Tatu

Capturing the hearts of people worldwide, tATu, composed of Yulia "Julia" Olegovna Volkova and Elena "Lena" Sergeevna Katina, is one of the most well-known Russian duo in the music scene. The group was the brainchild of Moscow by Ivan Shapovalov way back in 1999.

Most of tATu's earlier success is attributed to the duo's lesbian image. The truth behind the two's sexual preference was explained in their December 2003 documentary, Anatomy of tATu. It was said to be just Tatu's packaging and a form of marketing strategy, nothing more. In 2001, tATu's first album, 200 Po Vstrechnoy (200 km/hr In The Wrong), became a hit in Russia and was the first one in the country to reach gold status in the international music scene. Due to this, the duo released an English version of their album which had garnered an IFPI Platinum Europe Award.

Three years after releasing their album 200 Po Vstrechnoy, the duo went into hiatus after parting ways with their producer Shapovalov, with Yulia claiming that Shapovalov is more preoccupied with dreaming up scandals that Tatu would be involved in, instead of thinking about the group's artistic growth. In 2005, the duo bounced back and released the albums "Dangerous and Moving" and "Lyudi Invalidy."