SINGING WITH ONE'S SOUL

Mziya Gambashidze is a person familiar to all the Azerbaijani stars. A known coach for modern vocal signing, she moved from Georgia to Azerbaijan in 2008 and very soon became a real instructor, a master, leading performers up the creative ladder to the heights of voice perfection. Mziya Gambashidze told R+ about her attitude towards music and modern show business, about talented students and many other things.

- Mziya, what does music mean to you?

- This is my life. I cannot live without music. It supplies me with energy, helps me cope with setbacks and hardships. I was surrounded by music since childhood. I was born in Kutaisi. Though my parents were not associated with music, they loved to sing. My mother, who has already turned 90, still takes part in singing when all of us get together at family gatherings. My brother and sister are fond of karaoke singing. I graduated with honors from the Faculty of Choral Conducting of the Vano Sarajishvili State Conservatory in Tbilisi. For a long time, I was responsible for the musical accompaniment of Georgia's national team of rhythmic gymnastics, taught at the School of Art and worked with many Georgian performers. My pupils include Katie Melua, a British contemporary music star, Katie Topuriya, the vocalist of the A-Studio group, Nino Surguladze, a La Scala soloist, singer Irakli Pirtskhalava, and performers of the Session and Dia Mix groups. By the way, I had been working with Nino Surguladze for as many as 12 years! And Katie Melua attended my classes since she was six years old. I am proud of my students! Their success and creativity give me the strength to move on and work further.

- How come that you ended up in Baku?

- It happened in 2008, when life became very hard in Georgia. Because of economic and political woes, many people lost their jobs; electricity and gas were cut off every day. At that time, I really needed a job and at least some stability. Having lost all hopes, I called composer and pianist Givi Usenashvili, an old friend of mine living in Baku, and asked him for help. A few days later, Givi called me back and said that I would soon be visited by Sevda Alakbarzada, a very talented Azerbaijani singer, who would like to take a few lessons in vocal signing. Sevda was a very kind and hardworking girl. I worked with her every day for several hours during a month and a half, and then she returned to Baku. After some time, Givi again called me and invited me on behalf of Sevda and himself to move to Baku and start working there. After a moment's consideration, I packed my suitcases, took my kitten Zsuzsi and came to you. [Mziya laughs.] Now I live here together with Zsuzsi. I am very grateful to Givi and Sevda for their invitation and for giving me a chance for self-actualization in Baku.

- How were you received in Baku?

- Just think of it, I have never been here before. I listened to the Azerbaijani music at school and in conservatory. I was particularly impressed by Azerbaijani mugam and music composed by Vaqif Mustafazada. My first student in Baku was Tunzala Agayeva, a very diligent and talented singer. She was followed by other performers such as Samira Allahverdi, Natavan Habibi, Nura Suri, Roza Zargarli, Gunay Ibrahimli, Aynisan Quliyeva, Gunel Qurbanova, Azad Sabanov, Eurovision stars including Safura Alizada, Aysel Teymurzada, Samir Cavadzada, Suada Alakbarova, little Rufat Mammadov and Sabina Mammadova. I cannot recall all of them…

- Do you have any special teaching methods?

- There are no perfect methods of teaching. Professional singing involves singing on a good vocal base with the use of special breathing technique. This is what imparts tone and strength to the voice and turns the singer's body into a large resonating chamber. I use a proven and working technique of vocal training. I help singers to reveal themselves, their voice and soul. The most important thing is to learn singing with one's soul.

- Can any person be trained to sing?

- If a person comes with the desire to attain something, absorbs information like a sponge, makes every effort and works hard - then it is possible to work even with a weak voice. This would involve breathing technique, correct sound articulation, developing an ear for music and rhythm. It is feasible. Of course, there are a small percentage of people who just have no ear for music. In such cases, I simply say: do something else. I am a strict and demanding teacher. I do not like when people are lazy or half-hearted in their work.

- You worked with Safura Alizada and Aysel Teymurzada, Eurovision finalists from Azerbaijan. Are you proud that your students performed at such a prestigious song contest?

- I am very proud. Both girls are very talented and hold much promise. Safura and Aysel always came to their lessons in spite of the weather. They used to work for hours. Too bad they do not sing now.

- What did you tell them before their departure for Eurovision?

- I told them: "Put your soul in the song." After all, music is akin to language. It is just another means of communication, whereby you can talk and express your feelings and emotions.

- The selection of national contestants for Eurovision has not yet finished. Do you follow this process? Are there any participants you would like to mention specifically?

- I follow every selection stage because my students, Fuad Asadov and Samira Afandiyeva, are among the participants. There was a time when Azad Sabanov attended my classes and consultations for six weeks. Fuad Asadov was a participant in the Ukrainian version of the international vocal project X-Factor, the fourth season. He is a teacher of English and has a beautiful voice and a lot of charm. Samira Afandiyeva graduated from the A. Zeynalli Music School, majoring in pop singing. Several years ago, she participated in the local TV show Yeni Ulduz. She possesses a remarkable voice and feels confident onstage. Azad Sabanov is a born performer too. He has a beautiful voice and captivating plasticity of movement onstage. Such performers as Azad appeal to all categories of viewers. All of them are dear to me and I love them all. It is hard for me to choose one of them as the most worthy...

- What qualities should be possessed by a performer representing Azerbaijan at the Eurovision contest?

- He or she should combine good looks, a beautiful voice and the ability to "live a whole life" on the stage. I keep watching the Eurovision Song Contest since 2008. As far as I remember, one day Manana, who is my long-standing friend, suggested that I should watch a TV broadcast of Eurovision. "Just listen to the voices they have," she said. I took a seat in front of a TV set and was stupefied. The singing of Elnur Huseynov and Samir Cavadzada impressed me most of all. It was a beautiful song, an excellent performance, a colorful show - all that was needed for the Eurovision stage. At first, I even thought that this duet was "invited" from Europe. But when I learned that these guys were from Azerbaijan, I was pleasantly surprised. I think that was one of the brightest and most memorable performances Azerbaijan has had on the Eurovision stage during the entire history of its participation in the contest. The same can be said about the performance staged by the duet Aysel Teymurzada and Arash as well as the song presented by Farid Mammadov. By the way, it was Aysel who "hoisted" the duet to the second place during their performance in Moscow. Arash was so nervous onstage that he hit the wrong note in the song but Aysel quickly corrected the situation and sang the song to the end clearly and without any hesitation. Charming Aysel won the hearts of the whole of Europe.

- What can you say about the current state of the show business in Azerbaijan?

- I do not like what is happening in the show business today. It has become vulgar, even dirty. This applies not only to the Azerbaijani show business. I do not understand why a female singer should need to strip off onstage. A good artiste should present her voice in the first place. Music needs not to be accompanied by the demonstration of a naked body, as it is already a very intimate means of expressing one's feelings - emotional, passionate and sensual. This is God's gift to us, humans. As for the show business, I believe that it develops very slowly and not quite correctly in Azerbaijan. Most of the Azerbaijani performers earn at the wedding parties. And they need promotion on television only to be invited to more weddings and corporate parties. However, a performer must first and foremost be concerned with creativity. An artiste should cultivate his/her abilities, grow professionally, record new albums, give song recitals, and participate in international festivals and contests. After all, what does the term "show business" imply? It implies a fair competition between the singers. The goal of the competition is not in getting a high wedding fee but in the development of creativity. In addition, I would like music critics to finally emerge in Azerbaijan, which should make the singers strive for perfection and create a healthy competition.

- I wonder what kind of music does a voice coach listen at leisure?

- Various kinds, but it should be good and quality music. I listen to jazz, soul and pop music. I like Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Mays. I also like to listen to Alim Qasimov. He is brilliant and unique, and there will be no-one like him! Despite the fact that I do not understand sometimes what he sings about, I feel the greatness of this music. This is divine music! Mugam performed by Alim Qasimov sounds like a prayer - very sincere and deep. He is an incredible artiste! I am acquainted with his daughter, Farqana Qasimova, a very talented singer too. We worked together on one of her projects, and I am glad that mugam singing is passed from generation to generation. The art of mugam is one of the highest points of the spirituality of the Azerbaijani people.

- Is it possible, in your opinion, to interlace modern pop music with folk tunes?

- Why not? What is important, the melody should not be altered or distorted. If a song produced by such a mix has a full and quality sounding, I am only in favor!

- What does Baku mean for you?

- I have been living here for almost 6 years, and Baku has become my second home during this time. I love this city as much as Kutaisi. When I am on a visit to Georgia, I begin missing Baku and I am drawn back. I feel very comfortable and relaxed here. I admire the beauty of Baku, its architecture. It is an incredibly beautiful city with friendly and hospitable people, like in my country. I am grateful to my Azerbaijani friends for their support and understanding. Special thanks to my neighbors for their patience. [Mziya laughs.] There is very poor soundproofing in the house where I live, but my neighbors are philosophical in their attitude: it is not a pipe or drums, after all. I work with students all day long, and my neighbors have to listen to singing warm-up and rehearsals for hours. However, none of them have ever complained about the loud singing or music during this time. I am very lucky to have such neighbors and such friends...