Elena and Yulia together

Their first single was released in 2000, entitled Ya Soshla S Uma ("I've Lost My Mind"). The song describes the turmoil in a girl's soul because she is in love with another girl, but is afraid to as she has the society frowning upon her and asks her parents for forgiveness. Elena Kiper has been credited with the song, and has nude TATU said that the idea came to her when she fell asleep at her dentist's office, and had a dream in which she kissed another woman. She woke up with the words: "Ya soshla s uma." Ivan added the 2nd phrase of the chorus "Mne nuzha Ona" ("I need her") Ivan Shapovalov decided to direct a music video for the song, where Yulia and Lena dressed up in school uniforms, while singing the song and kissing. MTV Russia aired the video in November 2000. It went on to win the People's Choice at the MTV Russian Music Awards. Kiper and t.A.T.u have stated that the video (and the group's image) was influenced by the 1998 Swedish film Fucking Åmål.

When t.A.T.u. was first formed by Shapovalov, the group's production company Neformat was born, with Shapovalov and Renski at the head. In 2004, the company photos lene alexandra was dissolved when t.A.T.u. left Shapovalov.

t.A.T.u. released their second English album on October 5, 2005 titled Dangerous and Moving. Its Russian counterpart was released on October 19, titled alexandra nedel Lyudi Invalidy.