This is a road West, a road South,
This is the light at the end of the tunnel when you are scared to death,
This a gulp of air after you've been under the wave,
But I want to be with you.
Oh... The way home.

The sky burst into flames of light, ringing with a joyful thunder,
After storms and wandering my soul came back
From separation to salvation, from the loss back home,
I will be only with you.

I found the way out of this vicious circle,
And when I was walking along the road
Somebody went to meet me
As if he has been waiting for my step,
And then my tired and hardened heart
Was embraced with a tender and gentle spirit,
And I felt something unearthly,
But at the same time so familiar,
Something that I missed so much.

Corr.: Could you tell us about your own "way home?"
G.A.: For each of us conversion was a special experience. In 1991, after we recorded our first album, we experienced disappointment for the first time. Many musicians have had such a time in their lives: people compliment your music, but nobody needs you as a musician, you have no money, everything is bad, and you feel depressed. In this situation our friends advised us to pray to God who might help. Two of us took it very seriously; Nickolay Skuchenkov who used to be our singer ended up seeing Jesus in his dreams. It seemed to be a turning point - after that our group stopped playing for four years because all of us had different attitudes to faith and life.
In 1994, "Drusjki" recorded a second album, "Stupeni," as a Christian group. By that time all of us had received Christ as our personal Savior.
S.A.: I couldn't find answers to the most important questions in life. I worked with an orchestra, played oboe, was married. Everything seemed to be all right, but only God knew what was happening inside my heart. Nothing made me happy and the question "Why?" stumped me all the time. I rebelled against not only the world, but also against God (or rather against the God that people told me about)... But when he came to me, he revealed himself not as the Almighty One, though he is Almighty. First of all I got to know God the Comforter who deeply understands and loves me.
A.Zh.: I considered myself a believer, and when I heard about a Christian band looking for a drummer I realized that it was my chance not to get lost as a musician. I was always looking for real and live fellowship with people who believe in God with sincerity of heart. I don't regret that I made this decision.

Corr.: It seems to me that music means something more to you than just a rythm, harmony, and style.
A. Zh.: I want the music that we play to have a creative source, to give hope.
G.A.: We are worried by the drug problems in our cities and in other places too. There is a real war. Drugs have come to schools and colleges. We want to tell kids what is hiding under the mask of this "innocent pleasure." In this case music is a means to bring to kids the eternal truth of God and love.

Corr.: Is Christian music topical these days?
G.A.: Today Christian music is listened to mostly by Christians. And it is not because it is not competitive. Many American hymns are translated and sung here, but they are either sung in just one church or have no roots in our culture. We want to go beyond the church framework and bring the Gospel to those who need it, to the world.

IT IS WRITTEN
It is written somewhere how the earth was being built,
It is written somewhere how the clouds were being hung,
It is written somewhere that there was a big flood,
But fortunately I wasn't there,
For there I couldn't be.

Refrain: Ye-ye, it is written somewhere (3 times)

It is written somewhere that there is a time for everything,
It is written somewhere that we live only once,
It is written somewhere that there was a king and there was a slave,
But all had one destiny, and nothing you can do about it.

Refrain
It is written somewhere, "there is a time to search,"
It is written somewhere, "there is a time to lose,"
It is written somewhere, and you can learn,
But I was too young, and couldn't understand it.

Refrain
It is written somewhere about ears and eyes
It is written somewhere (no, that's in chapter four!)
It is written somewhere about a great love,
But there are no words in the world
That can explain it.

Refrain
It is written somewhere that there is a wonderful land,
It is written somewhere that heaven waits for us,
It is written somewhere about hell and paradise,
But you better find that book and read it yourself!

Corr.: What is a "non-standard?"
G.A.: The Lord himself is a "non-standard!" I haven't seen two identical sundowns or two identical clouds in my life. He is the most perfect and supernatural poet, artist, and designer.
S.A.: Our group is nauseated by standard and "unchangeable" things. When a man stops trying to achieve something, he dies. Perhaps everything always stays the same gray and monotonous only in hell. It is amazing that yesterday, today and tomorrow Jesus is the same, and at the same time he keeps surprising us.

Corr.: How do you write your songs?
S.A.: We try not to think that we may be misunderstood. We think how to share and reflect God's love in our music and lyrics.
G.A.: When I write songs in the Spirit I may cry, and this means that it is sincere. I don't like lies and exaggeration.

Corr.: What is maturity?
G.A.: Maturity is an embodiment of the gift that you serve people with. Once you dedicate yourself to something, you forever stay faithful to your dedication. Our music has its place in the world: we go to people and share their pain and joy.

Corr.: Where do "Drusjki" perform?
G.A.: We travel a lot, have tours in different cities. Sometimes we are invited by Christians of very different denominations that seem to have lost any hope of working together. And sometimes the things that separate us are so small! We believe that the future is in unity.

Corr.: Who else do you do in St. Petersburg?
G.A.: We cooperate with Matevosyan's center for rehabilitation of drug addicts and with missions that distribute humanitarian aid to different regions, including Muslim countries. We are planning evangelism concerts in prisons and in educational institutions.
S.A.: There is Mission "Tvorchestvo" ("Creativity") in St. Petersburg. We will try to help artists who have dedicated themselves to God to find a way to share their work through exhibitions, concerts, and other actions. We will try to share our experience with those who have started walking along this road.

LOVE
Blessed is the way
That breathes with eternal motion,
Blessed is the way
That brings peace and patience.
The one who saw the horror of war
Will certainly tell you:
Blessed is the moment
When there is life and salvation.

Blessed is the land,
And so are roses in artist's fields
Blessed is "I love,"
Smiles and first tears.
Blessed is "Forgive me,
I repent in my eternal mistakes."
Blessed is "Look,
We are not forgotten on earth!"
Blessed are friends
Who bring you the truth,
Blessed be our enemies,
Let God judge their laurels.
There are many words in the world,
But the highest that I know -
Blessed is love,
It is waiting for us and saves us,
Saves us, saves us.

Love is a temple in you,
Love is God in you,
Love is a peace in you,
Love is salvation for you,

Love is bread and wine,
Love is what you've been
Dreaming about for a long time,
Love will wash your feet
In the name of love.

Love is a temple in you...

On tours and missionary trips to places of ethnic conflict we saw fresh graves of very young men and heard their mothers crying. Let us pray that there will be no war, no sorrow, no new Chechen war. The Lord can hear even the smallest and simplest prayer if it goes right from your heart. Holiness and righteousness mean nothing without love.