By Carlos Jose Bourdjian?
A very interesting character. He only minds his own business, very quiet and conservative, but once you know him he?ll become an almost open book especially after trusting you. He was awarded with the ?Best album of 2006? for his album ?Um? (To whom) in the 4th Armenian national music awards on 15 December 2006. He won a special award from Elvina Magarian at the Meridian club hit awards in December 2005. He has only one album but you may find his name in hundred of CDs as a sound engineer.? Big names like Shushan Bedrossian, Aram Asadrian and Hayko trust him only to mix their songs. He is very romantic, sensitive, charming, a father of two kids and a wonderful husband. Our star is Dikran Bedrossian.
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Congratulations for winning the award ?Best album of 2006?, how does it make you feel?
This award means a lot to me, because the album itself is a very special work. Each track of it took a lot of time and hard work till it was finalized and recorded. I?m happy that it was finally appreciated, and I have to admit that I was utterly shocked when my name was announced that evening, especially that there were big names among the nominees, like Nune Yesaian and Arsen Safarian.
This award means a lot to me, because the album itself is a very special work. Each track of it took a lot of time and hard work till it was finalized and recorded. I?m happy that it was finally appreciated, and I have to admit that I was utterly shocked when my name was announced that evening, especially that there were big names among the nominees, like Nune Yesaian and Arsen Safarian.
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We used to know Dikran Bedrossian as someone working behind the scenes. Years ago we read this name in CD booklets as a sound editor or mixing engineer and sometimes as a background vocalist, but today the name has evolved to a star with a wining album. How did all this begin and can you tell the readers about the famous story that happened with you in year 1995?
Everything started in year 1995 when I went to the State Theater of song and met the manager and director Arthur Krikorian. He was amazed when I simply told him that I want to sing. He used to be my teacher in the state conservatory where he taught history of jazz, that?s how he recognized me. My proposal was approved. I participated in the singing contest after which I got an invitation to work in the theater as a singer. We used to have concerts in different parts of Armenia and in the Diaspora. In 1998 I participated in ?Ayo? song festival and received the award for ?Best Male Singer? with the song ?Sere mer? (Our love). That same year I left the theater because nobody was interested in the songs I was singing and the art I was trying to present, and since then I?m working as a sound engineer as you mentioned. I have lots of works attributed to me, but being an emotional person and sitting behind the mixer doing my job didn?t give me a chance to express my feelings. It didn?t matter how good I was at my job still there was something inside me that aspired to come out. That?s why I decided to sing again. My album ?Um? was born and I?m busy working on a second album these days.
Everything started in year 1995 when I went to the State Theater of song and met the manager and director Arthur Krikorian. He was amazed when I simply told him that I want to sing. He used to be my teacher in the state conservatory where he taught history of jazz, that?s how he recognized me. My proposal was approved. I participated in the singing contest after which I got an invitation to work in the theater as a singer. We used to have concerts in different parts of Armenia and in the Diaspora. In 1998 I participated in ?Ayo? song festival and received the award for ?Best Male Singer? with the song ?Sere mer? (Our love). That same year I left the theater because nobody was interested in the songs I was singing and the art I was trying to present, and since then I?m working as a sound engineer as you mentioned. I have lots of works attributed to me, but being an emotional person and sitting behind the mixer doing my job didn?t give me a chance to express my feelings. It didn?t matter how good I was at my job still there was something inside me that aspired to come out. That?s why I decided to sing again. My album ?Um? was born and I?m busy working on a second album these days.
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Is it true that after your duet ?Im pokrig? (My baby) with Hayko he became your best friend and lately your album producer?
Our friendship began in year 1995 when we decided to do this duet together and since then we became best friends. During my singing career he was always beside me encouraging and convincing me that I can sing. I still remember his words saying ?you can do it, you can sing again?. He helped me a lot to record my first album. We used to sit and analyze each track during the editing process. Being a composer and a true friend, he gave me two of his brilliant melodies ?Um? (To you) and ?Mnam haved? (Let me stay forever) to sing them in the album. I?m very thankful for all he has done for me and glad that this friendship has continued. In return I help him in his works too; lately I did the mixing of his new album ?Mi khoskov? (In one word).
Our friendship began in year 1995 when we decided to do this duet together and since then we became best friends. During my singing career he was always beside me encouraging and convincing me that I can sing. I still remember his words saying ?you can do it, you can sing again?. He helped me a lot to record my first album. We used to sit and analyze each track during the editing process. Being a composer and a true friend, he gave me two of his brilliant melodies ?Um? (To you) and ?Mnam haved? (Let me stay forever) to sing them in the album. I?m very thankful for all he has done for me and glad that this friendship has continued. In return I help him in his works too; lately I did the mixing of his new album ?Mi khoskov? (In one word).
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Your first album ?Um? (To whom) is a very unique work of art. To whom you wanted to dedicate it?Honestly I don?t have anyone specific in my mind but I guess it is dedicated from Dikran Bedrossian to all those who believed in me and waited such a long time for this album to be released.
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How far you consider yourself a part of today?s Armenian music industry? And are you satisfied with the quality of today?s Yerevanian audience?
It won?t change anything if I?m satisfied or not, simply the kind of audience belonging to my music is less than any other category presented by the Armenian show business today, and one of the important reasons is the big immigration of good quality people outside Armenia. 15 or 20 years ago, the listener was more intellectual than today. I?m working to satisfy this little percentage left here, that?s why my listeners are few. Besides, Armenia is too small to say there is a real show business here. It is not Moscow wherein you can fit five times Armenia, let aside Russia. In Armenia you release your album with a minimum quantity of 1000 copies and you still keep on wondering if they are going to be sold or not.
It won?t change anything if I?m satisfied or not, simply the kind of audience belonging to my music is less than any other category presented by the Armenian show business today, and one of the important reasons is the big immigration of good quality people outside Armenia. 15 or 20 years ago, the listener was more intellectual than today. I?m working to satisfy this little percentage left here, that?s why my listeners are few. Besides, Armenia is too small to say there is a real show business here. It is not Moscow wherein you can fit five times Armenia, let aside Russia. In Armenia you release your album with a minimum quantity of 1000 copies and you still keep on wondering if they are going to be sold or not.
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Talking about Armenian music today, it is more contemporary or pop and I don?t fit in it. I have some popular songs because the video clips made them popular, but this doesn?t mean they belong to today?s pop.
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Far away from music atmosphere, you are a loyal husband to a nice wife Garine and the father of two kids Arman and Nelly. What will be your reaction if one of your children has the talent or desire to become a singer?
I don?t think my daughter finds her future in me, but it?s not the same with my son Arman. His abilities amaze me (laughing). Few days ago I went home and found him watching Alejandro Sanz concert and murmuring the song with him. There is a part in the song with high notes which makes it quite hard to sing. I doubted he could, so I stayed watching him from behind and was completely surprised when he sang that phrase like a piece of cake. Honestly, I don?t encourage him. It just happens that he listens to the same music both me and my wife listen, that?s why he has our same taste. I don?t want him to follow my steps and face the same difficulties because the road is not as easy as it seems, but if his talent grows up more and more and he decides to choose that path, I will certainly support him 100%.
I don?t think my daughter finds her future in me, but it?s not the same with my son Arman. His abilities amaze me (laughing). Few days ago I went home and found him watching Alejandro Sanz concert and murmuring the song with him. There is a part in the song with high notes which makes it quite hard to sing. I doubted he could, so I stayed watching him from behind and was completely surprised when he sang that phrase like a piece of cake. Honestly, I don?t encourage him. It just happens that he listens to the same music both me and my wife listen, that?s why he has our same taste. I don?t want him to follow my steps and face the same difficulties because the road is not as easy as it seems, but if his talent grows up more and more and he decides to choose that path, I will certainly support him 100%.
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Being both a singer and a sound engineer makes you spend most of your time far from home? Does your family complain of this?
I think yes. I miss them a lot. Sometimes when I come at late hours I find my son waiting for me. After he checks that daddy is finally home (laughing) he goes to bed. I noticed recently that the children see me more on TV than in real life which is something I found it troubling and decided to reorganize myself and spend more time with my family.
I think yes. I miss them a lot. Sometimes when I come at late hours I find my son waiting for me. After he checks that daddy is finally home (laughing) he goes to bed. I noticed recently that the children see me more on TV than in real life which is something I found it troubling and decided to reorganize myself and spend more time with my family.
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And what do you do if you have free hours?
Besides listening to good music I like to read. I?m very fond of Russian literature, but now I?m reading “Teachings according to Don Juan” by Carlos Castanela.
Besides listening to good music I like to read. I?m very fond of Russian literature, but now I?m reading “Teachings according to Don Juan” by Carlos Castanela.
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What are your future plans?
I?m working on my second album but don?t know when it will be finished. I expect either in spring or maybe later because it still needs lots of work.
I?m working on my second album but don?t know when it will be finished. I expect either in spring or maybe later because it still needs lots of work.
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In December 2005 you were awarded with best video clip for the song ?Mnam havet? (Let me stay forever) in the Meridian music awards in Los Angeles. In that same evening you received a special award from Elvina Magarian. She chose you among all the artists during the show to give you the prize, a song written by her. Can you tell us more about this project?
The song is not finished yet. We are still working on the music arrangement because sometimes a bad arrangement makes a great song very unpleasant to hear. I?m doing this project with Hayko to reach the super quality and make the arrangement fits to my voice, to the music and lyrics as well. The song itself is a great work by Elvina Magarian written specially for me and I thank her for choosing me to perform this special song which will be a big hit included in my upcoming album.
The song is not finished yet. We are still working on the music arrangement because sometimes a bad arrangement makes a great song very unpleasant to hear. I?m doing this project with Hayko to reach the super quality and make the arrangement fits to my voice, to the music and lyrics as well. The song itself is a great work by Elvina Magarian written specially for me and I thank her for choosing me to perform this special song which will be a big hit included in my upcoming album.
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Now a one-word answers or brief comments on the followings:
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Shushan BedrossianA friend
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Yerevan or Hayasdan
Home
Home
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Friendship
Loyalty & trust
Loyalty & trust
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Traveling
I love it.
I love it.
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Garine, Your wife
A dear human being
A dear human being
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Eurovision
Not a serious program.
Not a serious program.
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Pat Metheney
Ohh, you may consider my soul.
Ohh, you may consider my soul.
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Sushi
I adore it.
I adore it.
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If you were not an artist what would you like to be?
If I wasn?t a singer I would be a musician for sure. It?s the same, anything in music.
If I wasn?t a singer I would be a musician for sure. It?s the same, anything in music.
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I asked this last question to Shushan Bedrossian as well. If one day you are walking along a beach and you find the magic lamp of Aladdin, what will be your wish?
I never thought about this before, but I guess it will be the stability of our country because everything is related with it; my career, the children?s future, even the future of the Armenian music industry will be better in a country with stable circumstances.
I never thought about this before, but I guess it will be the stability of our country because everything is related with it; my career, the children?s future, even the future of the Armenian music industry will be better in a country with stable circumstances.
What makes ?Um? a winning album?
A quick review by Carlos Jose Bourdjian
A quick review by Carlos Jose Bourdjian
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I'm very happy about this album because the artist has a singing experience through the years. One of his early works is the nice duet with Shushan Bedrossian “Ko Abakan? (Your future) by Arthur Krikorian. For now put your earphones, relax and let?s go to the album track by track:
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Um (To whom)
I always believe that this song has a story behind it. It is a great love song. People like this kind of songs; good lyrics, a warm voice plus Hayko wrote a great music there. The song reaches to its climax in the phrase “Mi luys desa hervum…” you can feel a strong manhood in Dikran's voice. This part in the video clip is nice as well especially when he throws away the apple with a special look in his eyes. An amazing song and I recommend it for everybody.
I always believe that this song has a story behind it. It is a great love song. People like this kind of songs; good lyrics, a warm voice plus Hayko wrote a great music there. The song reaches to its climax in the phrase “Mi luys desa hervum…” you can feel a strong manhood in Dikran's voice. This part in the video clip is nice as well especially when he throws away the apple with a special look in his eyes. An amazing song and I recommend it for everybody.
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Im hokin (My soul)
This track reminds me of George Benson's old album “While the city sleeps” especially the bass guitar solo during Dikran?s improvisation. The lyrics come out through a strong and sincere voice. There is a huge feeling of freedom to Life and Love, and it looks like he was waiting for a long time and now its time to sing this song. A very nice song to be performed live in a Big Band concert.
This track reminds me of George Benson's old album “While the city sleeps” especially the bass guitar solo during Dikran?s improvisation. The lyrics come out through a strong and sincere voice. There is a huge feeling of freedom to Life and Love, and it looks like he was waiting for a long time and now its time to sing this song. A very nice song to be performed live in a Big Band concert.
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Tariner (Years)A perfect combination of everything. The lyrics fit with the music; the big band goes well with both electric and bass guitars, the leading vocals with the background and all together with the rhythm. You can feel the perfection in the chorus phrase, exactly while singing the notes in the word ba-du-han-ne-re. The up going notes of the trumpets that accompany both Dikran's and Sirusho's voices are extremely amazing. The song has a very cool and smooth intro; it makes you predict that something big is coming? the voices of Dikran and Sirusho. The music arrangement of Ara Torossian ?Murzo? made the song special but the presence of Sirusho made it unique.
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Mayrik (Mom)
This song is completely different from any other dedicated to mothers before. It is a clear message from a mature man to his lovely mother with a flashback of some good old memories. Nothing childish is found here; neither the melody nor the lyrics, except a small part in the 2nd verse where the artist adopts a baby way of singing. He cuts the ending of the words, which makes his voice more soft and smooth.
This song is completely different from any other dedicated to mothers before. It is a clear message from a mature man to his lovely mother with a flashback of some good old memories. Nothing childish is found here; neither the melody nor the lyrics, except a small part in the 2nd verse where the artist adopts a baby way of singing. He cuts the ending of the words, which makes his voice more soft and smooth.
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Mnam Havet (Let me stay forever)
One of my favorite tracks in this album. A strong inspiration from Alejandro Sanz music, which is very dear to both the singer and composer as well. It's not copied from Sanz music. It is a pure inspiration in a unique music arrangement presented in honest words, coming out in a sad and innocent voice full of longing and passion. No one can perform this song better than Dikran himself. This is not a typical Hayko arrangement. There is something heavenly in it. I must congratulate Hayko for his stunning work. The touching lyrics come from Vartan Zadoian. And as a last note, the song has a great video clip too, which shows the artist in his true personality. Nice work to NUR also for the lovely necklace?.
One of my favorite tracks in this album. A strong inspiration from Alejandro Sanz music, which is very dear to both the singer and composer as well. It's not copied from Sanz music. It is a pure inspiration in a unique music arrangement presented in honest words, coming out in a sad and innocent voice full of longing and passion. No one can perform this song better than Dikran himself. This is not a typical Hayko arrangement. There is something heavenly in it. I must congratulate Hayko for his stunning work. The touching lyrics come from Vartan Zadoian. And as a last note, the song has a great video clip too, which shows the artist in his true personality. Nice work to NUR also for the lovely necklace?.
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Im Pokrik (My baby)
I would give this song as a gift to my own child; a sincere letter of how to face life's fears and challenge its bitterness. The song had an old version in the past, but this one comes in more smooth and cool rhythm accompanied with the lovely Spanish guitar and slight effects of percussions from phrase to phrase. There is always a difficulty to make a duet with two male singers, but in this case Hayko and Diko make a great duet couple.
I would give this song as a gift to my own child; a sincere letter of how to face life's fears and challenge its bitterness. The song had an old version in the past, but this one comes in more smooth and cool rhythm accompanied with the lovely Spanish guitar and slight effects of percussions from phrase to phrase. There is always a difficulty to make a duet with two male singers, but in this case Hayko and Diko make a great duet couple.
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Sere Mer (Our love)
This track was first performed at ?Ayo? Song Festival in 1998 and made Bedrossian win the award of ?Best Male singer?. At that time I wanted hardly to meet Shushan Bedrossian to congratulate her for writing beautiful lyrics like these. If you read between the lines, you will discover a deeper meaning. It was and still is my perfect love song.
This track was first performed at ?Ayo? Song Festival in 1998 and made Bedrossian win the award of ?Best Male singer?. At that time I wanted hardly to meet Shushan Bedrossian to congratulate her for writing beautiful lyrics like these. If you read between the lines, you will discover a deeper meaning. It was and still is my perfect love song.
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Mnam Havet (Let me stay forever) “Remix”
This is what I call a remix track; you can dance on it all night long. The work was done by DJ Serj and remixed in a way far from other deejays do. They only add a dance rhythm to the original tune. The original song has another remix version by Hayko, which is more suitable to be played on stage and you can hear it during Dikran?s concerts.
This is what I call a remix track; you can dance on it all night long. The work was done by DJ Serj and remixed in a way far from other deejays do. They only add a dance rhythm to the original tune. The original song has another remix version by Hayko, which is more suitable to be played on stage and you can hear it during Dikran?s concerts.
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Kez Hamar (For you)
Here comes the best part of the album. What can I say about this song? I'm speechless. You may fall in love with the artist through this lovely song.? The acoustic atmosphere lets you enjoy the quality of Dikran's voice and its softness especially while singing the half notes. Again the effect of Sanz music is obvious?..this is my top-of-the-list song. Pay attention to the sexy sound of the sax by Armen Hyusnunts.
Here comes the best part of the album. What can I say about this song? I'm speechless. You may fall in love with the artist through this lovely song.? The acoustic atmosphere lets you enjoy the quality of Dikran's voice and its softness especially while singing the half notes. Again the effect of Sanz music is obvious?..this is my top-of-the-list song. Pay attention to the sexy sound of the sax by Armen Hyusnunts.
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Photos:
1- Dikran Bedrossian.
2- Receiving the award of the “best album of year 2006”.
3- With Azad-Hye representative Carlos Jose Bourdjian and wife Garine.
4- Album cover.
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I find very interesting and inspiring everytime to see a new article by Carlos Jose Bourdjian about Armenian artists.
These articles are fulfilled with sincerity and pureness.One feels himself as close sitting to the artist and talking to him. Its is really fantastic! I admire everytime .
Good luck