Ukrainian musicians of all genres, from metal to opera, transform their passion for music into devotion to their country in this moving documentary. Beginning on the very first day of the Russian invasion, Soldiers of Song documents how the lives of its cast of Ukrainian musicians have irrevocably changed and how they use their musical talents to support themselves and their communities. Using shocking footage from the frontlines, this film reminds us not only of the ongoing tragedies that continue to happen during this war, but also of the resilience of Ukraine and its cultural forces. Here music functions not only to lift the spirits of the soldiers, but also as a cultural export to raise awareness of the war, a tool for raising humanitarian and military funds, and a valuable cultural artifact for everyday Ukrainians to rally around and protect. The musician’s commitment to their craft reminds us of the real power art has and the impact of beauty under catastrophic circumstances.
‘The Ivasyuk Phenomenon is a documentary video essay that has been created over the past three months. In the video, we will introduce you to Volodymyr Ivasyuk, a young, creative and stylish musician, as well as his songs, which changed the rules of the game in the music scene and still sound great today. And although everyone has heard his ‘Chervona Ruta’, unfortunately, few people are familiar with the rest of his work. About 100 songs and 50 instrumental pieces. We hope that after this hour-long acquaintance, you will add a few new tracks to your playlist and have another example in your heart that Ukrainians are damn cool.
Sviatoslav "Slava" Vakarchuk (Ukrainian: Святослав Іванович Вакарчук; born 14 May 1975) is a Ukrainian musician, politician, public activist and soldier. He is the lead vocalist of Okean Elzy, a rock band in Ukraine. Vakarchuk is a former member of the Ukrainian parliament, and the founder of the Voice (in May 2019). Vakarchuk was active in supporting the Orange Revolution and Euromaidan, and is involved in many social and cultural projects. He is one of the most successful musicians in Ukraine and has a PhD degree in theoretical physics. Vakarchuk is the son of Ivan Vakarchuk, a professor of physics at Lviv University and a former Ukrainian Minister of Education and Science.