To Russian periodicals and photographers Volodina is beyond pocket

‘’ I’m against this interview,’’- tells me supermodel’s mom Алевтина Семеновна , at first you need to ask Zenya’s permission. Zenya is only 20 years old but her career is on the peak. At the very moment she is nr. 7 between 50 world’s supermodels.

To the agency ‘’ Face’’ Zenya was brought by her friend. Zenya lost a bit weight. The director of her agency Татьяна Кучерова told her: ‘’ Change your attitude and start working!’’ At that age Zenya’s attitude was light – minded, she earned enough money to dress properly and it was enough for her.

- It was 11th form (at school) when she wanted to join university, model agency ‘’Face’’ didn’t intrest her, she said: ‘’ I won’t smoke in corridor for 1,5 thousand $ ‘’… remembers her dad Володиной Евгений Викторович.

Btw at that time big attention Zenya’s dad devoted for her older sister Юлии :

- Before ten years model business had criminal reputation, but when Zenya came into it everything changed for the good side. After all we are happy that she left Kazahstan so early. Here arent no good jobs and it isnt possible to earn big money. That’s why Zenya is so rare in Russia and To Russian periodicals and photographers Volodina is beyond pocket.

By that time next supermodel graduated school. In september she became 17 years old. She passed two exams in energy – institute, but in her mind she was already in Paris. Parents hired her an english interpreter, but in Paris renewed her wardrobe. Her parents told that Zenya dreamed about France( especially Paris) from her childhood, when she arrived there, she felt like home.

But Paris welcomed her stern. Agency ‘’Viva’’ gave her a flat where she lived with 2 english models, she had to pay 70$ for the flat every week. So she had to choose food or clothes, in addition she had to work more and sleep less. Once she called home and told her parents: ‘’ I am better in Paris without money than with money in Moscow.’’ Her parents didn’t try to persuade her to return home because it would have been vain; before her trip to Paris her parents were afraid to let her go alone to Азино where her granny lived, but now she is alone in Paris.

While she was having vacation by the Caribbean Sea, she meat Steven Meisel. He invited her to NY. She didnt like the great country USA, she spent there 2 weeks and cought cold there. Also work wasn’t much there. After one year she meat Meisel again by the Caribbean Sea. And again he invited her to NY. Her first big job was Gucci ad. Tom Ford was crazy about Zenya’s beauty.

With her big salary she bought a new flat for her parents.

The success of her daughter Zenya’s mom explains:

- She is very persistent, determinded girl. She, for example, coudn’t stand school but despite that she had good marks. She said: ‘’ I am a girl with a name ‘’ I NEED’’ ‘’. Now Zenya perfectly understands how she needs to conduct in diffrent situations  to be nice around with other people, she can stand for herself, but she won’t change her opinion.

- ‘’We never ask her how much she earns or spends,’’ says Евгений Викторович (her dad). ‘’Ofcourse she has great income but she also spent her earned money. For her family, sister and brother she doesn’t stint, she gives to us all presents, brings suvenirious and gifts from diffrent places around the world.’’

Now Zenya is making her career, without stinting herself… goes to bed at 3 o’clock, wakes up at 6, if she needs to go to a show. Her dream – make her name big, famous so that later it would give benefit for her. After that she will go to university and produce her cosmetic line or open her own model agency. Summing all up, miss Volodina is only a model, who has made a big career in the west. But who knows, maybe, after 4 or 5 years the next new stars will thank her . THE END

Make up from 1960. is coming back –> wide opened eyes and huge lashes. It was a signature look of Twiggy and Bridget Bardot. In sixties women didnt go out from home without mascara and black eyeliner even to buy milk . During those times black mascara look was combined with light eye shadows.

Chanel FW 05/06

! To get extra volume put powder on just coloured lashes and after that another layer of mascara !

The beginning of BrainStorm is dated with year 1989 even thought the seeds was found already when singer Reynard and drummer Nick danced and sang together around Christmas tree at kindergarten and later on all members of the band sang the same lines at the choir of the school they all attended in their native city Jelgava, Latvia. Through the years knowing each other and making music together already fourteen years (they were 15 years old when formed the band) the chemistry between guys has created the atmosphere of the real family: “Good old family thing, in this case just five fathers together. It’s so hard sometimes to find just one way out of five”. This is what BrainStorm said about themselves and their unique chemistry by the end of 2003. And then in May 2004 stroke of the destiny took away one of them – in the car crash tragically died original bass player of BrainStorm – Muminsh (Gundars Mausevics).

In memory of dear friend Muminsh and faith in what is band’ s calling BrainStorm decided to continue. BrainStorm by the end of 2004/beginning of 2005 has done recording of 7th studio album with producer Alex Silva with whom band recorded 2 songs on previous album. Between studios times in January band did joined American band REM as support act for 9 shows in Europe. New album will be called “Four Shores” and is set to release in autumn 2005 with Latvian version release in Latvia in May. Anton Corbijn has done photos for the artwork.

The title “Four Shores” underlines the sore place where BrainStorm has been placed after loosing the original band member and soulmate Muminsh in tragic car crash last May. The touch of the Muminsh lives through the new songs as the band started writing the songs for new album before the tragedy. It is obvious the lyrics have been influenced by this loss.

“There is this beautiful thing that great bands have something… Identity and I think BrainStorm has that,” Anton Corbijn

“There is kind of innocence to BrainStorm’s sound, something that is unique to their culture or what I imagine is unique to their culture and that made them special to me,” Alex Silva.

The experience of being citizen of Latvia who has been raised up in former Soviet Union and being witnesses of so called “iron curtain” and Latvia’ s return into Europe has made unique musical influence and background for the members of the band that reflects and goes through the music BrainStorm makes. Singer Reynard reveals: “The truly first influences of BrainStorm I can name Russian cartoons and Latvian popscene in 80-s. Talking about cartoons – I still love those songs and listen to them time after time, they have some kind of unique happiness and sadness at the same time that is hard to describe and that’s how I also see most of Stormer’s songs. And only when we were some 14 – 15 we started to learn what happens on the other side of the moon.”

BrainStorm for several years is the biggest band of the native Latvia, latest 3 records they made and “Best Of” has reached Platinum status on sales, every radio single goes straight to #1 on airplays, they gather several prizes each time nominated for Latvian Music Awards, they play as big crowds as tiny Latvia can gather and closing concert of their latest Latvian tour on 1st of September, 2003 gathered 25 000 big audience and beat the record of Skonto Stadium. But sooner or later it is time to go into international music scene and BrainStorm can be called ice-breakers in this field by being if not first that for sure one of the first band’ s from Eastern Europe to enter Western music market. Their breakthrough was on 2000 with hit single “My Star” and followed by album “Among The Suns” (with releases in 18 countries, UK, Germany and Scandinavia including), album “Online” released in year 2001 stormed over Eastern Europe (Gold in Poland) and Scandinavia with ethereally dreamy and catchy melody “Maybe”. Over 3 years band has toured Europe on their own tours as well as supporting Rolling Stones in Prague, The Cranberries in Germany, Italy, Belgium and Czech Republic, Depeche Mode in Baltic States and Supergrass in Denmark.

The previous album BrainStorm released was in 2003 – “A Day Before Tomorrow” – the slideshow of life in 12 chapters called songs that shows band’ s piece of mind and heart, the way they think and feel about this world. Here and now: “The title of the album includes the philosophy we believe in – we don’t say simply – today, because – of course you have to live in the moment you are, but also have to remember there is day after it and by remembering that you care about future, have your dreams and visions, but still – you don’ t let the beauty of the moment simply to slip away, because you value it and don’ t live only in the illusion about unknown future.”

For making of their 6th studio album “A Day Before Tomorrow” that was 3rd album for international release BrainStorm teamed with 2 producers – Echo award winner Alex Silva (his credits include successful work on Herbert Grönemeyer’ s album “Mensch”, Suede, e.t.c.) and Steve Lyon (worked with Depeche Mode, paradise Lost, Reamonn, e.t.c.). Art-directon, logo and pictures for the album sleeve and press were made by famous rock-photographer Anton Corbijn.

During 2004 BrainStorm did tour Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Czech and Slovak Republic, Baltic States, e.t.c.

In 2004 BrainStorm and well known Russian band Би-2 have recorded together song “Скользкие улицы” which is included in new album of Би-2 “Иномарки” released on 2nd of March, 2004 and which has taken position nr. 1 on radio charts in Latvia and Ukraine and Russia.

BrainStorm feels blessed for being able to work with people they did: “We’ve always believed in miracles, and that’s how it goes and sometimes things just happen if you believe. Who could imagine 2 years ago we will make photos with Anton Corbijn or do records with Alex Silva? But still it’s not about the names, souls are on the same wave feeling friendly and having good time together. Life is about believing in miracles.. and celebrating life, of course!

Anton Corbijn after working with BrainStorm says: “I can’t tell you how much I felt at home with them and felt we were all together trying to achieve something..” Producer Alex Silva also experience warm welcome into BrainStorm’ s world: “There is this uncomplicated thing about the band. They read books, play chess… They are very cookie bunch, they embrace people, invite into their circle that is very nice and warm. But cockie is one word to describe them all!”

Anja Rubik