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| (Peter Beliaev) I was actually born in Stavrapol Russia. Its in the south of Russia, in the mountains. I was born in the same room as my father and his father before him. I always thought that was pretty strange. From |
| (The Richmond Buzz) So where were you born and raised? |
| (The Richmond Buzz) If you could spend 10 minutes with any music legend living or deceased, who would you choose and why? |
| (Peter Beliaev) Ha, lets not talk about that photo, but no I don’t live on the edge the way you may think. I barely ever drink, I hate the taste of it. I am pretty tame for the most part. I was a sponsored skateboarder for a little while and have definitely gotten hurt doing that. Some would consider that “living on the edge”, to me it was just a fun hobby. I love riding my motorcycle. I love the feeling of controlling such a powerful machine with my entire body, it goes against all logic. The faster you go, the more control you have. The faster you go the closer you can lean that thing to the ground. I’ve taken a curve at 100 miles an hour and felt my knee scrape the ground. I think at that point I had finally realized I was insane. |
| (The Richmond Buzz) Your art work is very cool, how much have you pursued being an artist? What you drew in driving school was pretty cool, I'd love to see what you draw when you are not multi tasking. |
| (Peter Beliaev) That’s such a loaded question, but I will do my best without writing a book for you. I have certain dissociate disorders that makes me a horrible friend. I will lose track of peoples place in my life and memory. If someone isn’t around then I start to forget they exist. This really goes for anything. Sometimes its better and sometimes its worse. Combine that with a number of certain obsessive tendencies and a love for solo activities, and you basically have a person that can be alone for months with no problem. I just like to keep to myself. I will work on my music, go skate and learn a new trick, or maybe just go running in the middle of the night. I have to keep moving forward, to keep getting stronger or better in some way, and being stuck in a bar with a drink in my hand only feels like a step backward. I will try and be around friends just so I don’t completely lose track of reality, but its rare. I guess I just get bored with people, I feel alone even in a crowded room, so I might as well stay in mine and play guitar. |
| (The Richmond Buzz) I really dig your vocal performance as well as the music you play, they both stand on their own and when you put the two together it is electric. When you are working on new material, do you general work on the music or lyrics first? |
| (Peter Beliaev) I play the guitar and pretend to play the piano. I taught myself both, but in all honestly I know nothing about music. If you asked me to play a D chord id look at you with a blank expression even though I’m sure I use that chord all the time. I’ve always loved the guitar, its such a challenge. Sometimes I don’t understand how people create the sounds that they do with those things. But I love the piano because its such a classical instrument. The keys are all aligned and sometimes I’ll just play the white keys for hours, because it all sounds beautiful, every key. |
| (The Richmond Buzz) You sort have this reputation for being elusive and a bit of a mystery, are you more of a private person or is it just a misconception? |
| (Peter Beliaev) Music always comes first. It has to sound right. Then I will work on a melody, and then I will write lyrics to fit the melody and music. I feel like the lyrics should be an instrument that works with the rest of the song, not just some words you want to cram into a tune. I always have lyrics and melodies running through my head, but they never come together like I hear them, so I basically rely on chance. Its fun though, because tomorrow I could write my next song, or it might take me a few weeks, I never know, I just enjoy the process. |
| (The Richmond Buzz) So tell me a little bit about yourself? What kind of music are you into? |
| (Peter Beliaev) I have played at Blue Mountain Café, Hyperlink and at Chester Bistro. Performing is fairly new to me. I will usually avoid it, that comes with a severe lack of confidence, but I soon hope to start performing as often as people will allow me. |
| (The Richmond Buzz) Did you take a break from doing shows and writing music the past year? What can we expect from you the rest of the year? |
| (Peter Beliaev) I listen to everything, everything that hits my ears the right way. There are those certain tones and notes that I’m just attracted to, and those notes exist in every type of music, so I find myself listening to a lot of everything. Mostly songs in minor, darker sounds, a lot like my music. Its like having a favorite color, and liking anything that is painted with that color, regardless of how different the things are. I will listen to anything from classical to underground hip-hop to Swedish death metal on any given day, and to me all the songs have something in common. Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Iron and Wine, Porcupine Tree and a few metal bands like August Burns Red and Underoath. I try and mix it up, it just depends on my mood. I always have my set favorites that I have loved since I can remember. Bands like Deftones, Further Seems Forever and Sufjan Stevens. Those are constant, along with certain works by Thomas Newman. I love the music he composes for movies and various projects. I |
| (The Richmond Buzz) For the ladies out there wondering, are you single? Some of the songs you have written definitely seem to have been influenced by some personal relationships. Your lyrics flow incredibly well and they really paint a picture and tone. The songs you write are filled with passion and emotion, what was the influence to writing songs such as "Best Of You", " One To Witness", and "My Goodbye Song"? |
| like I’m becoming stronger as a musician, that’s why I love music, the longer you play the stronger you become, so I never rush the performing. I have my entire life to go out and perform, assuming someone will want to listen. I hope to play more shows though, to put myself out there a bit more, now that I see at least a few people are listening. |
| (The Richmond Buzz) What instruments do you play, and which do you enjoy playing best? |
| (Peter Beliaev) “auto da fe” is a term from the Spanish Inquisition. It was the name given to a public trial and execution, but its direct translation means “act of the faith”. I got it when I was 18 in Vermont, it was a present. I just thought it was a beautiful phrase. I first heard it in a Mars Volta song called “televators”. It really interested me, and once I found out what it meant I really wanted the tattoo. Not because of any religious reason but because I believe there comes a time in every ones life when we have to make a decision, and the world is telling us to go one way while our purest and deepest instincts tell us to go the other. Sometimes you just have to take that leap, and do what you feel is right above all else. I feel like most people cant do that and end up miserable and unsatisfied. I love that tattoo to this day. I recently got the two XI on my back. Long story made short, that’s a sign for change, for progression, something I care a lot about, plus you rarely see guys with tramp stamps. |
| (The Richmond Buzz) Whats your favorite part of making music-writing,recording, or performing? |
| (Peter Beliaev) I love what Robert Vaughan is doing, he has something very unique, something that is his own, and I feel like that is rare in music today. I loved Engine Down when they were around, even though I cant remember if they are from Richmond or Fredericksburg, but they are one of my favorites. A Suffocating Signal and Conditions are both doing great and I cant wait to see more of them. There is a lot of talent in Richmond, its humbling, it really grounds you when you realize you are just another musician in one city in one state. Just makes me want to keep my music to myself, just so I can free up a space for someone who wants the attention more than I do. |
| (The Richmond Buzz) Have you ever recorded songs with other local artists, if yes tell me about it, and if no would you consider doing a duet? |
| (Peter Beliaev) A day ago I was taken, right now I am single, and in a week that will probably change. I don’t do well in relationships, I try but it’s a constant struggle. I wasn’t programmed for having another persons life directly influenced and connected to mine. I will show more genuine emotion in a 3 minute song than I will in a 3 year relationship. Its sad but I’ve become increasingly cold as a person even though I try and fight it every step of the way. I’ve hurt a lot of amazing people, I can realize that, so most of the time I wont even try. It feels like everyone is better off if I just remain alone. The songs are mostly visitations back to a time when that wasn’t true. I wrote “My Goodbye Song” for basically every girl I ever had relationships with, I think I was 18 when I wrote that. “One to Witness” is about someone I loved that was tragically taken away. “Best of You” is in a way me talking to myself, but sometimes I wonder. Its like a part of me writes the song, and then another part of me tries to figure out what it means completely unaware of the part that created it, that’s usually how all my songs are. Sometimes I just don’t know what I’m singing about until I listen to the whole thing. |
| (Peter Beliaev) For the show at Chester Bistro I was playing basketball before I left. If I know the songs there’s nothing I can do but hope that I play them well. I’m sure as I continue to play out more I will develop a routine. |
| (The Richmond Buzz) I was checking out your myspace photos and you have a shot of you lying on a bed with a bottle of liquor and a gun, the caption reads "Live in fear, dream in peace". That is pretty intense, are you a guy who likes to live on the edge? |
| (The Richmond Buzz) If you don't mind me asking, can we talk about your tattoos? You have the words 'auto da fe' on your torso, tell me about this tattoo and what it means to you? Is it easy for you to decide what tatoo(s) you are going to get? It's been 10 years and I still haven't made up my mind as to what tattoo to get or where it will go. |
| (Peter Beliaev) I have only recorded music at home, just me and a guitar, but in the future I think it would be interesting to work with some different people. I am open to it totally. |
| (The Richmond Buzz) Any special routines to prepare for a show? |
| (Peter Beliaev) I love writing music above all, that’s something I do for me and me only. The recording and performing I mainly do for everyone else. I just love everything about it, the feel of the guitar, the freedom, and just being able to play the chords I want and sing the |
| (The Richmond Buzz) What local Richmond Clubs do you enjoy performing at? |
| there my family moved to Moscow for a couple of years and then to a place in St. Petersburg. I didn’t actually move to the states until I was about 5. We would travel back to Russia every summer so I guess you could say I was raised in both the United States and in various parts of eastern Europe and Russia. I definitely experienced many different aspects of life from an early age. |
| could listen to the sound track to Road To Perdition for hours on end. |
| melodies I want instead of trying to find it in other music. I by no means have reached the level where I am totally satisfied with my music and skills, but I feel like I’m getting closer. Its one of those few things that’s gives me a bit of hope for the future. In my head I just say to myself “I might not have wealth or love or happiness, but I’ll have my guitar, I will have something to work for, something to get better at, and its not something that everyone in the world can do”. Sometimes that’s all I need to have a bit of optimism for the future. Without music I don’t know what Id do. Writing keeps me afloat in what feels like an turbulent uncertain ocean. |
| (Peter Beliaev) I never take a break from writing. I pick up my guitar everyday, I am always thinking of new melodies and new ideas for songs, its just a matter of if they get written down or not. Right now on my computer I have a folder of about 50 short clips of ideas for songs, most of the time I just move on without completing them. Performing never seems as important as writing and evolving. With every song I feel |
| (Peter Beliaev) The more I read about Nick Drake the more I feel oddly connected to him. I could never compare myself to him, he was brilliant and yet his story ended so tragically. I’d ask him if his music helped or ultimately perpetuated his own sadness, then I think we’d just play music for the reminder of the time. I doubt he’d want to be interviewed, so I wouldn’t waste his time. Sometimes the only way you can get a |
| piece of what someone is really like is by just observing them in their natural environment. Sometimes I see a lot of similarities between him and I, and it scares me. I can see our stories ending on the same page in some ways. |
| Want More Peter Beliaev?? |
| (Peter Beliaev) I really don’t know. I just want to continue playing, continue writing and I hope at that point I am playing more than two shows a year. Honestly I’m just going to sit back and see what happens. I’m not chasing fame or fortune, ultimately I’m only chasing my ideal sound. I haven reached that point where I am truly happy with the music I’m creating, but I can feel myself getting closer. At the end of the day this is just a struggle with myself, it’s a game, just like everything else. You have to be patient, and you have to be honest. When I started playing I never even thought about being a musician, but now that people are slowly taking notice it is exciting. Sometimes I get really touching emails about what people get from my music. If I can touch one persons life with a song then its worth doing. |
| (The Richmond Buzz) Who are some of your favorite local Richmond solo artists or bands? |
| (The Richmond Buzz) Where would you like to see yourself with your music career five years from now? |
| I’m doing something and start doodling I create some of my best work. It feels that way with everything. Nothing is ever planned in my life. Things just come and go when I’m not expecting them. I cant look ahead or I completely disrupt my path, so I just sit idle and wait for life to unravel. |
| (Peter Beliaev) My best work always comes at random times. Just like my music. If I sit down and try to draw something it never turns out how I want it to, but if |
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