Vladimir and Sergey Kristovsky: "We enjoy doing what we love"

      For millions of listeners, they have long become musicians of nationwide scale. But the Kristovsky brothers from the band Uma2rman still call themselves Nizhny Novgorod residents and admit that there is no place in the world better than their hometown. In anticipation of VK Fest (0+), the musicians told NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" about the songs that will be performed at the festival, why after 22 years they still enjoy every concert on stage, and whether their children are ready to continue the musical dynasty.

      What does returning to Nizhny Novgorod mean to you today? When do you feel most acutely that this is your home?

      Vladimir Kristovsky: For me, Nizhny Novgorod is the most beautiful place on the entire planet Earth. I have been to many places, but I have never encountered anything like my Nizhny. I even wrote a song about it (smiles. — Ed. note). Our parents live here, we grew up here and spent our youth here. Home is not just a place, but a feeling: you are with your loved ones, everyone is in their place. In Nizhny, I am at home.

      Sergey Kristovsky: When we moved to Moscow, everything spun so quickly that in the first years of touring we only spent a month a year in Moscow, and the rest of the time we were on the road. I remember, both Vovka and I had children one after another, and we weren't in the city. Our director picked up the babies from the maternity hospital. The second time, people looked at him sideways (laughs. — Ed. note). Nizhny will always remain my hometown, where I love to return at any time of the year.

      What still brings you the greatest joy on stage after all these years?

      V. K.: In April, when the band turned 22 years old, we played stadium concerts in Yekaterinburg, St. Petersburg, Kazan, and Moscow. When we stepped on stage, I realized: what a joy it is to see the happy faces of people singing your songs. I dreamed about this when I was young, and today it has all come true! That's why I happily sing both hits and new songs. The main thing is that people leave the concert a little happier.

      Nizhny Novgorod is currently experiencing perhaps the most noticeable period of change in recent decades. What places in the city do you particularly love to show your friends today?

      V. K.: Nizhny has changed a lot in recent years, and these transformations suit it very well. In the center, wherever you go, it's beautiful everywhere. The Upper Volga and Lower Volga embankments are wonderful both during the day and at sunset. And what views of the Oka!

      S. K.: To everyone who hasn't been here yet, we recommend coming and enjoying the city; there is much to see!

      And you still have a dacha in the Gorodets district! What do those places mean to you today, and do you manage to visit often?

      V. K.: I bought a dacha in the best place on the planet, next to the "Lesnoy Uyut" tourist base. We used to relax there every summer with my parents. The air is clean, there is a river, everything you need to restore your strength.

      S. K.: Native places recharge you. It's very nice to gather with family and spend time in silence and tranquility.

      After 22 years in the band, you must have learned to understand each other without words. Have there been any creative disagreements in the history of Uma2rman, and how have your relationships within the group changed over time?

      V. K. and S. K.: We only argued at the very beginning: how the arrangement would sound, what instruments to add. But now everything is clear, so we just enjoy doing what we love.

      If today you were offered not to work together but just to be brothers, would you agree?

      V. K.: I have loved my brother since childhood. As long as I can remember, I have always reached out to him. I even started writing songs out of envy for his lifestyle. I was boxing, going around with constantly bruised knuckles, while he was already a popular musician in Nizhny, living a cool life: parties around him, beautiful girls, I wanted that too. And I thought, "Well, can’t I write a song?!" I sat down and started composing. Then I gathered a band and started playing art rock. Then Sergey looked at my lyrics and said, "Let me help you." And we recorded an album in one night at a friend's studio. We sent it to Moscow... That's how the story of Uma2rman began.

      S. K.: The way everything turned out is the best option, and I wouldn't choose another. We agreed on the shore that Vovka would write songs for Uma2rman, while I would have my own solo project in parallel. Once we decided that, time showed that we did everything right.

      Is there among your children anyone who is already capable of continuing the Kristovsky musical dynasty? Or, on the contrary, are the most talented in music categorically unwilling to go on stage?

      V. K.: For me, the main thing is that the children are healthy, happy, and find something they will enjoy doing. Of all of them, only Uma shows interest in the stage and singing. She has never sung in my presence, so I didn't even know how Uma sings. She went to a vocal teacher on her own, practiced, and I suggested she record a song. It turned out in the studio that she has a very gentle, pleasant voice. We did a cover of one of my favorite songs by Leonid Agutin, "There Is Little Music Left," which is performed by Anzhelika Varum, and we shot a video for it right in the studio with the musicians.

      S. K.: My sons are into sports: Ivan plays hockey, Ilya is into motorcycle racing, and Zhenya is interested in sound engineering and is trying his hand in that direction. My eldest daughter, Alisa, seems not to be planning to tie her life to music, and the youngest ones are still very small; they will show their interests later. The main thing is that they are happy and grow up to be good people, and they will choose their profession themselves.

      VK Fest gathers people of all ages. How will this affect the choice of songs that will be performed at the festival in Nizhny? And will you delight the audience with new compositions? Or are all premieres only at your concerts?

      V. K.: Every year we see more and more young people at our concerts, and this is very pleasing. A few years ago, at a performance, a girl about ten years old came up to me and asked me to play "It Seems." I was surprised at how she knew that song because it is even older than she is. It turned out the track went viral on social media, and kids started making videos to it.

      It turns out that people of different ages enjoy dancing to the same songs. Those are the ones we will play. And we will happily premiere our new song "Don't Stand Still, Dance" in our native Nizhny! It will be released on all music platforms just before the festival.

      S. K.: People come to our concerts with their families, with children, with friends. It is a great joy for a musician to see how people are happy, smiling, and singing along together. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on the main events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod." When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+