t.A.T.u.'s Lena Katina Returns to the Dancefloor in Lush New Collaboration

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If you were in or around Moscow on March 29th 2011, then you probably heard the collective whole of Eastern Europe cry out in despair upon hearing the news that faux lesbian electropop duo, t.A.T.u. were splitting up.  The Internet was soon flooded with fond rememberences of the popular girl group.  Condolences were passed along to an inconsolable Mischa Barton, who's critically acclaimed movie about finding love at a t.A.T.u. concert would never get a sequel.  Yes, ladies and gentlemen. March 29th 2011 will be a day that will forever live in infamy. 

For those of you incapable of reading sarcasm, none of this actually happened.  Yes, t.A.T.u. broke up, and yes people were sad (myself included), but the period of mourning was not so dramatic.  When it was announced that t.A.T.u.'s two lovely ladies (Lena Katina & Julia Volkova),  were pursuing solo careers, I was wrought with emotion.  Excited, yet wary.  While t.A.T.u. did produce some of the world's catchiest electropop tunes in memory, was there really any way for the duo to sustain individual careers as solo artists? t.A.T.u. was predominantly known for the spectacle of their faux lesbian relationship, not so much their vocal abilities (or lack there of).  Thankfully, Lena Katina went and proved me wrong, with the release of her debut solo single, "Never Forget."

In it's original form, "Never Forget" (produced by Sven Martin & Erik Lidbom) was a decent enough electric guitar & keyboard driven pop/rock tune.  It wasn't until master-of-the-remix, Dave Audé got his hands on it, re-cutting "Never Forget" into a high energy, dance anthem that went straight to #1 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart.  Who would have thought?

Now with the sweet taste of success on her tongue, Lena Katina has her heart set on another #1 dance hit with her latest collaboration, "Melody."  Lena's angelic vocal is featured on Los Angeles-based artist/producer Clark Owen's, "Melody," a dancey trancey melodic dreamscape of a single.  Owen co-wrote the song with Katina's "Never Forget" producer and musical director for t.A.T.u., Sven Martin.

According to his official bio, Clark Owen grew up in Dusseldorf, wherein his musical taste was heavily influenced by the British Army Base radio stations playing a little bit of everything, from David Bowie and Abba to Depeche Mode and Nena.  Owen identifies his style as "somewhere between Robert Miles and David Guetta...which gives him just the right mix of now and nostalgia."  

I'm sold - both on this collaboration and Lena's chances at solo success.  I think if she keeps releasing this type of intelligent electronic music, she has the potential for becoming a real dance music contender.  Check out the Jason Wisch-directed clip for "Melody" BELOW.  The song is available online either by itself (iTunes US), or as a three track remix EP with mixes by George Ron Sky and Syq, as well an acoustic version (iTunes US/iTunes UK).

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