The Sound of Music: Back to the 1950s?
1,435 views   /  18 Oct 2015
Many of us have dreamed of becoming a member of a music band when we were teenagers. Being in the spotlight, having a lot of fans and performing in front of the excited crowd – that is how we imagined being a musician would look like. But does the musical profession really look like this? Or are there some challenges that one might have to face? We asked Lora, a singer of the retro band Roch’n’Lora, about what is it really like to be a professional musician.
By Anastasia Fistashka
Lora, how did you decide to become a singer?
Well, I started to study music at an early age. My parents took me to a music school when I was 4. My mom told me that I was always humming tunes when I was a small child and could not even speak.
However, when I graduated from the music school, I decided to study humanities. I was studying at the Russian State University for the Humanities in the department of Art History. But even then I continued to sing and performed with other students on tours abroad: in China, the Czech Republic, France.
When I finished my studies, I realized that I wanted music to become my profession. I took classes at the Moscow College of Improvised Music, started my own music band Rock’n’Lora and began performing in various clubs across Moscow.
How much time do you spend on rehearsals, music training, organization of concerts?
Rehearsals and concerts take a lot of time, of course. But I would say administrative work is even more time-consuming. I mean the promotion of our band on social media, maintenance of our website, search for new clubs and other places to perform, management and photo shoots. It also takes much time to choose and buy stage clothes.
Tell us a little bit about your band. What songs do you play? Who does your band consist of?
Our band has a guitar player, a bass player and a drummer, and we used to play retro. In our repertoire there are classic rock ‘n’ roll songs of Elvis Presley and The Beatles, and I am also fond of the Soviet retro by Aida Vedischeva and Anna Herman. However, most of all I like to make new settings for modern songs in the 1950-1960s style.
How did you get the idea to start a retro cover-band?
Well, over the last few years, more and more young people started to pay more attention to music and culture from the mid-twentieth century. This trend could be seen in fashion, media, hobbies, and even in the arrangement of urban space in Moscow. But I chose this style because of its great popularity, and because I like it. I feel myself as a “pretty hooligan girl from the 1950s.”
Who helps you to create your image? Your makeup, costumes – everything looks really great…
A few years ago I helped my friend in her graduation project; I was her model. That time we created my vivid Pin Up style, and today I continue to develop it myself. Not only can I sing well, but I also can make my own vintage hairstyles. Like any woman, I love to go shopping, but sometimes it’s not easy to find right clothes.
What are your plans for the future? Do you plan to release your own album?
Of course, I would like to record an album with covers of famous songs, but this requires a lot of resources – both time and money. So far, our plans are very commercial – to earn money for recording. But I’d tell you a secret: one of our plans in the nearest future is to shoot a music video for one of our songs.
Where can our readers hear your songs or watch you perform?
We often perform in Moscow’s clubs and bars. So, you can listen and dance to your favorite songs almost every week. Sometimes, we are invited to perform at private parties. Unfortunately, we have not yet performed in other Russian cities and abroad, but you can watch some of our videos on YouTube.
What do you think is the most difficult thing for a musician?
I think it’s the recognition of your choice of profession by your relatives. I still come across misunderstanding from people. Many think that music is not a real job, but a hobby, and this is really sad. I believe that it is a very important profession.
Sometimes when I start to perform on the stage, I can see sad people concerned about their own problems. But I don’t even think about how to cheer them up or distract them from their heavy thoughts; I’m just doing my job.
And then I see how my music starts to change them, like a magic cure – people start smiling, singing, dancing, and that means that I can help them and give them some joy for at least two hours during my concert! That is why music became my work and my whole life. Each performance makes not only me a little bit happier, but my audience too!
Learn more about Lora and her music band here:
http://www.rocknlora.com/
https://www.facebook.com/rocknlora
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