– Good afternoon, Igor. Please tell us about the creative path you took.
Good afternoon, I would be happy to tell you about it. I got interested in music unexpectedly while in the eighth grade. My friend’s parents gave him a guitar but he didn’t have an interest in it. He didn’t want to offend his parents with his indifference to such a gift, but he did not know where to put it. When I saw it I immediately felt a calling and convinced my friend to let me play it for a while.
Since then I have never parted with music. Music was with me always and everywhere, keeping me from emptiness and despondency. After graduating from school, I received my education in a completely different field but then I ended up becoming a professional musician anyway. I had many different projects of my own and toured the country with different bands.
I was granted the experience of working with many wonderful artists and musicians, such as Alexander Serov (my band recorded the disc “Madonna” for him at the Melodiya studio).
And then there was a meeting with Alexander Barykin, he was an excellent musician and a bright person. Our relationships were deeper than merely a professional interaction. We became friends.
– What projects are you working on now?
While living in Moscow I recorded three albums in Russian: “My Quiet Light”, 2005, “Sky Land”, 2010, “Various Stories”, 2017.
After moving to Texas I released the English-language album “Walking on TX” in 2020.
It consists of seven tracks – it was an interesting experiment for me as well as the experience of working together with Austin musicians.
My creative inspiration has been recently reignited and I am currently working on material for a fourth Russian-language album.
– In what states and countries have you performed?
Since I haven’t lived in the States for very long and I often leave for Moscow, I cannot boast of a large touring schedule. However, there is something I can share: together with a well-known musician in Texas Zhenya Kolykhanov (Zhenya Rock), I went on a tour to local Odessa, Texas, as well as to a rock music festival near New York. In May 2019, I hosted a recital in Austin with the help of a local guitarist, drummer, and bassist, and the concert turned out to be very successful. Also, I am often invited to apartment buildings in Los Angeles, New York and, of course, here in Austin. I really like such concerts because they are warm and homely and involve a small number of guests.
– What events were the most memorable for you?
I remember the KSP festival near Houston. We had just arrived from Russia and immediately got in. For me it was very unusual and very interesting to meet Russian fans of the folk-rock song style in Texas.
– Please tell us about your joint projects with other musicians.
During the studio work on the album “Walking on TX,” I invited session musicians from Austin and realized that the language of music is universal and it was very easy to work with them. As a result, the album was recorded in a fairly short time.
– What are your plans for future cultural events. Will there be performances in Texas?
I hope that after the pandemic is over, I will certainly return to my concert work.
– How and when did you get to Austin? Do you like the city?
We arrived in Austin in 2017 from Moscow. It was my wife’s choice, although before our final move we traveled to Los Angeles every year, but Austin immediately won us over with its comfort and charm.
– Austin is often called the musical capital of the United States. Do you agree with this?
Perhaps I do agree – maybe this is not the capital of the show industry like Los Angeles or New York, but it really is a musical capital, it is a haven for musicians in love with their craft.
– Please tell us about your family
I moved to Austin from Moscow with my wife and son. My wife Yulia Bulanova is a very talented psychologist who helps people in solving a variety of problems – this is her vocation, I am sure of this. My son Timofey graduated from Austin high school and is now studying at a University. He is also a musician and has chosen a suitable specialty. The two older daughters live and work in Moscow.
– What would you like to wish for the Russian-speaking residents of Austin and Texas?
For myself, I discovered that Russians in Austin are warm, open people, and many have become very close friends to us. I would like to wish everyone good health in this difficult time, as well as to remain as sympathetic, kind and to not lose touch with the Motherland.
Contact information:
Igor Bulanov
https://www.youtube.com/user/BulanovIgor
Interviewer: Dmitri Ovcharenko
Editor: Natalia Ovcharenko
Publisher: Russian Cultural Center