Valery Meladze: I won't post selfies or food photos on Instagram

The singer talked about his social media page, his culinary talents, and his participation in the new season of "The Voice Kids."

This is your second time as a mentor on "The Voice Kids." What does that mean to you?

On "The Voice," we not only share our experience but also evaluate the work of the children and their teachers. We choose the best of the best and admire how many talented kids and good music there are.

Do you feel sorry for the children who don't make it to the next stage?

It's a shame, of course. A real shame. One thing reassures me: their lives are so vibrant and varied that they can forget negative experiences and quickly move on to their other performances. Participation in the project remains in their memory only as a stage. Adults experience failures much more intensely than children, although it's often unnoticeable on their faces.

—Are your children involved in music?

—No, they're not involved at all. Only Kostya (composer Konstantin Meladze — editor's note), my brother, has a daughter, Liya, who sings. For now, she sings for herself, and then we'll see.

—In my opinion, your early work is too complex for a modern listener. After all, they're entire ballads. Who now will reflect on the story of the gypsy Sera or delve into the lines "don't disturb my soul, violin, I can't hold back my tears"... What do you think?

—You can't underestimate listeners. Think that they used to listen to complex music, read books, and now they've degenerated. No, I don't think so. Modern composers and performers, of course, offer simpler forms, but that doesn't mean listeners today are only capable of understanding simple forms.

—Do young people listen to your songs?

—Every year my audience grows. I travel to different cities and notice that as many young people come as mature people. It's very gratifying to notice that as many young people listen to my songs as they did 20 years ago. In fact, even in the "Voice. Children" project... Most participants choose songs that were released 10-15 years ago because they stand the test of time. Only 20 percent sing contemporary music.

—What do you think of contemporary music?

—As you know, I even recorded a duet with beatboxer Vakhtang. I listen to a lot of modern rappers. I have a great relationship with my colleague on the show "The Voice. Kids," rapper Basta. I believe that if the music is made with talent, style becomes irrelevant. For this to happen, the lyrics must be meaningful, and the harmony must be interesting. Rappers, even if they don't sing, read their lyrics against a specific background music, the harmony and arrangement of which are the main factors in influencing the audience.

—Would you like to try some new directions?

— Kostya and I decided not to take any drastic steps toward modern trends. It would look unimportant. The music we've been making and continue to make will have a long-lasting impact.

—What's so special about this music?

—It's harmonious music and lyrics that people perceive as part of their lives, as if the song were written for a specific person. Perhaps the most important thing for me is when people say, "This song is about me."

—You recently started an Instagram account. What kind of photos are you planning to post?

—I'm probably one of the last artists to join this community. I do it in my own way, with a sense of humor. I rarely post photos on Instagram. I believe that important events in life are necessary for that to happen. A man can't constantly post meaningless photos. Let beautiful women do that. A man's photos should reflect a rich life and carry some meaning. So I'm definitely not going to post selfies, airplane wing photos, or food shots, unless I cook something truly exotic.

—Your daughter recently married a Moroccan. Were you opposed to such an interethnic marriage?

—He is half Moroccan, born and raised in England. Mentally, he is more English than an Eastern man, but he certainly has some character. Of course, I didn't mind. Firstly, they had been dating for many years. Secondly, it's important for parents to give their children freedom. Besides, this isn't the Middle Ages.

—Do you have time to relax from work? What do you do in your free time?

—I never stop thinking about my work because I love it. I love cooking. I can grill meat. On vacation, I might try something from Georgian cuisine. Generally, I like to cook big, manly: high heat, large pieces of meat, lots of spices... I also love sports, I walk a lot,