The music starts out slow, and then before you realize it, you find yourself as a character of the story. You’re not sure where it will end, but you know in your heart that the plot soon will thicken. Then (CRASH)!! The energy the music was building begins to pour out in what is incredible creativity. Find out what Alexey Soloviev had to say during our interview.
Where are you originally from?
I’m from Krasnoyarsk city, it’s in Siberia.
When did you start performing music?
I started composing and playing music in 2005 when I was 20 years old. I went to music school when I was a kid, but playing the classical guitar was too boring for me. That’s why I bought my 1st electric guitar in 2005 and started practicing while watching guitar video schools of Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Angelo Batio, Marty Friedman, Andy James, and more great Guitar gods of the shred technique.
Which instruments do you play?
I’ve been playing the guitar since 2005, and in 2014 I bought a midi keyboard to compose cinematic music so now I play a little keyboard too.
Describe your music interests and abilities.
Well, when I was 7 years old my Mom bought my very first audio cassette featuring The Queen music Collection. I didn’t know anything about Queen, or rock music during those days because I was too small for such kind of music. After listening to The Greatest Hits of Queen I had realized then that I want to dedicate my life to being a musician.
Queen, Freddie Mercury, and Brian May were my biggest influences in music. So now music is not a part of my life, it is my life. I live with music, and each day I get up to compose a new musical composition, and to develop my composing skills. I really want to be a very good musician in what I’m doing so while working hard, I have no time to rest, and no time for the holidays, just only to celebrate Halloween, because it’s my favorite holiday of the year.
“Hard work and passion for music are my main values in this way.”
What famous musicians inspire you?
There are many great musicians who give me great inspiration to go on. The main inspiration in composing cinematic music I get from Hans Zimmer, and Thomas Bergersen’s music. My guitar idol is Yngwie Malmsteen, and a big thanks to his video schools, because now I can strum my guitar strings. There are also many good composers and musicians who always give me much inspiration by their music work.
What is some of your best musical memories?
Well, in 2012 I made my very 1st song with Elize Ryd of Amaranthe, the song is called “Alone In The Universe” and it was my personal huge success because I’ve been dreaming for so long to make my music with European metal stars, and Elize was the 1st one.
Then my 2nd best musical memory was in the beginning of 2014, I had a chance to collaborate with Lindsay Schoolcraft | Cradle of Filth, and I’ve been listening to Cradle of Filth for 14 years. It was a super great feeling to have an opportunity to work with such a great musician like Lindsay from Cradle of Filth.
Then in April of 2014 I met with Mike Terrana, when he was in Krasnoyarsk with Tarja Turunen. Then on October 23rd 2014, I met with the Cradle of Filth guys including Lindsay Schoolcraft. They were in Krasnoyarsk. It was the best memories of my life in just 1 year.
What public events do you have coming up?
Well I have several public releases that I’m working on: soon my single with Lindsay Schoolcraft – “Ministry of Saints” will be released on ITunes, I made a better orchestration for our song and added some metal feelings to it so now it sounds super great to my ears. I hope all fans of Cradle of Filth and of Lindsay Schoolcraft will like our song, then I’m going to release my song with George Rain of the SEBASTIEN Power metal band, also in November my 1st cinematic solo album – “Cinematica” should be released by an Austrian label named, “Audio Kult,” and I’m planning to do some releases in December featuring my metal and cinematic music.
What would you say to beginners in the industry, who are nervous?
Well many musicians always like to cheer up their fans and young musicians in such a way as if you want to be a good musician like us, then go for it. Don’t ever stop dreaming. Those who really work hard every day, earn their rights to be heard by the crowd. Yes we all have some economic problems in all the countries, and yes earning money by music is a real hard work, but everything is possible.
“Don’t Ever Stop Dreaming.”
For now you should know that the world is changing fast, so if you want to be good at something you should try to understand which way is the best way for you, and if you want to be a metal musician, take a look around, and you will see how many metal bands are out there, and that only a few of them are great like Metallica, Manowar, Iron Maiden and so on.
All these guys started working on their music about 30 years ago and through the hard times only now they have their names, fame, money and success. Ordinary metal music is not the best music to play because people want to listen to something really new, and I’m not talking about new metal genres of music like all of these “cores”…no… Now I see people who want to hear some powerful stuff – something in the kind of Skyrim or Lord of the Rings way. Many famous bands like Blind Guardian, Cradle of Filth, Dimmu Borgir, Nightwish, and Epica are working on their Orchestral albums.
Yes, to have a real orchestra for your music is very expensive but you can try to do the same stuff using music libraries, so you can create some powerful orchestrations, and “mixing” metal sound with epic choirs and symphonies in your music…
Now if you want to be an ordinary metal head with an ordinary metal sound of 2 guitars, bass, and drums go right ahead, but I warn you that it will be almost impossible to gain the attention of your audience because, people heard these songs many times. Thanks to the computer industry, and music libraries we now have a new era of music composing and songwriting processes.
“If you try to put your music on a new level of composing, then your chances to be heard by many people are great.”
What about cinematic music?
In this case everything is much simpler to go after Hollywood Composers because these guys know how to rock, and they understand how to compose your music in a right cinematic way. I mean, listen to Hollywood composers and you will understand it, but do not forget to listen to AudioMachine, and Two steps from hell projects because these guys are very awesome too!!!
“They offer the best cinematic music in the world for movie trailers.”
How do you balance your music with your family and friends?
Well I got rid of ordinary, normal, and usual friends many years ago, and now have communication only with musicians or creatively talented people.
“Ordinary people are ordinary so they will never understand you , or why you want to fly to the moon, or cross the ocean to find your true love.”
It’s very important to surrender yourself with people who can see the best in you, and not the people who always bring you down from your dreams to their version of, “So called real life.”
Where can we follow your career at?
(click here) You-Tube (click here)
(click here) Alexy Soloviev | Facebook (click here)
Do you get nervous before a performance?
It depends on performance, but yes.
“We all get nervous from time to time, it’s a normal feeling.”
Is your family musical?
No, I’m the only idiot in my family , my mother is a doctor, and my father is a pilot.
How do you handle mistakes during a performance?
If I do make some mistakes, I try to improvise so the people could think that it’s a part of the show.
So what are your thoughts on Another Destiny Project?
Another Destiny Project is a really great thing for all musicians around the globe to have great collaborations with each other, and together to do something really good and great about their music.
How do you feel about working with artists from around the globe?
“To me, it’s like a dream come true, because it’s a real challenge.”
You always must be good in your way of work, and to do some great music stuff with people from around the globe. It helps to understand musicians better, who are from different countries. Being able to do music with them is a super great feeling.
About Johnny Naylor:
Johnny Naylor is the founder and owner of 1st Shot Music and a feature writer for Jammerzine. His work can also be found on 1st Shot Music and Naylor’s Notes. You can also get his latest updates on his facebook page.
