Jeans Boys Russia’s Charming Musical Duo

Misha & Vlad
Jeans Boys (Misha & Vlad)

In June 2013 two boys from Moscow who are both fans of the video game Minecraft, met each other while playing online. With parental permission they agreed to meet in the park to roller skate together. During that real life meeting they learned that their virtual names (Karalla and Mishgun) were actually Vlad and Misha.

Even more interesting was the fact that the boys turned out to be the same age, both 10 years old and only two months apart. With the beginning of the new school year they soon learned that they were both about to enter the same grade only in different schools located in different parts of Moscow. At that first meeting they did not share the fact that they both attended music schools.  Both boys were learning to play musical instruments Vlad learning accordion while Misha taking piano lessons.

Vlad
Vlad

In addition to accordion lessons, Vlad is also enrolled in piano lessons, choir, and orchestra.  Vlad is described as being a lively child who is extremely active in school. He often is seated up front in his class so he will not be easily distracted.  

He is reported to be an excellent student taking his studies very seriously.  He is an early riser waking up each morning at 7:30 a.m., extremely independent, preparing his own breakfast each morning before school.

Vlad does not like tomato juice and tomatoes, but ironically loves gazpacho, a tomato based soup.  He dislikes mushrooms but is very fond of cocoa and peach juice.  Like most men he also enjoys meat and adores his Grandmother’s Russian borscht.

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Blackberry Jam is Jammin’ on Song Writing

BlackberryJam 2013Adrian & Julian “Blackberry Jam”

BlackberryJamRedChair

 School could not end fast enough for Adrian and Julian, 16 year old identical twin singing duo who prefer to spend their time making music.  

After Rivenmaster announced  a chance to win a scholarship to the 2013 Prodigy Camp Project, a summer program that brings together 20 of the most promising teenage songwriters and filmmakers to hone their craft, they actually got a call from the camp encouraging us to apply.  Julian said,

“The chance to collaborate with other artists from around the world was really exciting to us.”

 

Blackberry Jam has come a long way since third grade where they got their start entertaining their classmates with comedic singing routines at “Lunchbox Special”. This past year, as high school sophomores they took a songwriting class and spent 90 minutes each day writing music and lyrics. For 6 weeks the twins work through the creative process, trying out different lyrics and riffs on their new song Seven Seas.  Adrian said,

“Songwriting is hard! The music part is easy, but the lyrics just don’t sound right.”

A breakthrough came when their teacher suggested they collaborate with Desiree Hazleton, a classmate who was particularly skilled at writing lyrics.  

“In the first session we had an entire verse and chorus written. Desiree would just crank out the lyric and it was so easy to put the music and vocals behind her words.”

Within a few sessions they had an entire song, and ideas for 4 more projects. Collaboration was the key to success.  By the end of the semester, their latest song, “End of the Night”, was finished.

End of the Night“End of the Night” Original By Blackberry Jam

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