Interview with Yaroslav Volkov
«Sinai», Kharkov
What will «Sinai» be doing after the festival?
Right now we’re finishing our album which will be released in Moscow. There will be a presentation on May, 1st so we are rehearsing and getting ready for it. Everything is almost ready today I’m hoping to record the last song and bring it all together.
What is you opinion about the festival?
Everything went great for us. We liked the idea of the festival.
Was it your first performance in Saint-Petersburg?
Yes, it was the first time. Before that we were invited but couldn’t come unfortunately. For Vitalik and Andrew it was the first time in Saint-Petersburg ever. But still because of cold and lack of time we couldn’t get enough of your city’s beauty.
In your opinion, what is the fundamental difference of Christian music from secular? And in general is this a relevant division?
The division, I won’t be judging by relevance, is present nevertheless. There may be little to no difference in musical material, the main difference is the text.
Do «Sinai» count themselves a secular or a christian group? How do you position yourselves when you perform or, for instance, negotiate with producers?
We are a group that was formed and grew inside the church, we cannot or want to count ourselves a secular group. We’ve been learning and recording only spiritual music for the past 3 years. In fact, when we had only started we didn’t exactly know what a cappella was. We listened to many different groups, learned from them and learned around 10 secular songs at the time but that was only for our development. We only perform at churches hardly ever do we get invited to copropate events but they don’t give an opportunity to talk or introduce ourselves. As for producers, we just do what we can, we don’t have a producer or
In your opinion, what is the main target of Christian music, Christian groups? Do you think that such type of music may influence unbelievers’ ideology or even convert them into faith? Or do you perform more for our congregations’ members? In other words, do you have some kind of mission in your creative work?
It’s hard for us to estimate the influence that our music makes. You’d better ask those who listen to it. Sometimes people us how our songs affect them and we just feel uneasy. We never expected that something that we just sing to God may have such influence and we try to glorify Him with the things that He Himself has blessed us with.
The album that you are planning to release, will it be on sale?
It will be sold in our churches all over the CIS. It will be sold in online shops of you Kiev brothers. But everything will start in Moscow.
Do you count yourselves a popular group? What is your general attitude towards popularity? Or don’t believer musicians have to try to become popular?
We by no means count ourselves well-known or popular, this concept is alien to us. When some1 tries to tell me that we’re stars, I stop these people and ask them not to say that again. There are popular Christian musicians and groups and there’s nothing wrong with it. As for trying for it — if they do they are not spiritual people. You know the parable — when you come to a wedding try and sit farther away so that when the bridegroom tells you to sit closer the others would understand you are an honored guest. There are plently of passages on the topic. Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and God will grorify those He wants.
Yes, I see you have convictions, nevertheless your trust to God in this matter does not remove the fact that you are trying to do everything at a high level? As far as I understand most of you have families and you have to combine music with ordinary work?
We try to do everything at a good level because God deserves the best. Unfortunately we don’t succeed in it to due extent but we still do everything we can. Andrew, Genya, Vitalik are all married with children, their jobs are not connected with music in any way but they find as much time they can to develop our serving.
Yaroslav, anything you wish for «The Calling 2010» if by will of God it happens?
The thing is before the festival we spent 24 hours jolting on the train and were really tired and we didn’t have an opportunity to get filled with the atmosphere so it would be unethical to say our wishes. Again, I say let the listener say what he wants to see, change, work out.
Will you come again?
We’ll try. The problem is the trip took us three working days. Each of us had to arrange it at work. They didn’t want to let Vitalik go, they almost intimidated him with sacking, Genya is a manager, he also has a very responsible job. Still we would love to come.
We’ll hope you can! Thank you for the interview, I wish you creative and especially spiritual success!