Q & A with Elena Shemankova
Interviewed via Facebook by Kayt
We all know Elena is immensely talented and a super nice girl as well. Elena literally bends over backwards to bring us the finest keyboard playing on any continent! But what does she like to eat and drink? How old was she when she started learning to play music? What makes her happy? Maybe some of you have wondered about these or other facts. Even if you haven't, here are some answers, straight from Elena in Russia. Yes, Elena answered this little Q & A all the way from Russia, and she reports she is happy to be home and playing gigs with Igor. So here are some things you may not have known about Elena, and The Red Pages wishes to thank her sincerely for providing us with her answers.
Red Pages: How long have you been playing music?
Elena: All of my life pretty much...I started when I was 6 years old :)
RP: What instrument did you first start with?
Elena: I started with piano - serious classical training.
RP: What inspired you to learn to play?
Elena: It's hard to answer now... maybe it's all in my genes; my parents are professional musicians.
RP: Have you been in bands before Red Elvises and Igor and Red Elvises? If so, can you tell us about that?
Elena: Yes, I had some history before Red Elvises. :) Neo-swing band: "Steamengine," Girls jazz-band: "Lady Jazz" and my own band "Cherno-beloe kino." Also I played a lot of festivals with my jazz quartet.
RP: What do you think you might have ended up doing if you hadn't become a musician?
Elena: Ha-ha... Good question! I'm thinking about it right now... Hard times for musicians!
RP: What's the weirdest or funniest moment you've had while on the road with Red Elvises, or with Igor and Red Elvises?
Elena: Being on the road with RE is so funny and so weird...always... It's just awesome.
RP: What is your favorite food?
Elena: Vegeterian food.
RP: What is your favorite thing to drink (alcohol or other...)?
Elena: I usually drink hot tea all day long. But there's nothing better than a glass of champagne at night!
RP: What music do you listen to when you're not working?
Elena: All kinds of music. My taste is changing from time to time. Now I like Jason Mraz, Sting and M. Petrucciani.
RP: What's your favorite place to go on vacation?
Elena: St. Petersburg
RP: What makes you the happiest?
Elena: When it's sunny in Moscow.
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