Alexander Shulgin (musician)

Alexander Valeryevich Shulgin (Russian: Aлeксандр Валepьeвич Шульгин; born August 25, 1964) is a Russian author and composer. He was born in Irkutsk, Russia, and currently lives in Moscow.

Shulgin's career began at the age of 19 in Russian rock band Kruiz. The band is regarded as legendary for being the first rock band from the USSR to tour abroad (1983–1986). The popularity of The Kruiz was remarkable as they were known as anti-Soviet, and there was no mention of the band in mass media. With the advent of reorganization of the USSR, in 1985, The Kruiz sold 20 million copies of their first album and in 1987 the album was released by WEA (Germany)

After The Kruiz, Shulgin began working in Germany, where he created "The Taiga Symphony". This was a combination of Russian classic music with western rock-music with music by Vitally Bondarchuck and lyrics by American composer Richard Niles. The album featured The Moscow Symphony Orchestra conducted by Pavel Kogan and respected Western musicians Alvin Lee, Paul Carrack, Mel Collins, Phil Palmer and J.J. Belle. Successful in the USSR, it was the beginning of the career of Valeria who has become one of the most popular singers in Russia.

Meanwhile, Shulgin didn’t stop writing – music, lyrics, or simply rhymes. All this then often resulted in songs and if not - just stayed in mind, waiting.

Shulgin then created "Merry Christmas to the World", another ambitious East-West collaboration between Shulgin and BBC Worldwide. With music by Shulgin and lyrics and production by Richard Niles it expressed the ethos of glasnost. London studio musicians performed with members of the Moscow Symphony and the Soviet Folk Orchestra. Sung by Valeria, the video was directed by Ken Russell who used it in his film "Alice in Russialand" (1998). Shot in Red Square, the clip featured psychic Uri Geller. During a special communication, astronauts from the "Star Township" introduced Valeria while in orbit around the Earth. The clip became the grand finale of the New Year program on the first national TV channel of the Soviet Union.

The next big project was working up the “Anna” album where most of the songs were written by Shulgin. The process in the record studio was one of a non-stop ones – Shulgin kept writing various music, different kinds of songs and instrumentals. The “Anna” album appeared in 1995, and in 1996 gave the start to the concert tour in more than forty towns. After that the new idea resulted in the “Familia” album where the music and lyrics of the compositions was created by Shulgin also. (The word Familia means in Russian both – the surname and the family). And next came the new album “The eyes of the Sky colour”, also with Shulgin’s creations.

Shulgin didn’t stop writing music – he helped “FM GROUP” to record the debut album named «MADE IN RUSSIA» and recorded an album of Alexander Byinov. Afterwards he recorded a solo album for “FM GROUP” lead-singer Alevtina Egorova, also worked with Tatiana Ovsienko, Nastya Shirokova. In spring of 2005 Shulgin got the suggestion to write music for the new music serial with the tentative title “Primadonna”, the serial made for showing onto the Russian TV Channel. For this “Primadonna” serial Alexander wrote 20 original songs, and at the very least 3 leading themes from the film and all the songs of a composer got into the final variant of “Primadonna”. Shulgin also wrote all the music filling-out for the new socio-political TV Channel “SPAS” (The Festival of the Saviour).

Then Shulgin released his first solo album “Predstavlenie” (The Introduction), and the album got the worldwide preem. The world leader in the digital music industry, TheOrchard.com Company had signed the contract with Shulgin, and the album was presented worldwide in more than 170 music stores, according to the contract.

Together with the preparations for the album release Shulgin didn’t stop to write the instrumentals. Amongst he wrote material for 2 albums of Elena Sheremet. One the albums – “Lady-Sax” succeed as so-called easy listening with the saloon jazzy sound, and the second one “Lady-sax (The Remixes)” consists of the remixes on the first album themes. After than two more albums of a sax-player Sheremet came into life - “Sax It Easy”and “Sax It Up! – The Remixes”.

Successful Russian artists who have recorded his songs include Valeriya, Alexander Buinov, The Band FM, Yulia Mikhalchik, Drugie Pravila and Tatyana Ovsienko. Shulgin’s songs have topped the Russian and Eastern European charts such as Bratislava Lyre '93.

As a producer, Shulgin has had more than 20 hit albums, 5 of which were Number 1. He has also had 10 Number 1 albums as co-producer.

Shulgin is also a composer of music for films and TV, his songs appearing in films by Lukas Moodysson and Ken Russell. He is also the director of the first public TV channel "Spas" and composed all the music for the channel.

As the producer and judge of such popular TV music contests as "Become a Star" (the Russian version of "Pop Star") and "Star Factory" (the Russian version of "Star Academy") Shulgin may be said to be the "Simon Cowell of Russia." He also judges many other Russian and international contests. British singer Sam Brown took part in his popular Russian contest "Morning Star" and Shulgin was also a judge on "Donetsk Olympus" (Ukraine).

Alexander Shulgin has written many hits in Russia. His awards for "Song of The Year" include: 1994 – "Aeroplane," 1995 – "Something Common", 1999 – "You Are Somewhere Round There," 2000 – "Snowstorm," 2001 – "Don’t Hurt Me." The old Russian song from the 18th century "Flowers" which he produced and addapted won many prizes including "Montreux 1992," "Anigraf 1992," "Generation 1992."

Recently the 3-parted music compilation “Tryptych” of composer Alexander Shulgin came into life. These 3 albums contains the new music and new melodies as well as the instrumentals of the famous themes of a composer which have been played before. This 3 albums were recorded by various artists in various styles but they collide in a harmony into one 3-parted album “Tryptych” thus making this album of 3 parts really a certain 3-parted creation. Each DVD contains tracks in Stereo and Dolby Surround 5.1 formats, videomaterials and photos of musicians.

«Tryptych. Shulgin’s Songbook. Part I» - an instrumental album of the music of feelings and mind, romantic lounge, recorded together with the most famous English instrumentalists - Simon Rushby, Steve King, Jon Howell, lead guitars by Paul Drew. Album was recorded in spring 2008 in Great Britain, at DWB Music record studio, situated at the ecologically pure district of London, where the ecologically pure music is born. The record was produced by young English producers Paul Drew, Greig Watts and Pete Barringer, who have the great experience working with the wide range of different music – from pop and rock to the academy music.

«Tryptych. Shulgin’s Songbook. Part II» - a piano album played by Gary Husband, played in a “minimal” style. One of the album tracks – an instrumental duet – was recorded together with the great star of the music jazz, the best guitar player in England and one of the best ones in the world - Martin Taylor. The record was done in the end of summer 2007 in one of the London studios. The record was produced by Richard Niles.

«Тruptych. Shulgin’s Songbook. Part III» - was made in a “smooth jazz” style, recorded together with the most famous worldwide jazz musicians: Billy Cobham, John Patitucci, Bob James, Bob Mintzer and others. The material was recorded during spring and summer of 2007 at New-York and London studios. The legendary Richard Niles, who before had worked with Luciano Pavarotti, Paul McCartney, Pat Matini, The Pet Shop Boys group, was a producer of the album.

Alexander Shulgin is an increasingly famous public figure. He takes part in exhibitions and conferences, advises Russian and foreign companies on New Media, lecturing at exhibitions and conferences all over the world including Beijing, Hong Kong, Berlin and London.

As a businessman Alexander Shulgin deals with projects in digital media and new media. He invested and created a list of successful projects and services.

At the beginning of Russian business

1889 – created one of the first Russian private companies (c-p «SHULGIN»), working in the field of intellectual property, copyright and music publishing. 1989 - co-founder of one of the first recording company LAD, specializing on a classical music with one of the biggest catalog of Russian classical music. 1990–1995 - creating of a big distribution company presented consumer electronics on the Russian and CIS market. The company was one of the five biggest Russian wholesale companies with multistore in Moscow. 1992 - creating of Association of recording companies and distribution Becar. Later it became recording company Becar, and Alexander was founder and main shareholder. The company was a market leader in 1993–1999. It has also the biggest distribution multistore and production of MC and CD audio. In the middle of 1990 years Alexander Shulgin takes part in creating of list of projects (news agency, radio and TV), which are market leaders till now. Later company Familia was created, and it became to the Gruppa Kompaniy Familia.

Gruppa Kompaniy Familia

Alexander Shulgin is the owner and director of the Familia group of companies, which are involved into new media business, publishing and entertainment.

rASiA.com Forum & Festival

In May 2012 Alexander Shulgin launched a new start-up project rASiA.com Forum & Festival - unique event consisted of Forum with a focus on content, new technologies, new media and distribution, and Festival of modern Asian culture.

Present time

Partner and investor of venture found iTech Capital with 120 mln capital. The found invests to companies of Russian and CIS digital sector.

Co-fouder of 5 Continent Consalting Group.

Co-fouder and shareholder of iMusicTV.

In board of directors of iMusic TV (Frankfurt, Germany).

Participant of conferences and fairs:

• MIDEM (France) - since 1987
• MIPCOM (France) - since 2001
• MIPTV (France) - since 2001
• All that Matters (Singapore) - since 2004
• POPKOMM (Germany) - 1989–2008
• London Calling (Great Britain) - 2005–2008
• CASBAA (Hong Kong)
• DLD Conference (Germany)
• HUB Forum (Russia)
• Tokyo International Film Festival (Japan)
• and many others.

Lectures and panel discussions:

• Q-lectures, Qualcomm
• Nokia (Singapore)
• Trigger Forum (Sweden)
• RBC (China)
• Globalization of Chinese Digital Music / Media Forum 2006 (China)
• Festival of Russian culture (Japan)
• Tokyo International Music Market 2010 (Japan)
• Baikal Venture Fair
• Music Matters (Hong Kong)
• POPCOM (Germany)

Teaching:

• FSB Academy
• Ministry of Internal Affairs Academy
• RMA Institute
• lectures in Kiev, Donetsk

Juror:

• International content Adwards (USA)
• Morning Star (Russia)
• Composers' battle
• Interstar
• Beauty of Russia
• and many others Russian and international contents.

Expert activity

In 2006, Shulgin began to write his own column in a new business online newspaper "Vzglyad" focusing on New Media in Russia. Shulgin is also an acclaimed photographer.

Since 2010 — columnist of NEWSmusic.ru.

Russian ambassador on MIDEM (France).

Public activity

Member of public organizations, member of Russian Authors Society.

Involved in developing of NEW MEDIA SPACE in Russia.