yes. We listened, discussed, listened again choosing the songs that we can make. Some songs were recorded but they were not included in album. Its "Love Of My Life" by Queen, "Black Dog" by Led Zeppelin, "When I'm 64" by The Beatles, "Running Up The Hill" by Kate Bush. All the different songs.

   - Whats your favourite tracks from the album?

   - "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" and "Goodnight".

   - You were touring many years ago last time. Why so? Is it you or Vince don't like touring?

   - Vince don't like touring but I do like. I'm really loving and missing the concerts. Every time when I'm going to see somebodys perfromance I'm getting enviable and I'm wanting to get to the stage and catch the mic. I'm so missing the stage that almost agreed to take a part in a Boy George's musical "Taboo".

   - By the way, I wanted to ask you about misicals. Did you think about making musical based on Erasure songs? It's very popular now. Look at the Queen, Abba, Madness or Kylie Minogue...

   - We were thinking about it but I wanted it will be more the music movie with our songs because it will be better to make a tour than make a musical.

  - I know that you spending much time in Spain. That's because London cold weather?

   - If we have a free time I'm trying to be in Spain - I have a house there. But I'm start missing London soon and espesially its night life and also I've missed my friens who can't always come to me in Spain.

  - I cant't remember was you in Russia?

   - I'm really would like to go to Russia. I've never been there. I have a one russian friend in Spain. He lives there with his wife. Who knows, maybe in next year we will go to Russia because we will start planning our tour after release of a new album. By the way, I have a very strange dream about Russia recently. As though we are in Moscow, there are many mafiosos around us and on the street we see a prostitute which is carring a massage table on her back. Very strange dream...

  - Yes, its very strange. Change the subject. Tell me what do you think your highest achievement?

   - I think that we still together and still making records. From year to year its harder and harder because new names borns and dies much faster that in the past. I've also glad that we are respectable musicians. We've spend 17 years to achieve that status.

   - What do you think about all those TV competitions like "Pop Stars" or "Pop Idols"?

   - If such competitions took place when I was young I think that I took part in them. But the problem of this competitions is that they giving wrong impression about profeccion of the musician. Most of competitors thinking about how to get famous and not about how to write good song. So their career ends so fast as it starts.

  - Who do you like the most from that competitions?

   - Will Young because he is also gay. I thinks that he is clever boy but generally I don't looking for this people.

   - Unlike some pop stars you are not conceal the fact that you are gay. But we nothing know about your private life. Do you have a partner?

   - Yes, my boyfriend is american. He left America 25 years ago and came to London meeting with a guy. I met him in the same time when I met Vince ie my relationship with him lasts 17 years. He is 52 years old and he is 14 years older then me. Two years ago I've almost lost him. We were together in Los Angeles and he got a stroke. I came back to hotel and found him lying in blood. He can not walk, can not talk. He was in hospital for six weeks. He was in coma. It was horroble. You know, I've never pray so much but I started praying every night and after the pray I've found him feeling better. That was reveal to me how much I love this man.

   - He is ok now?

   - He is much better now. His orations isn't very good and you may think that he is drunk. This circumstance made me older because I've always rely on him but this time I must do everything myself.

   - The last question. Erasure sold 20 million albums, topped the charts, do you have some unrealized ambitions?

   - It seems to me that I was born in wrong time. My voice is for songs of 30s and 40s and I want very much to sing some of them with the real orchestra. I'm dreaming that I'm standing along on the stage under the only ray of light and the orchestra is playing... But now Vince is my orchestra with all his synthesizers and computers. Also I want to play more in moovies. I had several roles but all of them was trivial and strange kind of "flower seller" or "director of porno moovies"...

Egor Shishkovsky

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