VOLGOGRAND, Russia (by Anton Kudrevich) - The young singers' contest "New Wave" became the largest musical event of Russia, as well as Latvia, this week. Sixteen participants from 13 countries (such as Russia, Latvia, Uzbekistan, the UK, Turkey,
Israel and etc.) came to the Latvian city of Yurmala to show their talent and abilities.
The contest is rather young. Its history was begun last year, when in a telephone conversation two composers, famous in the former USSR countries: Igor Kroutoy and Raimonds Pauls, decided to make a new competition, where young pop singers would have a good opportunity to became well-known. So, the first contest successfully started in the beginning of last August. And it was won by the Russian boy-group "SMASH!" which woke up being famous the next morning! Precisely in a year, since the 30th of July till the 3th of August the "New Wave" took place again - in a cozy resort city on the coast of the Baltic Sea, in Yurmala.
During the contest the participants had to represent three songs: a world-famous hit, a national retro-hit and their original song, written specially for the "New Wave". Besides, all the young singers took part in different press-conferences, parties, discos, simply had fun (played football, for example) and generally, all the singers became friends for each other!
Finally, the "New Wave" went to the Russian singer Anastasia Stotskaya, and the second premium got Moldavian Singer Nelli Chobanu.
It is necessary to tell, there was almost all Russian beau monde of show-business at the competition, such as singers Philip Kirkorov, Valeria, Ilia Lagutenko and others. Also the "New Wave" was visited by such world-famous stars, as Patricia Kaas, In-Grid and A-Teens.
More over, In-Grid gave an interview, where she told about herself: "I've lived in the world of beautiful melodies since my childhood. Father had a collection of records with various styles of music. I started performing in front of the public quite early. For me the most vital thing in the world is sing, sing and sing, even if it is only a small hall with few people.."
Also the Italian singer told her news, shared her artistic plans and her impressions of Yurmala: "Though I am only a coupe of hours here, I've already managed to be at the seacoast - it is so wonderful there, soft sand, beautiful sea... It's hot like in Italy! And people here are so beautiful, too! I am very pleased to be at such a well-known competition of popular singers, - said In-Grid, - I wish to the finalists to try to forget entirely that it is a competition, here the most important is to show the meaning of your song, your potential, reveal your personality to the audience and let them discover you. In any contest it's essential not to win but to express all the emotions present in your songs!"
