How to start a solo career and leave a cover band for solo swimming? Is it easy to combine author's creativity with teaching? How to block stress on set? We talked about this and many other things with the young and talented vocalist Lena Semenova.

Lena, tell us, what is your life filled with now?

My life, as always, is very diverse and rich. Home renovation, in which my husband and I are both designers and performers. With the Vocaland studio there is an endless series of festivals and competitions. Charity concerts and television shooting. Life is in full swing).

Holidays are coming soon, how do you plan to spend them?

By tradition, in the month of May, I will definitely leave Moscow. I really love to travel, and I use all possible resources for this. So, over the past 4 years, in the month of May, I visited Turkey, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Cyprus. This May will not be an exception, tickets for the summer have already been purchased).



How do you plan your vacation?

Very often, I do not plan anything at all, just when I understand that I have a few free days, I can pack up and fly away in a day. Finding a travel company is usually no problem. I am a very experienced tourist, and many dream of being with me on a trip. Of course, most often I relax with family members, but friends are no exception ...

You are an avid traveler - what have you recently brought to yourself and your family and where have you been?

I always bring something. In Turkey, I buy sweets and tea, in the Emirates, branded items and perfumes, etc. I am an experienced collector, and I try to buy a Bunny figurine in my huge collection on every trip. And also I bring coins from all countries, I specially change paper money in exchange offices, and I try to buy old coins at flea markets.

Last October, my husband and I visited Istanbul and Bodrum as independent tourists. They brought my favorite KOSKA Floss Halva and a huge amount of Ulker cookies. I just adore him since childhood.

Do you buy clothes and accessories abroad?

Yes, of course I do. From Indonesia, Cambodia and Thailand, I brought a lot of good textiles, these are all kinds of dresses, T-shirts, stoles. There is a lot of silver in Mexico, so I couldn't leave without a little trinket.



What are you guided by when choosing?

I try to buy only what is produced in the territory of the country I visit. It can be a hair clip, cut out of a valuable species of wood in my presence, or boots made of python skin, which were specially sewn on my leg. The main thing is to like the thing and bring joy.

How important are brands and price to you?

There are things worth paying for. These are bags, watches, jewelry made of precious metals and shoes. My attitude to clothes is much simpler. In the modern world with such an abundance of shops and shopping centers, only the lazy will not be able to pick up an “onion” for himself in terms of price and quality.



Do you follow stylists' advice?

From time to time I get acquainted with the trends of the season, but in life I prefer to wear what is comfortable and practical. I live an active life in which heels don't always fit. Therefore, I am my own stylist, who chooses an image based on the weather, mood and the purpose of the trip or meeting.

What clothes does Lena Semyonova prefer?

My answer is - comfortable and beautiful.

Do you follow fashion in general?

Whenever possible, I try to be in trend, and as I said above, it all depends on the circumstances prevailing at one time or another.



What is style for you?

Style is when you feel 100 percent, when you attract the eyes of others, when you are neat and smell delicious, you are wearing expensive accessories and you are in a good positive mood.

How do you keep yourself in shape?

I really love group yoga, pilates, stretching in my fitness club and pool. At the first opportunity I rush to these classes, and after them, I fall asleep like a baby from pleasant muscle fatigue).



Lena, tell us about your new single "Are you sure ?!"

We wrote this track together with my favorite authors Ilya Gurov and Eli Litvinovich. I wanted emotional relief through music, in my opinion, we succeeded. The song turned out to be meaningful, passionate and very personal.

In general, I am an adherent of being and remaining myself in life, not adjusting to the environment and not breaking myself under other people's principles and troubles. This is especially true of relationships in personal life. Therefore, I can safely say that the song is sung in the first person ...

You sang in a cover band before, did you have a hard time getting along with other members?

At first it was a little difficult to win over 3 successful adults. I was the youngest in the team. But as they say, small, but remote. I quickly made it clear that with my determination I would go far, and the respect of my colleagues was not long in coming.

Now we very rarely meet with the guys, but during these meetings we always have something to talk about, what to discuss. I can safely say that we have become friends and follow each other's successes.



How does it feel for you to perform your own repertoire now and what is the difference when you go on stage?

It is a great happiness to perform author's songs, the primary source of which you are. I am a professional vocalist, and I can perform almost any world hit or song from the Soviet stage. But in such songs I can only show the vocal technique and what I learned during 5 years of study at the academy.

In the author's material, I am me. My tone is my tone, my melismas are my melismas. I give birth to them while recording a track in the studio, and I get endless pleasure from it. My songs are my face, the face of the singer Lena Semyonova. I'm not ashamed of a single song, I proudly perform my material.

Are you a certified vocal teacher and studio manager, do you plan to develop in this area further?

Yes, of course, I work and will be engaged in teaching. Working with children is not easy, but when I see the successes of my little wards, I see the passion with which they enter the stage, I recharge from them, and I give my experience and knowledge with great enthusiasm.



Does teaching interfere with your main work in a solo project?

Teaching takes up the lion's share of my time, but I have a very good relationship with both children and their parents. Therefore, we always go to meet each other, and I manage to combine teaching with concerts and filming.

What are the plans for the future of the singer Lena Semyonova?

We plan to record new tracks and shoot a video for one of the last songs, it is planned to release a mini-album, which will include my favorite songs.

What are your wishes for our readers?

Live boldly, positively, and tastefully. Dream and direct your energy to the realization of your desires, may everything work out for you, yours, Lena Semenova).