My Michelle: “This is a very accurate image of me – a girl who suffered in the struggle for love”

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Be yourself, don’t be afraid to be different. It seems that Tatyana Tkachuk follows this unspoken rule both in life and in her work. The soloist of the group “My Michelle” does not limit herself to one musical genre. She is not shy about bold bright images either, as, for example, in this photo shoot, where Tanya feels equally harmonious in delicate flying feathers and in a sexy transparent mesh. She is also as transparent as possible in an interview, where she is not afraid to talk about everything – about success and strength, co-dependent relationships and insomnia, tears of joy and faith in real miracles.

The album “From Flowers and Darkness” came out a few months ago. Personally, he hooked me with contrasts. So, in the track “The Wind Changes Direction” it is sung about sadness and parting, but at the same time it creates a feeling that all the best is ahead. Did you put a similar idea into the record – that the music will suit any mood and everyone will hear here what they want to hear?

In my opinion, it’s so human to have conflicting feelings. So honest and defenseless. Contrasts from life are easily transferred to songs – and back to life. That is why everyone can say: it happened to me too!

For me, music is therapy, not calculation. Art without people is worth nothing. Only the response matters. Music ceases to be music if no one hears it, and a picture turns to stone if no one sees it. It is people who give meaning to everything around. Art is a trigger and a mirror. Therefore, one will feel sadness, and the other irony. Both are true, the truth is somewhere nearby. (Laughs)

The leitmotif of the album was the style of the 90s. Why did you choose this particular musical period – because it is fashionable, win-win, close to many?

If we talk about the style itself, the form and presentation of the songs: when we were working on the album, this retro mood was literally in the air. Probably, it all started with “Winter in the Heart”. We enjoyed exploring the music of our childhood, mixing genres, juggling styles. Imagine how this or that song would be sung by Eva Polna, or how the song “Bird” would be composed and performed by George Michael if he lived in a neighboring yard. Partly we fooled around and played. It was a fun and very fast process.

And your song “Bullfinches” willy-nilly reminds you of “Bullfinches” from the 90s – a hit by the group “Ivanushki Int.”. Are there any intersections between them?

There is an intersection in the title and the mood that the melody creates. Others would say it’s a homage. I think that the chorus itself is very girlish. We wanted to convey the transience of happiness and the feeling of inevitable parting, the moment of awareness, the vacuum that precedes it. This state of stunnedness is like a squeak in the ears after the explosion of a firecracker.

What was the idea behind the video?

In the video, we made a little spy story. As if Mr. and Mrs. Smith were in Men in Black, only with a very sad ending.

Do you like to realize that some of your songs at different times sounded from each column – “Winter in the Heart”, “Bird”, “Jacket”? Are you afraid to get bored?

There is such a danger – to fall into a rut of listener’s expectations. But, since we balance between what we like and what resonates with many, this does not scare. The group has a rather long and difficult creative path. Of course, we had periods of passion for different directions: indie, rock, pop. Every time I hear: return everything as it was! And only our most dedicated fans are not repelled by change, they develop and explore music with us.

Another unusual project that you released is the song “Air Balloon”, the soundtrack to the film “Cheburashka” directed by Dmitry Dyachenko. How was the work?

We were approached by the producers and the director of the film: we had already met when we were making the soundtrack for the film “The Last Hero” – “Vanyusha”. Therefore, there was not a second of doubt, as well as time to write a song. We had 10 days to do this job. We had just finished the last track from our album and were on such a creative inertia, roughly speaking, we had not yet left the studio. A rough sketch came up in just a couple of days. Everyone liked the idea and we recorded a full song.

What is your general relationship with cinema, what do you like?

From what I watched recently, I liked the movie “Babylon”, the series “Anna” in 2021, the Korean melodrama “Vanished Time”.

Followed the past “Oscar” – the results and the red carpet?

I am delighted with the results. This year, my favorite film “Everything, Everywhere, All At Once” collected most of the awards. I literally forced all my friends and acquaintances to watch it – to my joyful cries. But more often than not, the Oscars, in my opinion, are very formal – the deliberate tolerance of the nominees takes precedence over a truly breathtakingly talented movie.

As for the guests, I probably looked at all the outfits – both on the Oscar red carpet and at the after-party. My favorites are Hunter Schafer in a skimpy Ann Demeulemeester look and Cardi B in a divinely aesthetic dress by Robert Wun. I especially watch Rihanna’s pregnant looks, she’s gorgeous.

Do you like to dress up, to shock with your appearance?

I have two moods during going out: “homeless” and “gypsy”. So I live on these swings. Sometimes you wildly want to dress as brightly as possible, with a few accents, and sometimes you stupidly hide in all black and a hood. I like changing my look, trying new things. Recently, for example, I performed in heels, in which I could only lie down before. (Laughs)

There are a lot of cool local designers with whom I am friends and proud of them: I love Sorelle, ppsbrand, Danya Antsiferova and others. I love vintage: in my collection there are several rare catwalk items of cult designers of the 1990-2000s, which I bought for symbolic money by a lucky chance. And there are my mother’s pearl beads, which I just adore. I like the cyclicality, the new life of things, it is very environmentally friendly in every sense.

You also have a cool image on the cover of the new album – it has something from Joan of Arc, but in a more romantic version. Can you say that you feel exactly like that – strong and vulnerable at the same time?

It seems to me that this is a very accurate image of me. A girl who suffered in the struggle for love. I am very closed to people who do not know me, but those whom I love understand that I am a vulnerable person, although I can be the queen of any disco.

The heroine of your cover is in tears. Why did you cry the last time?

From impotence due to lack of sleep. Insomnia is my hell on earth. Unfortunately, this condition worsens in the spring. You live in a fog.

And what, on the contrary, pleased so much that you wanted to cry with happiness?

I cried with happiness when I was asked to open a football match at a stadium in Samara. Imagine: a huge stadium, 10 thousand spectators, both teams on the field, spotlights, I run on 14-centimeter heels to the center of the field to hit the ball first, everyone applauds. I felt like Coldplay and Zinedine Zidane at the same time.

Many guys must have envied you at that moment. Continuing the theme of strong women: do you think a girl can be completely happy without a man nearby? Or is there still a story with soul mates that complement each other?

It’s great to be happy with a person who is close to you in terms of attitude. I don’t think that this has anything to do with half-heartedness, rather the opposite: the better you are with yourself, the better you will be in a pair. I was in a co-dependent relationship, there is nothing good there. I adhere to the idea that you need to be complete, and in a pair or on your own – this is how you like it.

And with what ideas or conclusions do you approach the new date? May is your birthday.

With the feeling that everything is just beginning. And with gratitude. I like the way I live my life. I feel like Alice – the heroine of Kir Bulychev’s book “A Million Adventures”. I have many plans, and completely unexpected things happen that make me wonder and believe in the power of thoughts, dreams and just miracles.

How do you plan to celebrate on tour?

The tour started in February from Nizhny Novgorod, we have already visited many cities, including Rostov, Krasnodar, Sochi. Let’s take a break and then continue in the autumn: the Far East, Siberia, the Urals and, of course, concerts in the capital. The tour does not fall on my birthday, but I still want to spend it on a trip. I have a tradition: on this date, leave Moscow for a new city, where I have not been yet. And be sure to ride the local ferris wheel or funicular – for the sake of adrenaline, as I am mortally afraid of heights.

And also go to the botanical garden or arboretum – for aesthetic pleasure. While the botanical garden in Batumi is in the lead in my list, it is the most beautiful. And the scariest ferris wheel is in Tokyo. Let’s see what’s in store for me this year.

Style: Christina Lisovets
Makeup, hairstyles: Fariza Rodriguez