Before we talk about the historical background of group Alfa-Alfa,
let's first talk about ourselves:
MICHAELL: as a child I have grown talented in different things. But for sure I loved music dance and drummer. I have loved music since childhood.i seriously got involved in music at the age of 13.i had traveled to Norway for a visit at a college school and it so happened that there was an M.D.D festival and there was this competition of dancing and singing to a song that was in lingala music .It then happened that I was picked to perform and I came out second. So ever since I realized that ma talent of M.D.D needed inspiring and I never wanted to stop it was some thing I never had thought would happen to me. My Mother encouraged me and that is how I got so involved in music.
BECKY: I loved music I remember I couldn't sleep with out music playing. I was 12 by then I wanted to know every song on radio .My younger sister and I used to sit and talk about being a musician we would sing every time we got to know some new kind of song on radio it was really amazing. At school I was the head prefect of M.D.D.This helped me a lot because I had the right to all the music instruments .My mother was always a great help especially when we had to travel out to another city she would pack me all the necessary things. I remember it would be war if I was not selected to act, sing or dance I would not talk to any body at home.
Anyhow all I can say is I loved music dance and drummer I hated to miss out any thing I loved ma music teacher so much ,she was like a mother to me she taught me that in life we all need to struggle because its not easy. Our motor was little by little an egg will walk.
Now about the historical background of group ALFA-ALFA.
This isn't just any name or group .it has come along way .First let me define ALFA-ALFA .This means BETTER en BETTER. This is really beginning to happen at shows, in presentations and organization. ALFA-ALFA has a great definition of life and its inspiration that is why its better-better for all kinds of people.
Its not so long that ALFA-ALFA existed.
It's just a couple of years. We have changed direction of music and we hope our funs will be with us all the way ALFA-ALFA. Originally was a group of 4 guys, doing hip hop but due to Common artist miss understandings they broke up. But Michael didn't give up he decided to find one person to help him out and by then I was the closest we talked about it and immediately we started off we didn't want to waste any more time Now it's a composition of two doing reage, alternative, pop,ragga, and African music .Which is some thing we love .that is Michael and Becky. It's a new experience but our funs love it because we deal with the young and old.
The musical groups or artists that showed us inspiration are Tina Tana and Michael Jackson.
As for me Becky, I have never missed out anything on any of them especially Britney Spears I adore her style. I remember I used to maim her songs at school.
MICHEAL - Since childhood my name sake Michael Jackson was a very big mark in ma life of music until now I haven't heard any one like him the rest are just compositions of him.
If we would relate our kind of music with others like hip hop etc would say it's nothing like a relationship it's just a message conveyed only in different styles and approach its completely classic. Like we stated its alternative pop raga, but as you know all music has roots blues jazz, rock pop are a huge root to all new day types of music.
Any how besides pop, ragga, rap, hip hop, we listen to pure original Jamaican, Indian music, orchestra and lots of alternative from Africa like Lingala and Chinese music etc.
We are releasing our first album very soon so funs get ready to go for it. Our album is composed of 15 songs we have 7 Ukrainian songs, 5 English songs, 1 Russian song and 2 African songs.
In our first album, i think the impression it will leave is style recognition, talent, and change in taste of new music black musicians on the Ukrainian block.
People may think we recorded this music for fun but it may also be a factor compared to all musicians as well but we compile all this material to be shared with the world of different generation and references etc .
The musical groups ALFA-ALFA is friendly to what would we say all that comes our way is with us because ALFA-ALFA we are friendly people if you are friendly to us .we don't intend to have enemies musically because we have none because we love music and that is why we are here. Don't forget music is a language that unites all sorts of people even if they were there we would find a way to capture those moments .we don't like to have enemies which is bad for the music world . Music is gift not some kind of firm.
Our musical plans in the near future is to rule the music world .About ourselves, we are black, young and very artistic
MICHAEL (UNVERSITY OF RADIO ELECRONIC OF KHARKOV)
BECKY (KARAZIN NATIONAL UNVERSITY)
Many people ask if we work yes we do we are musicians and our relationship with Ukrainian and Russian artists is not bad.
They are good people and easy to approach .We have met with some of the local Ukrainian and Russian artists
Our relationship with other up coming music cultures e.g. break dancing in Ukraine etc is that they are signs of co
- Caligula's. Keeps Youths minds occupied other than doing drugs and other dangerous things.
We encourage more of the young generation to get involved.
We ALFA - ALFA are going to do music for as long as it takes and as long as our fans want to see and listen to our music, Our shows are a composed "music menu" of three blocks, we have the African block, which is traditional with African dances, African costumes, African drums, African beads and the African languages.
The second block is the Ukrainian block here we have Ukrainian folk songs, Ukrainian costumes including Ukrainian shoes, make up, Ukrainian clothes, Ukrainian way of eating, Ukrainian drinks and horses.
The third block is a mixture of remixes of oldies from the 70s and 80s .Because of all this plus the love from our funs we have got to travel to many cities in Ukraine and a couple of countries, Russia in Belgrade, Poland and talked to different people. Talked to them about ALFA -ALFA, asked them about our music, where we have gone wrong it's really cool because they are so open to us and it helps us know and learn a lot.
Music has really inspired us.
Besides music, we organize different shows! Concerts, music parties, birthday parties, small conferesses and festivals.
BIOGRAPHY
The city Kharkov is full of talent. And this time the first capital of Ukraine surprised Ukrainian show-business, sheltering and rearing eccentric students from Uganda - Alfa- Alfa show-group.
Origin
At the course of time, the group didn’t determine at once with styles of disco-pop, it all began with hip- hop and very much expressive Ragamuffin. Before in the group there were four hot African young men. In 2003 the group experimented with their sounds and they were the permanent participants of Kharkov international festivals (In Da House, Breakidz and dr.) and at Reggae Party evening-parties, conducted Freestyle Artwork and UHHA. But coming forward on other measures the musicians understood quickly that at that moment Ukrainian public had already folded other musical preferences. Here then an idea was born at once with the elements of folk-songs in creating favourite folk songs. The Russian folk song was the first experiment "In the Forest the Fire-tree carried out” was born in a hip hop manner with a specific African accent. Public perceived the experiment on a "hurrah". During appearances of the group of smiles did not go down from the persons in the audience so much positive mood was radiated by the eccentric African artists. Furthermore, the group began to broaden with the Ukrainian folk super hits ("Tiz mene Pidmanula, Barter" and etc), either in an accapella variant together with the audience, or under modern arrangements with the elements of reggae, hip- hop and rnb.
Transformation
At this juncture getting something, into the group was not easy. The whole joined mechanism began to give failure. Michael, leader of the group and other participants had a different vision of further development of the project, including his stylistic orientation. Part of the group was not ready to change from classic reggae music, while Michael wanted to do expressive dance music. In 2004 the crisis ended .Alfa- Alfa disintegrated in two collectives. Michael remained in Alfa- Alfa. Steve made a new project Chornobrivtsi. And exactly at that juncture possible plans to work on the Alfa- Alfa project appeared to Michael. At first he needed to find the second soloist, which he would fully trust. And he found one! There was this beautiful girl from Uganda by the names Becky. She was talented with beautiful legs. Michael lovely named her the queen of Africa. Success and professionalism radiated round Michael and Becky. At this time, they were the born "stars". And from there immediately it was decided, that the new group Alfa-Alfa will be made only by the two together and as for dancers they would invite other dancers or artists
Forming
With an ardour dipped in creation, Michael and Becky quickly created enough new arrangements and began to write down vocals.
The first album was ready in 2006. It turned out to positive, sunny and danceable. In the album, the 10 best songs were included. 6 Ukrainian folk pop-remixes and 4 other English-language compositions. A repertoire was tested on Ukrainian public.
Alfa Alfa came forward with concerts on areas, holidays and corporate measures. And everywhere group stunning success expected.
A hot duet with songs they use to set their audience and fans on fire, and African vocals and bright appearances, compelled people to be allowed in the dance, wherever came forward Michael and Becky. They proved their inner possess, innate actor talent to socialize with public, as with the close friends, causing genuine interest and delight with the people.
The first album
In 2006 Alfa Alfa appealed to the creative group Freestyle Artwork with suggestions to publish the recorded album.
After listening to the material of the group also Indies’ label Funky Kids Records became interested, offering collaboration to the artists. And joint work began. In autumn of a 2006 year Freestyle Artwork and Moon-Records lets out the long-awaited album of "Rozpryagayte Hloptsi konnie". To all, this is the first album of the African performers, recorded and published in Ukraine. The first release was sold out for a month! At once after it, the managers of the group decide on a wave to organize presentation of the album of the group in Kiev, inviting in partners of the largest Ukrainian searching internet system Meta. In one of the best Kharkov photo studio, new artistic photo session of the group which were very bright exposed actor talent of the artists. They both looked very romantic in love, or glamour-fever characters, or merry craze - the real professional
Models. To the second release of the album publicity posters were released out and a new colourful design of cover was developed.
In December, 2006 the wide publicity campaign of presentation of the album of the group began in the Internet, with success of taking place on February, 7, 2007 in the Kiev club "Sound Planet". Reporting and interviews of the group will be on the TV channels in the news of the TV channel K1, in the program "Society Chronics" on the TV channel "Tonis". The article, in the magazine "Public People" with the heading printed "Evening-party of the month". The 10 popular news and entertaining
Internet resources will publish fast-reporting about the action. Declaring thus about the presentation in Kiev show-business, artists with enthusiasm began to think of recording and writing down new tracks in styles of disco,rnb,reggae,soca,dancehall,African lounge etc..
In concert appearances group Alfa Alfa often presents three parts - three performances.
The first part is the danceable Ukrainian folk songs in the Ukrainian traditional costumes.
The second part is an African block, with folk African dances, drums and costumes.
And the third part is the twist and expressive disco-pop used for setting fire in style of 80s.
