Andrey Batt – I Have Always Wanted to Do Something for a Large Number of People to See (Actor, Hip-Hop Artist, Producer with 2.7 million+ followers)

Andrey Batt


Andrey Batt is a Russian actor, hip-hop artist, songwriter, director and producer. He was born on August 6, 1985 in Tallinn, Estonia. Starting at the third grade, Andrey started acting in school plays. Now, for over a decade he has been involved in the entertainment industry, acting, releasing music and producing his own show «The Artist’s Adventures»


Andrey Batt


1. Tell us about your background and journey.

I was born in Tallinn, but after couple of years, my parents divorced and my mother and I moved to Moscow, Russia. My family was not rich. My grandmother and grandfather helped my mother to raise me. When I went to school, my hobbies were sports and acting. 

Since the third grade I began to participate in school theatrical performances, and since the fifth grade I started playing basketball. At that time, I wanted to become a professional basketball player. I spent lot of time on the streets and in the gyms, practicing my skills. Around the same time, I became interested in Hip-Hop culture - Music, Graffiti, Breakdancing. 

I started to make beats in the simplest computer programs. After school graduation, my mother wanted me to get a more serious education and I went to a financial university. However, while studying there, I realized that all this is not interesting to me at all, this is not what I like and this is not my way. I graduated from university, but did not work by my specialty for a day. 

Even in my fifth year of studying, I started going to the auditions. My first acting jobs were shooting in commercials, and small episodes in TV-shows. Over time, I got an agent and started getting the first roles. Later I met an international agent and moved to Los Angeles. I filmed in several American TV- shows and movies. 

After that I returned to Moscow and started my Music career. I have released several successful singles. I continue to combine all these activities to this day. I didn't even forget about basketball. I cooperate with the RBF (Russian Basketball Federation) and develop basketball in Russia.


2. What inspired you to pursue a career in the entertainment industry?

I have always wanted to do something for a large number of people to see. I always loved cinema, and I imagined that someday I would be on the other side of the screen. I have always loved music, and I wanted to do music since I was in a high school. 

I think I can not give any certain answer to this question, but the entertainment industry is what I really like to be in, and it doesn't matter it is an acting, music or directing. I just love it. I love to give emotions to people. I love being an artist!


3. How would you describe the music that you typically create?

When I write music, I go by my feelings and emotions. I have love songs that I wrote under the certain emotions. I have song about my favorite city that I wrote while walking the streets. All creativity comes from any kind of emotions. I don't really like new school hip-hop, which is based only on money, chicks, cars and luxury. 

Yes, I understand that this is a part of the culture, but it is not very close to me. I don't talk about it in my tracks. Nevertheless, I understand that it is necessary to make contemporary music, and not staying in the underground. At the moment I have taken a short break from my musical activity, but soon I plan to return with new material.


Andrey Batt


4. How do you choose your script or role?

I just read the script and if I like it, so I'm in. To be honest, I have also always find out who is the director and what he filmed before. Probably that's all.


5. Which is your most memorable role, and what are your future goals?

I think my most memorable role is the role of a warrior in the Japanese film «Fighting Spirit». This is a low-budget movie, the fate of which is still unknown to me, but the filming itself was exciting. The shooting in «The Walking Dead» was also memorable. 

It is an unforgettable experience. My future goal is to film a Russian superhero movie. My country have no superhero characters history like in America so it's a very hard project to start, but I still believe in it. Someday I'll do it!


6. If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?

Here I am going to talk about the music industry. As I said earlier, I don’t really like new school rap, with it’s values, especially it is felt in Russia. Young rappers sings uttermost nonsense, and at the same time have millions of steams and views. I would like artists to set the right example for a young audience.


7. Which artist has inspired you the most and why?

There are many of those. If we talk about cinema, so this is definitely Robert Downey Jr. Despite the difficult period in his life, and practically crush of career, he managed to rise and become one of the most recognizable and highest paid actors in the world. It is worthy of respect. I can also highlight Sylvester Stallone. 

He is a person who really wanted to work in cinema. He wrote the script of Rocky, but agreed to sell it only if he could play the main role. In the future, he began to direct his own films. Thus, he will never be left without work as an actor, because now he can hire himself for his own production movie. It is worth learning from him. 

If we talk about music, I like the way of P. Diddy and Jay-Z. These artists managed to build an empire out of their musical careers, creating many related and branched businesses. This is the case when the name of the artist starts working for him far beyond his main activity. The artist become a brand. This is very worthy!


8. Which is your favorite book and why?

To be honest, I hardly have time to read fiction. I prefer specialized editions. Books and materials from which I can get something for my own development. Issues that will make me better in my profession. 

Nevertheless, I can recommend one book – Shoe Dog by Phil Knight, the founder and chairman of Nike. This is the biographical narrative about how it's all started and how it's going. Very interesting!


9. What message and advice would you give to aspiring actors and musicians?

Acting is a very thankless job. At least in the very beginning. You will be denied after a lot of auditions. Remember - this is normal. If you were not chosen for the role, this does not mean that you are a bad actor, it means that the director simply needed another person for that character. 

As for the music, here you need to keep up with the times. Always monitor the market, and understand where it is going. Make a good quality product and don't forget about marketing. To sum up all of the above, the main advice is not to give up and never stop. Good luck!


Andrey Batt







Interviewed By - Prashansa Maurya