“Masha and the Bears” is one of the few rock bands in which the role of the main soloist is assigned to a woman. Own style The group, or rather the leader, calls it art rock, a genre that does not sell and which the masses are not fans of. Success, of course, is desirable, but it is not at the forefront. According to the singer, Russia is not a materialistic country, but is strong, first of all, in spirit.
Compound
There is a story circulating on the Internet about the iconic role that lead singer Oleg Nesterov played in the biography of Masha and the Bears. According to this story, during his Krasnodar tour, Maria, who had been writing music for a long time and had experience in club performances, managed to give Oleg her demos.
The musician appreciated the work of the young singer and offered the services of a producer. In order not to miss out on luck, Masha quickly gathers a group and moves to the capital.
20 years later, recalling such luck, Masha said that there are no producers as such in the underground, unlike in pop music. It’s easier for those who stand out from the crowd to show up online, and if it’s a worthwhile thing, people will know about it.
WITH light hand Nesterov’s songs “Without You”, “Reykjavik” and the unforgettable “Lyubochka” appeared on Radio Maximum. And at the age of 18, Makarova woke up famous. The first success with the girl was shared by other members of the group - Vyacheslav Motylev, nicknamed Hottabych, virtuoso guitarist Maxim Khomich, who in a narrow circle is called Khomyachok, bassist Denis “Pete” Petukhov and drummer Vyacheslav “Zeleny” Kozyrev. Subsequently (although it is not known exactly when) Georgy Avanesyan joined the team, also playing bass guitar and also receiving the nickname Geo.
Music
At one time, the hit “Lyubochka,” a kind of remake of the poem, sounded from every window. From 1998 to 1999, the newly minted rockers gave almost a hundred concerts in major cities countries. “Reykjavik” was put into the form of a video, which was filmed directly in the country of geysers, as a result of which the group received a reception at the Icelandic Embassy.
Song "Lyubochka" by the group "Masha and the Bears""Masha and the Bears" receives the title of opening of the year at music festivals and in specialized publications. The first album “Sunclash” occupies the first line of the charts and is being snapped up like hot cakes.
In 2000, having barely released the album “Where?” with the compositions “Spring”, “Harpooneer”, “Earth”, the group broke up. They said different things about the reasons for the conflict between the musicians; even the soloist’s interviews on this topic differed. It was said that “leaving at the peak of your capabilities is a special adrenaline rush.”
Song "Earth" by the group "Masha and the Bears"Some critics believed that Maria “was confused, she understood that she did not belong to herself, but did not want to put up with it.” Makarova, both then and after the reunion, did not refuse to say that she was not going to play by rules that she did not like, and would “rock, albeit small, but her own swing.” The male part of the team invited Olga Dzusova, who was on backing vocals, to join their ranks, but the experiment was not a success.
Reconciliation took place in 2004. According to Maria, she took such a step for the sake of her children: she was expecting twins, no one supported her, she had to somehow survive. She came to her former colleagues and said that without their help she would be nowhere, because compared to her the musicians were real professionals.
In 2006, the group’s discography was replenished with a new creation - the album “Without Language”. To record an album with a heavier sound, Masha and the Bears invited Brigitte Angerhausen, a producer from Germany who collaborated with and was a good friend of Oleg Nesterov.
In 2012, fans received a mini-album “The End” of 4 tracks. The band timed the release to coincide with the date of the end of the world, predicted by the Mayan calendar. The musicians also gave some symbolism to the release of the next parts, promising to release albums on the days of the autumn and spring equinoxes and on the day of Ivan Kupala.
Song “Without You” by the group “Masha and the Bears”The disc “Caterpillars”, released in 2013, included the composition “Egg” together with Inna Zhelannaya. For the song “Neva,” in which fans are accustomed to hearing light notes of chanson, the St. Petersburg duet performed a cover of their own composition.
In 2014, Maria Makarova starred in the group’s spectacular video for the song “Hipsters.” The video director was Irina Mironova, who produced videos for and. The actors involved are “auctionist” Oleg Garkusha, and even with. In the same year, the album “Sunclash” was re-released on vinyl for fans of “Masha and the Bears.”
Song "Reykjavik" by the group "Masha and the Bears"Only in 2017 came the turn of the new album “World War”, in which three of the 4 songs are of the same name, just in different designs. According to the author, the track reflects the experiences and personal changes caused by the war in Ukraine. At the same time, Maria said that two more albums were on the way, one of which would have an unusual electronic sound.
Makarova is not afraid to experiment, especially since the group has acquired its own studio, and now there is room to search for new sounds and unexpected solutions.
“When you don’t stray from your path, you gain a lot of experience, as well as professionalism and an understanding of what to do. And the further you go in creativity, the more interesting it becomes.”
However, the passion for innovation also has a downside - the release of the next album is delayed. Since 2016, search engines began responding to the request “Masha and the Bears” with fantasy tales from fellow writers writing under the pseudonyms of Irina Elba and Tatyana Osinskaya.
Masha in them is a Moscow student, and “Bears” is a dating agency where the girl works part-time and is looking for companions for fantastic creatures. There is no information yet about whether a conflict has arisen with the “bears”-pioneers regarding copyright (still there is consonance).
"Masha and the Bears" now
At the beginning of 2018, “Masha and the Bears” was not afraid to perform at the Moscow “Mumiy Troll Music Bar” in support of the notorious priest Gleb Grozovsky, accused of pedophilia. According to Maria, she has been closely acquainted with the clergyman’s family for a long time and does not believe that this man is capable of such vile acts against innocent people.
As Grozovsky’s sister Lyuba later wrote on her VKontakte page (later, by the way, blocked), the club’s management did not pay the group the due fee. Perhaps that’s why the unnamed participant took his anger out on the younger Angelina, showering her with obscene language.
In June 2018, the group took part in an unusual event - the first family rock festival “Our People” in St. Petersburg. The chance to go on stage and perform their favorite songs was given not only to parents, but also to young fans of the genre who were already 5 years old.
At the end of the summer of 2018, the Chernozem rock festival will take place in Tambov, without false modesty called “the most soulful event of the year” and one of the ten best open air in Russia.
luminaries and young people will perform at the festival venues musical groups, professing rock in all its diversity: CASUAL, NAIVE, and others. “Masha and the Bears” has also been announced. You can find out where on Earth the group will be by this time on the official website, where a detailed schedule of the artists’ movements is published.
In December it is planned to release the next album of the “bears” - “Kingfisher”. The single “Ararat” has been pre-ordered and is available for download on specialized online platforms.
Clips
- "Lyubochka"
- "Reykjavik"
- "Without you"
- "Earth"
- "Maria"
- "Happy New Year!"
- "Parabellum"
- "X. war"
Discography
- 1998 - “Sunflare”
- 2000 - “Where?”
- 2006 - “Without Language”
- 2012 - “The End”
- 2013 - “Caterpillars”
- 2017 - “World War”
- 2018 - “Ararat”
- 2018 - “Kingfisher”
The impulsive and shocking Maria Makarova won universal love in hometown. With the advent of the group, its popularity acquired enormous proportions. Both on stage and in life, Masha is emotional, bright and extraordinary.
Childhood and youth
Maria Vladimirovna Makarova was born in the south of Russia, in the city of Krasnodar on September 6, 1977. My mother’s name is Vera Mikhailovna, my father’s name is Vladimir Valerievich. Masha grew up in large family. Besides her, there are two more brothers: twins Daniil and Mikhail. The atmosphere in the house was creative. Dad worked as a journalist, mom taught languages and sometimes wrote poetry.
In her studies, Makarova followed in her father’s footsteps and chose the Kubansky Faculty of Journalism state university. Future star worked as a presenter at the first Krasnodar radio station “Fermata”. Broadcasting in the city of Krasnodar began with this radio. In one of the interviews, Masha shared her emotions about her DJ career.
The broadcasts allowed them to express themselves creatively: the presenters worked out musical inserts and texts themselves. Together with Alexei Naumenko, Makarova hosted programs dedicated to rock music. All this activity seemed magical then: the first radio in the region, complete freedom of action. Soon, Moscow radio began broadcasting on the FM wave.
Young and active Makarova easily took on the responsibility of organizing events, enjoyed playing music, and wrote lyrics. It was the mid-nineties, Masha became popular even when she worked as a DJ. But fame in the DJ booth wasn't enough.
Makarova performed with the student group “Drynk”, which was founded in Krasnodar by Evgeny Kuzemin and Ruben Kazaryantsev, and as part of the once famous group among teenagers “Makar Dubai”.
Music
In 1996 the group toured. During performances in Krasnodar, Masha Makarova managed to transfer recordings of her songs to Oleg Anatolyevich Nesterov.
The leader of the popular “Megapolis” appreciated the music of the future singer, and soon wrote about it printed publications: musician, singer, composer and TV presenter himself offered to become the producer of the aspiring artist. In 1997, Makarova signed everything Required documents and gathered musicians. From this time on, the team “Masha and the Bears” began to exist.
The group includes Vyacheslav Motylev, Maxim Khomich, Georgy Avanesyan, Vyacheslav Kozyrev and Maria Makarova. In the same 1997, Masha and the Bears moved to Moscow and worked on their first album.
The musicians filmed their debut videos for the songs “Lyubochka” and “Without You” in India together with director Mikhail Khleborodov. Masha wrote the lyrics herself, except for “Lyubochka.” This hit appeared almost by accident, words from a poem with the same name were set to music (the text was changed slightly). It ultimately became the highlight of the album.
A team effort was carried out on the first collection of Masha and the Bears, in which both Nesterov himself and the German director Brigitte Angerhusen took part. The song “Lyubochka” was first broadcast on Radio Maximum in 1998. She created a real sensation, and “Everyone knew Lyuba.” True, the clip that came out later did not impress.
Song "Lyubochka"According to the director's idea, Masha appeared before the audience bald. The male half of the team appeared in the frame with the same hairstyle. The singer lets her cut hair flow down the Ganges River. This is a symbol of karma purification.
After the release of the album “Solntseklesh”, the group was recognized as “breakthrough of the year 1998”. The collection, in addition to the recognizable “Lyubochka,” included psychedelic rock compositions that did not even remotely resemble the beloved hit.
Despite the creative upsurge, in 2000 the group “Masha and the Bears” unexpectedly ceased to exist. Before the annual star festival “Maxidrom” from radio “Maximum”, Maria Makarova announced that she was refusing to perform and the group no longer existed. Before leaving the stage, the group released another song, “Earth.”
In the whirlwind of Moscow show business, Maria Makarova withdrew into herself, refusing to continue working in this field. The news about the singer’s creative crisis was picked up by journalists. Everyone knew about her depression. Masha did not refuse to give interviews, telling the media about how confused she was and no longer enjoyed rehearsals and concerts.
Song "Earth"For a long time, with an armful of philosophical books, Maria did not communicate with anyone, read and practically did not leave the house. The singer remained in this state for four years. She returned to her native Krasnodar, then went to Moscow again.
At the end of 2004, the Masha and the Bears group recovered. Maria, who was then pregnant, returned to the stage, and the band continued to perform. In 2008, Makarova decided to try herself as a solo artist in the author’s project Ya Maha. Victor Burko and Sergey Minko, who have been collaborating with the group for a long time, took part in the creation of the project. But the project was not successful, since Masha does not imagine herself in show business outside the team.
Song "Life without drugs"Masha Makarova's repertoire is not limited to rock compositions. In 2008, the rapper recorded the track “Life without Drugs” with the lead singer of “Masha and the Bears” in the hip-hop genre.
In 2012, the group “Masha and the Bears” released another album, “The End.” Parts of one collection were published separately from each other throughout the year. This has to do with dates. The first presentation took place on December 21st, the day of the winter solstice. Then another part of the album was released in 2013 on the day of the spring equinox. After this, two compositions were released together with the group - “I Believe” and “For You”.
Personal life
Maria Makarova was married to Krasnodar artist Andrei Repeshko. In 2005, she gave birth to two twin daughters, whom she named Rose and Mira. When asked about unusual names Masha answers that the inspiration was the philosophical book “Rose of the World.” Makarova divorced the children’s father.
In November 2010, the singer gave birth to a son, Damir. Few people know the boy's father. In the interview, Maria gave only her first name common-law husband- Alexander. She told me what he prefers quiet life away from cities. Dad communicates with his son, but rarely.
The artist treats children with kindness. Each of them is involved in music and sports. Masha tries to control all areas of the children’s lives, even spending time on the Internet. According to her, it is dangerous to stay there for a long time.
Although on the page in "Instagram" Maria Makarova often receives new photos and videos, which cannot but please her many subscribers.
By the way, Masha gave birth at home, under the supervision of specialists and close to her family. She believes home birth is safe and beneficial for both the baby and the mother.
Masha Makarova now
Now the lead singer of the group “Masha and the Bears” continues to give concerts and record new songs. So she reported to last broadcast“Hello, Andrey” from May 12, 2018.
The program is dedicated to the stars of the nineties. Along with Makarova, others were present in the studio. Famous hits no one has forgotten Soviet performers, however highest point popularity came in the nineties. And Maria completely disappeared from television in 2000.
At the moment, Makarova is raising three children alone, actively speaking to the public, writing songs and creative activity has no plans to stop.
Discography
- 1998 – “Day – Night”
- 1998 – “Unloved”
- 2000 – “Spring”
- 2000 – “Tai – Tai”
- 2000 – “Earth”
- 2006 – “Armour”
- 2006 – “Don’t be sorry”
- 2006 – “Cain”
- 2012 – “Baby”
- 2012 – “Happy New Year”
- 2013 – “True”
- 2013 – “Neva”
Almost nine years ago, in response to the question she cheerfully sang, “Who doesn’t know Lyubochka?” - the country replied that everyone knows - they know her, Masha Makarova. Radio stations, charts and music critics surrendered without a fight to the fragile girl from Krasnodar. We fell headlong and forever in love with her intonations and rhymes, the lunar city, Reykjavik and the bright dance of the sun flare, with her shaved head and wide open heart. But after two albums and three years it was all over. The group “Masha and the Bears” broke up, and Masha went somewhere to the village - into the wilderness. They said she failed the test copper pipes, that she went too far in experiments with illegal substances, that she got into religion. After a series of rumors about her return and new projects, few believed in the reality of her return. In January 2005, Masha gave birth to twin daughters Rosa and Mira, and already in April “Masha and the Bears” officially announced their reunion, began performing and recording new album.
The result of five years of alienation from the world, self-isolation, rethinking and reunification was the album “Without a Language”, released on October 23, 2006 on the Style Records label. The album turned out to be conceptual, evolutionary and much more complex than the first two. The first single from the band "Maria" reached the top of the Maximum radio chart in a couple of weeks of rotation. The return took place.
The group occasionally goes on tour, gathering old fans and acquiring new ones. Masha is raising children, at the same time studying throat singing, is interested in oriental martial arts, and writes new songs, many of which are completely out of the “Bears” style.
By 2008, more than a dozen such “non-bear” songs had accumulated. Masha decided to give them life and created an electronic side project with the mocking name YA MAHA, where she experimented with sound and style. The presentation of the project was successfully held on December 17 at the capital's Ikra club.
In 2009, Masha and the Bears actively toured and hatched ideas for a new record.
Official page groups: http://masha.cool.ru/
Official website: http://www.masha-i-medvedi.ru/
About my big family The lead singer of the group “Masha and the Bears” told readers about giving birth at home and the main principle of upbringing. Our guests are: Maria Makarova, Alexander, Rosa, Mira and Damir, aka Nikolai.
HAPPY PARENTS What's happening in yours today? creative life? MARIA MAKAROVA Everything is very good in our creative life. We are preparing to release a new album, which will appear this winter. We already sing some songs from it at concerts. I also teach my own course on energy charging - this synthesis is the most effective exercises from various gymnastics - in the cafe “Shop No. 8” on Chistye Prudy.
S.R.What's in yours family life happening? Your family – who is it?MM. This is me and the children. Damir's dad, Alexander. But in general, of course, my, our family is much broader. Ours is very strong. I have a mother and father, whom I love and respect very much. Unfortunately, they do not live together, but nevertheless. I had a stepfather, who, may he rest in heaven, was also a second dad for me and raised my brothers and me. There are also two aunts, my mother’s sisters, whom I also love very much and one of whom I can call my second mother, and her daughter and her children... Finally, my two twin brothers. And our family is expanding and expanding, there are more and more children, and we can no longer count them all. There are families where relatives such as aunts and uncles do not communicate very well, they call each other “you”, but with us it’s the opposite. We call each other all the time, find out how things are going, what happened, support each other, and meet. In general, we love each other! So my family is big and strong.
S.R.So, this means that the appearance of twins did not happen for the first time in your family?MM. Yes, my mother, like me, also had twins, or rather twins. Only she had me first, and then brothers, and I first had two girls, and then a boy.
S.R.Is it much more difficult with two children at once than with one?MM. It seems to me that it is easier to give birth to first two, then one, than to first give birth to one, and then two. Just the experience with twins is such a workout! One child, even several years after the first birth, seems like a no-brainer. After all, when I first gave birth to two girls, I didn’t even know what a child was. Two – that’s how it should be. You immediately fall into a frantic rhythm, and for you it becomes the norm. My mother is another matter. First she gave birth to me, and then, exactly a year later, twins. And besides, boys! I can't imagine this. A one-year-old girl and two newborn boys, 3200 and 3300 g each!
S.R.How big! This is the weight of an ordinary child!MM. Yes! My girls were about two kilograms each, and poor mom, pregnant, walked with a cane, could not climb the stairs with such a load. Therefore, for me in this regard, she is a captain. And, despite the difficulties, the mother says that this time, when all the children were small, was the happiest for her.
S.R.Masha, did you really give birth to all your children at home?MM. Yes. I am not a completely traditional person in any general sense. Although it depends on what you call tradition... So, my pregnancy went very well, and I never visited a doctor and felt great. In general, I don’t like to get involved in all these social bureaucratic structures unless absolutely necessary. However, about a month before giving birth, I still went and registered at the clinic so that I wouldn’t be taken to any maternity hospital. Very soon after this, like all pregnant women with twins, I went into labor, about a month before my due date. And it was right on Christmas Eve, which we were going to celebrate in the company of friends. I called my friend and asked what to do, because I don’t have any certificates, I didn’t have time to do anything. And they sent two absolutely wonderful midwives to me. Frankly, I didn’t expect childbirth to be so tough (although I knew that my mother gave birth for two days), but nevertheless I survived everything, and Mira and Rosa were born safely.
S.R.Was there pain relief?MM. When you give birth with home midwives, you can forget about this. Childbirth takes place without any drugs, absolutely naturally, the old fashioned way. If I gave birth in a hospital, I have no doubt that I would be on my knees begging the doctors to inject me with painkillers, but here - don’t ask, they simply don’t have it.
S.R.Well, what if something went wrong?MM. Midwives are required to have a short connection with the ambulance, and there was such a thing. But nothing urgent was needed.
S.R.Is it the same story with Damir?MM. Yes. By the way, it so happened that my son has two names. When he was born, Alexander and I named him Damir, and christened him Nikolai. So, I also gave birth to him at home. But only this time I met the midwife in advance. We followed the three main rules of childbirth: warm, dark and quiet, turned on candles, quiet music... And I gave birth to Damir-Kolya. Moreover, I didn’t do an ultrasound and didn’t know exactly who it would be, but I had inner confidence that a son would appear. He appeared, I took him in my arms: “Son!” So beautiful! And during his birth, I tried not to scream, but to sing.
S.R.Did it work?MM. Yes! Moreover, I discovered some previously unknown depths in my voice, and in general it seems to me that after each birth the quality of vocals improves. Is it true. It's as if your voice is coming from somewhere.
S.R.Has childbirth changed you?MM. Yes, of course, your whole life changes. You no longer belong to yourself, you are responsible for little creatures until they grow up. You count your life from them.
S.R.What is the most important thing in your life now?MM. For a woman, there are several main things in life: children, personal life, self-realization. If there is harmony in all this, then we can say that the table stands strong, firm. Then you feel good.
S.R.Is there harmony?MM. Harmony is in the process of being achieved, let’s say... My girls are already going to school, and Kolya is also doing well. I'm still breastfeeding him.
S.R.How much do you feed?MM. Well, it will be almost two years now.
S.R.And it took the same long time with the girls?MM. Unfortunately no. I fed them until 4 months, because I had to tour, and there was no way to take two. At first, of course, I pumped, and then we switched them to formula, and they began to stay with my mother. And since he is alone, I take my son with me everywhere. For all the tours, for all the concerts, and this gives me the opportunity to breastfeed him like this long term. To feed him, or rather, because he already eats everything that other children his age eat.
S.R.Your twins have unusual names. Why are they like this?MM. When I was pregnant, in front of my bed there was a bookshelf on which stood the book “Rose of the World” by Daniil Andreev. And I lie there, stroking my belly and thinking: how nice it would be if two girls were born, I would call them such beautiful names - Rose and Mira. In addition, I wanted to name the children the name of no one I know, so that I would not associate them with anyone.
S.R.You said: they are different...MM. Yes. Rose was born first, and she is truly a fighting girl, one might say a leader. The character is such a small “Shaolin”. Rosa is always on the move, constantly arranging all sorts of games for her younger brother, making him laugh, tumbling, running, jumping. And Mira is feminine, very tender, vulnerable, so sensitive, a little capricious.
They are different, like yin and yang. Rose – yang, solar energy, combative, giving; Mira – yin, lunar, feminine energy. Well, the boy is, of course, wonderful, our common favorite. Everyone plays with him, everyone loves him!
S.R.So the sisters didn’t have any jealousy? MM . No, on the contrary, the girls were very happy that they had a brother. And how he adores and waits for them! He calls both of them “Mia” - a combination of Mira and Rose - or simply “children”. He wakes up and says: “Children of the stake?”, which means: “Children at school?” He runs, looks for them in all the rooms, doesn’t find them and realizes that yes, they are children of the stake. And waits for them. Only the girls come, so much joy! They shout to him: “Malyusik, dear, hello!” I can leave him with them, calmly cook in the kitchen, they will play together. So cool!
S.R.Do you have any dreams for their future?MM. I would like them to engage in some kind of creativity, any kind, because creativity is what drives, it is self-expression. So I give them the opportunity to choose a direction, they do different types arts We recently went to karate - this martial arts. They also go to ballroom dancing, drawing, music. Rose began to compose her songs. Here's the latest:
- Everyone go home quickly!
Frost says, frost says:
- Or I'll make you leave!
Winter, winter
Coming closer to you and me.
Winter, winter!
Don't forget about the Christmas tree!
And he asks me: “Mom, do you think it’s enough for a song or should I write another verse?”
S.R.Do you have any main principle education?MM. I think that all of my upbringing, and any upbringing, should be built on love. Sometimes you want to spank, sometimes you want to scream. But then you realize that children immediately remove your pattern of behavior, and as soon as you spank once, the germ of rudeness appears in the child; as soon as you yell, the germ of anger appears. And then the baby begins to not trust you, and may even lie somewhere. That is, even when I really want to do this, I restrain myself and simply say that I can’t do this. Or, on the contrary, I’ll pat you on the head and say: “You’re doing great, my dear sunshine, the most kind girl, so beautiful, so smart.” Then she will consider herself like that. And if you call her mean or mean, that’s what she will become. Of course, all sorts of situations happen, we also get tired during the day, aggression accumulates in us... And who else should we pour it on? Here they are, the closest people, and there is almost always a reason. There is a very big temptation to break. But there is no need to do this; it is better to maintain peace, harmony, and mutual understanding with all our might. And children absorb this and learn from it. So I noticed: I only have to shout at Rosa or Mira - they immediately begin to apply the same methods to the baby. Therefore, only react to everything with love.
Advice from a star
So that the children do not interfere with my cooking, I ask them... to help me. We mix ingredients together, compare different tastes, find out what smells like. And when the dish is ready, we remember what it was made from.