t.A.T.U
t.A.T.u. or Tatu (pronounced [ˈtatu],
in Russian Тату, listen (help·info)) is a Russian duet formed in Moscow, Russia
in 1999 by Ivan Shapovalov. The group consists of Lena Katina and Yulia Volkova,
who became the most successful international recording act exported from Russia,
with a fan base from countries all over the world. Their debut album, 200 Po
Vstrechnoy was the first from a Russian act to reach gold status
internationally. With the release of their debut English album, 200 km/h in the
Wrong Lane t.A.T.u. became the first act to receive an IFPI Platinum Europe
Award for the same album in two languages.
Much of their early success was based on what was thought of as a lesbian image
portrayed by Katina and Volkova, and the controversy that surrounded it.
However, in December 2003, it became apparent in their documentary, Anatomy of
t.A.T.u., that their sexuality was just part of the group's image at the time,
and that they were not actually lesbians. Then in 2004, the group took a hiatus
after they split from their producer and Volkova had become pregnant. They were
soon back in the studio, and, in 2005, released Dangerous and Moving and Lyudi
Invalidy. During 2006, t.A.T.u. released a compilation album and then ventured
on their own after negotiating out of their contract with Universal Music. A
third Russian studio album, titled Upravleniye Otbrosami is expected for a
December 2007 release, while their third English studio album, Waste Management,
is expected to be released as the soundtrack for the upcoming film Finding
t.A.T.u..
t.A.T.u.'s image and vocals fit well into pop music; however, the group's sound
varies from rock to dance, pop, and electronica. Their first Russian album was
mostly rock and dance influenced, while their first English album was heavily
influenced by rock and electronica. Their English follow-up, Dangerous and
Moving, was a more traditionally pop-rock album than the first.
