Indeed, in a world of prefabricated and stridently scripted entertainers, these girls know who they are and do exactly what they want. Through their music and live performances, t.A.T.u. present themselves as they genuinely are- artistically, intellectually, and sexually progressive young women in control of their careers and open to all that life has to offer. When speaking with Julia and Lena, their personal and artistic truths are commendably clear (if not a bit intimidating)-- t.A.T.u. are afraid of no one, they share an enormous passion for singing and performance, and perhaps most admirable of all- the only people they feel responsible to are their t.A.T.u. fans. Beyond that, they don't care about expectations or inhibitions.

"Sometimes we have been asked to do things that have been uncomfortable," Lena recounts, "but for us, ultimately, t.A.T.u. is our project. I think that we have to do it in a way that is conducive to us, that we are comfortable with. If we're going to do things just because other people are telling us to, then we're just going to get lost. We have an instinct about what to do, and how to sing, and I think that usually when people are told what to do, it doesn't happen necessarily in a good way."

Adds Julia, "So we stay natural, just how we are."

Yes, these best friends and musical partners are in lock-step solidarity with one another, which is exactly what the new album Dangerous and Moving is all about. Crafted with the help of various producers, Dangerous and Moving features collaborations and guest appearances from a handful of the pop world's most legendary performers. Indeed, so estimable is t.A.T.u.'s pop-cultural cache, than no less an artist than Sting plays bass on the Dave Stewart (The Eurythmics) co-penned track "Friend or Foe."

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JULIA'S BIO
Julia Volkova was born in the family of a successful businessman in Moscow on February 20th, 1985. At the age of 7, parallel to the ordinary school, Julia entered a music school, piano class. When she was 9, Julia became a member of the famous children vocal and instrumental group "Neposedy" (Naughty Children). At the casting Julia sang Russian folk song "Oy, to ne vecher". In a year, Lena Katina became a member of "Neposedy" as well, and soon Julia and Lena became best friends. When she was 11, Julia switched the ordinary school where she studied for the school fostering artistic talents. Three years later she leaves "Neposedy" to pass the casting and join musical project Tatu in which Lena Katina had already been in. At the age of 15, Julia enters vocal department of Gnessin's State Musical College and simultaneously becomes famous as a soloist of Tatu duo. In 2004 she had a baby. Now she is 20.