Rusya: “Musicians and politicians wanted a dialogue with the authorities. So it has started”
Rockers told ERB what their talk with the head ideologist of the country was about and whether they promised not to be involved in politics.
Pіt Paulau, Aleh Hamenka, Lyavon Volskі, Іhar Varashkevіch and Alyaksandr Kulіnkovіch got on the second “black list” after the meeting in the President’s Administration. Now they even call them betrayers. Musicians cannot understand it: both musicians and politicians were eager to start a dialogue with the authorities…
The leader of the band “Palats” Aleh Hamenka calls the rumours about “a non-aggression pact” absurd:
Aleh Hamenka: “Read the information twice and you will see that it is absurd. We drew attention to problems existing between officials and musical bands. We did not speak only on behalf of our bands; we addressed them on behalf of all musicians and friends. Pralyaksouski said that musicians should write music while politicians should be involved in politics. We were polite enough not to argue about it. So some kind of a dialogue took place.
Steps aimed at the development of a better attitude to the Belarusian language and Belarusian music, to festivals like “Basovishcha” and “Rock-Cola” are possible. Young bands whose members are 25 years old and who have not managed to “show up” will find everything easier”.
The head ideologist gave his phone number in case there was some misunderstanding between musicians and officials. The opposition may need the number…
The vocalist of “Indiga” Rusya says that both politicians and musicians wanted the dialogue. “So it has started”:
Rusya: “A musician is first of all a creative person whose aim is to create music instead of waving flags. Unfortunately, Belarusian musicians are in a situation forcing them to choose whose side to join. Many opposition members and musicians had been waiting for the dialogue. So it has started!”
The leader of “Haradskiya” and a guitarist from “NRM” Pit Paulau said that it was “a top-level apology”:
Pіt Paulau: “The results of the talk are: the authorities are canceling all banishments. We did not reach anything. They simply apologized for everything and even suggested that we should invent some kind of Belarusian legalization like a TV festival or something. I don’t know whether their promises correspond to reality but I am not very enthusiastic about it all”.
Lyavon Volski discussed the idea whether it was possible to dedicate all your life to the underground half a year ago in an ERB’s programme “Belarus Tomorrow”:
Lyavon Volskі: “The thing is you can’t do the same for dozens of years. Then the underground turns out to be rather old. It sounded new for some time five years ago –lyrics of protest, emotional music… But people are getting tired of doing it, it is clear. Even those who were involved in the Belarusian rock’n’roll for a dozen years start doing other jobs simply because they have no money. Of cause young musicians are springing up”.
Mr. Volski suggested the “Indiga” band as an example. According to Rusya, none of the musicians earns his or her living with the help of music:
Rusya: “One of them washed cars in a service centre, another one is a sound producer in a studio and the third one is a student. I work as a journalist, teach English to children and make translations: to be short, I do anything but music. If there are concerts, open concert pavilions, TV and radio performances then those who have never heard about “Palats”, “Dubels”, “Krama” and other famous Belarusian bands will forget about Palina Smolava, Ahurbash and other pop stars”.
Pіt Paulau, Aleh Hamenka, Lyavon Volskі, Іhar Varashkevіch and Alyaksandr Kulіnkovіch got on the second “black list” after the meeting in the President’s Administration. Now they even call them betrayers. Musicians cannot understand it: both musicians and politicians were eager to start a dialogue with the authorities…
The leader of the band “Palats” Aleh Hamenka calls the rumours about “a non-aggression pact” absurd:
Aleh Hamenka: “Read the information twice and you will see that it is absurd. We drew attention to problems existing between officials and musical bands. We did not speak only on behalf of our bands; we addressed them on behalf of all musicians and friends. Pralyaksouski said that musicians should write music while politicians should be involved in politics. We were polite enough not to argue about it. So some kind of a dialogue took place.
Steps aimed at the development of a better attitude to the Belarusian language and Belarusian music, to festivals like “Basovishcha” and “Rock-Cola” are possible. Young bands whose members are 25 years old and who have not managed to “show up” will find everything easier”.
The head ideologist gave his phone number in case there was some misunderstanding between musicians and officials. The opposition may need the number…
The vocalist of “Indiga” Rusya says that both politicians and musicians wanted the dialogue. “So it has started”:
Rusya: “A musician is first of all a creative person whose aim is to create music instead of waving flags. Unfortunately, Belarusian musicians are in a situation forcing them to choose whose side to join. Many opposition members and musicians had been waiting for the dialogue. So it has started!”
The leader of “Haradskiya” and a guitarist from “NRM” Pit Paulau said that it was “a top-level apology”:
Pіt Paulau: “The results of the talk are: the authorities are canceling all banishments. We did not reach anything. They simply apologized for everything and even suggested that we should invent some kind of Belarusian legalization like a TV festival or something. I don’t know whether their promises correspond to reality but I am not very enthusiastic about it all”.
Lyavon Volski discussed the idea whether it was possible to dedicate all your life to the underground half a year ago in an ERB’s programme “Belarus Tomorrow”:
Lyavon Volskі: “The thing is you can’t do the same for dozens of years. Then the underground turns out to be rather old. It sounded new for some time five years ago –lyrics of protest, emotional music… But people are getting tired of doing it, it is clear. Even those who were involved in the Belarusian rock’n’roll for a dozen years start doing other jobs simply because they have no money. Of cause young musicians are springing up”.
Mr. Volski suggested the “Indiga” band as an example. According to Rusya, none of the musicians earns his or her living with the help of music:
Rusya: “One of them washed cars in a service centre, another one is a sound producer in a studio and the third one is a student. I work as a journalist, teach English to children and make translations: to be short, I do anything but music. If there are concerts, open concert pavilions, TV and radio performances then those who have never heard about “Palats”, “Dubels”, “Krama” and other famous Belarusian bands will forget about Palina Smolava, Ahurbash and other pop stars”.
