THE "VOICE" OF AZERBAIJAN

The second season of the musical show "The Voice", which started on Russia's Channel One three months ago, is coming to a close. Among the participants in this popular show is the Azerbaijani singer Farid Askerov, who won the hearts of the audience and the strict jury with the pleasant quality of his voice and his unique performing style. He is just a few steps away from the final. Farid Askerov talked to R+ about the most difficult part of "The Voice" show, about his coach Dima Bilan and about his family.

- How did you get on "The Voice" TV show, Farid?

- I watched the first episode of "The Voice" and I really wanted to have a go. I told my friends about my idea and they supported me. So I applied, got through the audition… and appeared before the eyes, or rather, before the backs of the jury. They chose "blind" and went exclusively by the voice of the contestant. I sang George Benson's song "In your eyes" and Stevie Wonder's "Isn't she lovely?" Three of the four - Dima Bilan, Pelageya and Leonid Agutin - turned their heads to my voice. By the way, I found out later that as well as me two other Azerbaijanis had applied to take part in "The Voice" but they failed the audition.

- What's the hardest thing about the show?

- It's when you go on stage. For me this was the craziest thing about the show. I was so excited my throat started wobbling, even though I'm no novice and have quite a bit of musical experience. I think all musicians get nervous and excited before they go on stage. That's normal. The main thing is to get hold of yourself and breathe evenly. Then you will be able to perform smoothly and people will like you.

- How did you feel when your coach Leonid Agutin showed you a "red card" and Bilan, to the surprise of the jury, suggested you transfer to his team?

- Pleased. Of course, it would have been a shame for me to go out half way. But Dima gave me another chance to show what I could do. And I will try and prove to everyone that it wasn't all for nothing.

- How do you get on with Dima Bilan? Did you quickly find common ground?

- We understand each other very well. Sometimes we argue and disagree but we always seek a compromise. It's easy with him. He knows a lot about music - he has a feeling for it. He knows precisely which song will sound well on stage and which will "get lost" when put against the others. Dima is a workaholic and he is prepared to work with us, with his pupils, for hours on end.

- In your last episode you sang a song from Alla Pugacheva's repertoire "Love is like a dream". Was this your choice?

- I have to admit this is my favourite song and I have always wanted to sing it on the big stage. "Love is like a dream" is a woman's song, but I think that the way I sing it is just as convincing. When I told Dima that this was the song I wanted to sing he supported me straightaway. We were both confident that the jury would like it. And we were right…

- If you had been given the choice what other song would you have sung on "The Voice"?

- This would have been one by Muslim Magomayev. I love his work. I often listen to his songs. They are timeless. Bilan and I have already discussed my ideas so I think it is quite possible I will sing something by Magomayev.

- You have a very happy and friendly support group. Does this help you?

- My closest friends - Murad Dadasev, Emin Karimi, Archi Purtseladze and my wife Aygun - are in my team. The pianist Samir Sultanov accompanied me on stage. Of course, the support of my friends helped me a great deal. And my fellow-countrymen who rooted for me in Azerbaijan inspired me as well.

- Farid, it won't be long before the final of "The Voice". Do you think you can win?

- That would be just great! Of course, like all the contestants, I want to win very much, but I doubt if I'll make it to the final.

- Why not? When the show started you were confident…

-  And I still am, but this time there will be audience voting, and after what happened recently there won't be as many votes for Azerbaijan as I would like. I'm afraid the audience includes quite a few who go along with the provocations against Azerbaijanis in the Russian media. When I started in the show I wanted to prove to all Russians that the Azerbaijanis are a talented and highly cultural people. I hope that while I have been in "The Voice" I have been able to do this…If I have managed to reach out to the hearts of at least ten viewers my appearance in the show would not have been in vain.

- How are you preparing for the final?

- At the moment we are choosing the song. Even now, when I came to spend a few days in Baku, I have been spending the whole day singing with Dima Bilan. We are sharing our thoughts and new ideas…

- With which of the other participants would you like to appear in the final?

- Alena Toymintseva or Anton Belyayev. I love their number. They have very distinctive voices and it would be interesting to compete with them.

- Farid, how would your life change if you won "The Voice"?

- Everything would change - my horizons and my ways of achieving goals. I would love to sing on the big stages and I want everyone to know about me. But none of this will change me. No way. I will still be the same old boy from Baku…

- Can you remember how old you were when you first went on stage?

- I was 19. I first went on stage at my local institute. I sang a song by "Karvan", who were a popular group at the time. They very nearly pelted me with tomatoes, I was that bad. But, of course, I was green and inexperienced. I decided to be a singer when I finished army service. Everyone said nothing would come of it. "Forget about it and do something else. Get used to the idea that you'll never be a singer," they all said. That kind of throwaway remark only made me want to carry on and prove them wrong. So I decided to get down to it. I would listen to Al Giroux and George Benson time and time again. I tried to repeat after them. I would sing for whole days and gradually it started to come. And when I first appeared in public everyone clapped. Incidentally, I have no musical upbringing and I sing by ear.

- You already have your own audience now…

- Yes. I've managed to record two solo discs - "Kaver" and "Angel" - and I am now finishing recording a third. I have already given several solo concerts in Baku.

- Some listeners believe that your style of singing is halfway between [Russian singer Grigoriy] Leps and [Georgian singer Soso] Pavliashvili. What do you think?

- (laughs) And some people call me a singing [Spanish actor] Javier Bardem. What can I say? Everyone has their own thoughts about music. I still think I have my own style.

- You have been living and working in Moscow for three years now. How come your wife has let you go so far away?

- When my friends suggested that I move temporarily to Moscow and try and work there Aygun and I decided that I should go. I am very lucky to have a wife like that. She always understands and supports me. Aygun is a jazz singer and she is well aware how important work is for a musician. We have three sons - Maqsud, the oldest, is 12, Riad is 11 and Said, the youngest, is two.

- Have any of your children followed in your footsteps? 

- Maqsud is the pianist in the house. After I took part in "The Voice" my middle son, Riad, told us he wanted to sing like daddy. And I didn't mind. We have a very musical family…