Description：t.A.T.u. (Russian: Тату́ pronounced [tɐˈtu] ( listen), transliterated as “tattoo”) is a pop duo formed in Moscow, Russia in 1999 by Ivan Shapovalov. The group consists of Lena Katina and Yulia Volkova. Known worldwide, they are the most successful Russian band to date.

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Origin  Russia Moscow, Russia
Genres  Pop, Dance, Electronica, Rock
Years active  1999– present (on hiatus)
Labels  Neformat 2000 - 2004
Universal 2001–2006
Interscope 2002–2006
T.A. Music 2005 – present
Soyuz Music 2008
Misteriya Zvuka 2009
Coqueiro Verde Record 2009
Pelo Music 2010
Associated acts  Neposedi
Website  www.tatu.ru

1999–2000: Formation of t.A.T.u.

Ivan Shapovalov and his friend/ business partner Alexander Voitinskyi developed plans to create a musical project in Russia. With this idea in mind, Shapovalov and Voitinskyi organized auditions in Moscow in early 1999 for teenage female vocalists. By the end of auditioning, the partners narrowed their search down to ten girls, including ex-members of the group Neposedi, Lena Katina and Yulia Volkova. Both girls stood out among the others, especially because of their appearance and vocal experience, but the producers decided to start with 14 year-old Katina, who sang "It Must Have Been Love" by Roxette. Katina began recording demos, including "Yugoslavia", a song about NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. After the demos were cut, Shapovalov insisted that another girl be added to the project. Thus, in late 1999, 14 year old Volkova was added to the group.

After completing the duo, the producers decided on the name "Тату" (Tatu). It refers to a shortened version of the Russian "Ta lyubit Tu", meaning "She loves her". For the release of their first English-language album, they decided to go by t.A.T.u., using upper case letters and periods to differentiate between an already existing Australian band also named "Tatu."

Over the next year, Katina and Volkova recorded songs with their producers. At some point, Voitinskyi left the project, and Shapovalov decided to sign Elena Kiper as co-producer and co-writer for their debut album.
[edit] 2000–2003: 200 Po Vstrechnoy/ 200 km/h In The Wrong Lane

Their debut single "Ya Soshla S Uma", Russian version of "All The Things She Said", was released in December 2000. It became a huge hit in Russia and Eastern Europe. In early 2001, Shapovalov signed a recording contract with Universal Music to release t.A.T.u.'s debut album 200 Po Vstrechnoy. The album was released in May of that year and became platinum in Europe and multi-platinum in Russia. In late 2002, they released 200 km/h in the Wrong Lane, the English version of 200 Po Vstrechnoy. It achieved worldwide success and has been certified platinum in Europe, diamond in Japan, gold in the United Kingdom and the United States. The album's lead single "All The Things She Said" spent four consecutive weeks at the number 1 spot in the UK Singles Chart, and topped the charts internationally. In May 2003, they represented Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Riga, Latvia with "Ne Ver', Ne Boysia", where they placed third. In 2004, the group took a hiatus after they split from their producer, Ivan Shapovalov, during the Podnebesnaya show. In October 2005, they released Dangerous and Moving and its Russian counterpart Lyudi Invalidy, which became platinum in Russia. In late 2006, girls released their Best Of, and then ventured on their own after negotiating out of their contract with Universal Music. The third Russian studio album, Vesyolye Ulybki, was released in October 2008 in Russia, and its English counterpart, Waste Management, in December 2009 digitally around the world. Currently the band is on a hiatus again while Yulia and Lena pursue their solo careers.