Anatoly Zaitsev: ‘If You’re Eager To Develop Yourself as an Artist, Go to a Larger City and Just Explore It.’

What are some of your earliest memories concerning music?

I find it hard to define something in particular. I'm trying to think and what I find is something in between my biggest fear, challenge, and boundless love. Now I recall hearing the first song that got stuck in my head once. "Beggin', beggin' youuuh uh; Put your loving hand out, baby. . . ." I was a 10-year-old boy when I heard it on the radio. My mother used to drive us through a nearby town while music was playing on the car speakers. I kept waiting for the radio station to stream just one particular song until the time I got my first MP3 player. I was so excited that I could listen to that track literally anywhere and anytime. I fell in love with the music. I could feel the beat reflecting every bone of mine, the melody flowing and making me feel like a sea wave. Another part of this story is that it was quite a challenge because at first, I had to figure out how to download music.

How does the Prague music scene compare with what you’ve experienced in Russia?

I'm not such an expert on the Russian music scene that I could compare it to anything else, really. My interest in music had only started to develop when I was about to move to Prague after high school. The first concert I ever attended was here, in Prague. You see, I come from a very small town where it's hard to even find a cinema and unfortunately, I wasn't looking for a band at that time either. Lots of young people around me were obsessed with weird rap music. However, I still had a few friends who helped me learn guitar in some way and played me a few records from the bands I'd later become a fan of.

In Prague, I’ve been able to find many more opportunities, discover new scenes, and experience a lot more. The best advice I could give is that if you're eager to develop yourself as an artist, it makes sense to go to a larger city and just explore it.

Despite problems such as global pandemics, music always seems to have a way of surviving. Where would you say are the main opportunities in music for young musicians like yourself today?

It always does, that's why it is so fascinating. Music survives because it is somewhere inside of all of us—that is where we have to start looking for opportunities. We have to look at ourselves first and try to understand what is covered underneath our consciousness. We have to understand who we are. This is the very first thing. Afterwards, you can start to make connections, which can be with like-minded people, places that inspire, musical instruments to learn, etc. It is also essential to understand your objectives. To make sure your goals are realistic and not abstract. After all, there are opportunities all around, they just can be tricky to notice.

What keeps you motivated to grow and develop as a musician?

There is, perhaps, no way to be "the best," at least not in this field. If you think of it as an opportunity, it means that you can be limitless. Nothing comes right away, so it will take time. Once upon a time, I realised I'd been stuck. I didn't have any new ideas or any aims really. I'd been playing the same songs on my guitar so often that it bored me. But I think the actual absence of any development can be a good motivator when you've decided to grow.

Are there any interesting artists you’ve recently discovered whose music you are enjoying?

Going back to my days in school I remember when one of my friends played me a song called "Souvenir" by Morphine. Oddly, years had passed until, just a few months ago, I heard the band for the second time ever . Although they were quite well-known, they were also a very unique band. Some parts of this dark and mysterious rock will make you feel like you are the chief detective in an erotic crime drama. Recommended, definitely.

What are some of your goals for the future when it comes to music?

Definitely more performances. I've been loving it so much recently that it is becoming an obsession. Also, I'm looking forward to getting more experience in recording. In the near future, the aim is to make a couple of demos though a good sounding record is a solid goal too.

What was the first song you remember falling in love with? Let us know in the comments!