Everything by Electricity is a musical project led by Siberian-born songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Yulia Bizyukova. Yulia grew up in the unremarkable city of Barnaul located in the south of Western Siberia where it snows for a third of the year and freezing cold winters last for up to five months. She began making music at age 10, when she started learning guitar and almost immediately started writing songs and formed a school band. On moving to London, Yulia quietly crafted a collection of demo material in her bedroom studio and expanded the live line-up with the addition of James (bass guitar) and Manoela (drums). Everything by Electricity’s sound is littered with the strains of alienation and longing for escape one would expect from childhoods spent gazing across cold barren landscapes deep behind the iron curtain.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Everything by Electricity about the latest music, choosing a favorite song, inspirations and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Are you able to choose a favorite song of all time? Or would you label this an impossible task? If yes, what’s the song? If no, what’s your current Top 3?
It’s a tough task to pick just one favorite of all time, so I’d rather go with the current Top 3. The
first one is “The Downtown Lights” by The Blue Nile – I have no idea why I’ve discovered them
just fairly recently, this band was genius! The second track I’ll pick from the last record I
bought – “Cool About It” by boygenius. And the final track would be “Isn’t It Midnight” by
Fleetwood Mac, perhaps watching “Daisy Jones & The Six” made me come back to my
Fleetwood Mac record collection.
What about this project makes you most proud? Was there a specific goal you were trying to accomplish with this release?
When I was writing “Goodbye” the only goal I had was to get this song out of my “system” in
the most honest way possible and to transmit everything I was feeling into this recording in
that moment. Often when I write a song and record the first rough demo, it captures the mood and emotions better than a polished recording, the more I polish instrument and vocal tracks,
the more I loose on the record. With “Goodbye” I thought no, I’m not doing that and left the
first demo synth takes the way they were. Same thing with the vocals, I don’t consider myself a
proper vocalist and always re-record the first demo vocal takes later on, but this time I’ve left
the first raw vocal take as it is. I felt that I’d be lying to myself if I polish this song. It turned out
exactly how it was in my head the night I was writing it and I’m not sure if I’m proud or
terrified of the result.
What inspires you to create music? What motivates you to keep going?
When I first started writing songs and making music, I was 10, growing up in Siberia, in a town I
never really liked so music was a form of an escape from it all – you’re writing a song and in
that moment you’re somewhere else and you don’t see anything around anymore. Looking
back at those years now I realize I didn’t start a band because it was a cool thing to do back
then, you’d get in all sort of troubles for just walking down the street with a guitar back in the
90s where I was growing up, it wasn’t cool and it wasn’t a choice in a way either or some kind
of an inspiration, I just had this enormous need, I had to write music. Of course, my life is
totally different now, I’ve been living in London for 17 years now with nothing to escape but
the need to write didn’t go anywhere and still keeps me going.
If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown – who would it be and why? If it’s an indie/DIY artist, please include a link so readers can check them out.
Never thought about this, so honestly, I don’t know. My favorite band The Radio Dept. perhaps?
Because their music is so relatable to me, although they’re so self-sufficient and don’t need anyone
else’s input. I think I’m a nightmare to collaborate with because I love doing everything myself, alone
and not many artists would enjoy this kind of a collaboration process. But I’ve done a couple of collabs in
the past with Jukka Rintamäki and a Swedish band called LOW-RES, both seemed to have worked out
well and I’d probably try something again if I feel like doing it.
What was the last song you listened to? Favorite all-time bands/artists?
Favorite all-time band is The Radio Dept., the last song I listened to was “I Can’t Wait” by
Stevie Nicks.
Where is the best place to find you and stay connected?
The best places to stay connected are all here: https://linktr.ee/everythingbyelectricity
I appreciate Your time. Want to say or plug any other projects before we part ways?
Thank you so much for having me!
