APPLE PIE




"Sending Impulses To World"

Interview with the members of this great Russian band

 
By Sergio Vilar

What is exactily the name Apple Pie and tell us some interesting history about the band and members?
Andrey:The band was founded in 2000 by Vartan Mkhitaryan. The staff has changed only for a few times. Last four years Apple Pie is: Vartan Mkhitaryan: lead vocal, guitars, keyboards, percussion; Alex Bildin: basses, backing vocals, saxophones; Oleg Sergeev: keyboards, backing vocals and Andrey Golodukhin: drums, backing vocals.

Alex: Well Vartan is a doctor; he works in a Kursk State Hospital in a department of otorynolaringology. Me and Oleg are musicians in a Military Orchestra. And finally our Andrey is an engineer. He works at the head office of the Kursk State Department of The Russian Save Bank.

Vartan: Why Apple Pie? I don’t know. It’s just a funny, tasty and bright name for a band. Maybe because that’s my favorite pie.

Just to start off our interview, I would firstly like to make you the following question: where does your band’s influence come from?
Vartan: I think you can hear it with the first notes.

How much the Russian music tradition influences your compositions?
Andrey: Not much because first of all our composer (Vartan Mkhitaryan) is Armenian. And this kind of music came out from the West many years ago but wasn’t born in Russia. That’s why it can’t be so much.

Tell us about "Crossroad". How did that begin, the CD title and the history behind the songs?
Vartan: “Crossroad” is a story of a one guy who lost in his doubts. Like everyone in this world he faces this struggle of God and Devil inside his head because the time has come. At last he made his choice and he’s been forgiven for his sins.

What themes do you try in the lyrics of the songs? 
Oleg: As Vartan sad the major theme is struggle of God and Devil.

What is the creative process like in the studio?
Andrey: First of all we recorded drums, then basses. After Alex we recorded Oleg’s keyboards then Vartan. After him saxophones, trumpet, percussion. And when we finished whit instrumental part we started recording vocals. Then mixing and mastering owing to Oleg Moroz. He made a great job! Our manager helped us too. Thanks to guys especially to Oleg Moroz.

Are you satisfied with the response to Apple Pie's album?
Oleg: Not yet. I think it’s early to talk about it because it is not so fast process.

Has the music of the group changed too much from the beginnings? How has your sound evolved? 
Alex: Of course it has. As I sad the staff has changing few times, then almost every year we’re trying new instruments: buying guitars and basses, drums and cymbals, changing keyboards, combos.

Then, what can we expect from your next works? 
Vartan: The next album will be in English too and progressive of course. And I could tell you a secret.
Probably we’ll name him “Another World”. Probably.

What are you making at the moment, are you carrying out shows? 
Andrey: It is difficult to carry out some shows because progressive is not popular in Russia. But we’re trying.

Plans for the future. What can we expect after the releasing "Crossroad"?
Oleg: Preparing for recording a new album. Try to get someday the really serious prog-fest like NEARfest in USA or any other in Europe.

Could you please tell us your favourites past and present artists?
All guys: The Beatles, Queen, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Genesis, Yes, Rush, UK, ELP, The Flower Kings, Spock’s Beard, Dream Theater, Transatlantic, Neal Morse, Peter Gabriel, Derek Sherinian and many others.

What do you think about the current progressive scene?
Alex: Spock’s Beard, Dream Theater, The Flower Kings, Neal Morse: here are a monsters of a progressive. And every band doing progressive music should strive for make it as perfect as above-mentioned.

Someone says that doing today progressive music is pointless, which is your answer?
Vartan: I think all that musician have to do is a MUSIC! And no matter is it either progressive or something else. That’s the point. Progressive is one of the many branches of the music tree. And this branch is very strong and powerful. We like to do this kind of music.

Many thanks! Do you want to add something?
All gus: We hope you like it! And maybe someday we’ll arrive in Argentina and rock Buenos Aires!

www.applepie-mus.narod.ru

Nucleus interview: 16/03/07