Pop princess Sirusho - Armenian Reporter

Sirusho says that
she loves living
in Armenia where
everyone feels
like family and
everything is
yours.
her music by re­introducing folk
songs into Armenian mainstream
music. “It means so much when
young boys and girls join me in
singing these ancient songs during
my concerts,” she says.
In the past five years, Sirusho
has given concerts in many parts
of the world, including the Middle
East, Europe, and the United
States, earning popular and critical
acclaim for her exuberant pop
songs and folk renditions alike.
Signature sound
Sirusho wrote much of the music
for her latest album, Hima, in
which she weaves together the percussive
beats of R & B and the traditional
instrumentation of zurna
and dhol. The album also features
her duet with legendary singer
and songwriter Ruben Hakhverdyan.
“I was very honored to
work with Ruben because I know
he is very selective with whom he
chooses to work,” Sirusho says and
comments on her new compositions:
“Most of the songs I write
are about real­life experiences my
friends are going though. I use my
music as an expression of their
pain or joy, and usually most of
the people who listen to my music
can relate to the stories found
within the songs.”
As most artists will tell you, inspiration
is capricious and comes
at the most unusual moments.
When Sirusho gets a certain rhyme
or melody in her head, she pulls
out her cell phone and records her
voice. Though an extremely convenient
tool, her phone has also
been a bane, as she has discovered
that there are underground privacy
pirates who illegally obtain the
cell­phone numbers of Armenian
celebrities, including herself, and
sell them to fans and paparazzi.
On any given day, Sirusho receives
hundreds of unwanted calls and
text messages on her phone, with
admirers often pleading with her
to include their amateur lyrics in
her next album.
Despite the side effects of celebrity,
Sirusho says she loves
Armenia and nothing gives her
greater joy than spending time
with her childhood friends, strolling
through the streets of Yerevan,
and grabbing a cup of coffee with
them. “I’m always working,” she
explains. “It almost feels nonstop.
So whenever I get to relax,
I want to spend that time with
my buddies. I just love living in
Armenia. It feels like living in a
country where everyone is family,
everything is yours,” says Sirusho,
who is often seen in the company
of President Kocharian’s younger
son, Levon. f
connect:
sirusho.am
C10 Armenian Reporter Arts & Culture 12/29/2007