ANNA ARDEN: My Mission a To Make Ukrainian Music Popular Around The World

Anna Arden is a Ukrainian singer and songwriter whose goal is to make Ukrainian music recognizable around the world. She is a two-time winner of the international project Golden Time Talent and is currently actively working on new music. In our conversation, Anna opened up about the beginning of her creative journey, the differences between the music scenes in Austria and Ukraine, and her personal mission as an artist.

Interviewer: Tell us how your musical journey began. Why did you choose this field?

Anna: I've been in music since the age of 5. I was enrolled in a music school, in the piano department, although I don’t remember a time when I didn’t sing. My mom used to say I even sang in my sleep. At 12, I joined the National Radio Company of Ukraine’s Big Children’s Choir, where I immediately became part of the concert team and later became a soloist. I’m extremely grateful to the artistic directors and conductors of that choir for their support and invaluable influence on young hearts. There were many concerts, studio recordings, TV appearances, and tours across Europe. I never had doubts about what I wanted to study after school, so I entered the Institute of Arts and completed a Master’s degree in vocal performance.

Inreviewer: You participated in Golden Time Talent twice. Tell us about your first and second experiences. How were they different? What was the preparation process like?

Anna: I truly believe that opportunities come when you least expect them and always at the right time. I stumbled upon an ad for Golden Time Talent on Instagram and decided to give it a shot for the first time two years ago. It began with an online round that was fairly simple — just submit a song and wait for the results. Then they announced that I was among the laureates and invited me to the second round — the festival in London, a city I had always dreamed of visiting, the world capital of music.

As a child, I was obsessed with London and even once dreamed of studying there. Things turned out differently, but I had bought a Big Ben ornament for my Christmas tree and hung it every year, hoping that one day my dream would come true. And it did.

The competition went wonderfully. I took second place as a singer-songwriter of my original music. The jury even expressed admiration for my visual concepts — I’ve always loved playing different roles, dressing up, performing. Before the war, I worked in an opera studio choir in a Kyiv theater, so it came naturally to me.

Two years later, I decided to try again, made it to the second round once more, and again took second place in the same category. It was an incredible experience. I met fascinating people, reconnected with old friends — it felt like home. The atmosphere was so warm, I didn’t feel any competition or distance. I formed real friendships with other contestants and we truly supported one another.

Interviewer: What was your first song about?

Anna: My first song, “Mystical Love,” was born — as with many artists — during a time of heartbreak. But it wasn’t about pain. It was about feelings that couldn’t be preserved, but which I immortalized in memory with a happy ending. The way I wished it had turned out in real life.

I love imagining scenarios, especially before sleep — creating full plots of how life could have gone “if only.” So, many of my love songs live in a parallel world where everything ends differently.

Interviewer: Which of your songs holds the most special meaning for you, and why?

Anna: My second song, “Star Warriors,” is especially meaningful to me. I wrote it when I was just 10 years old, inspired by heroic cartoons. My friends and I would sing it while playing outside. Fifteen years later, I thought: why not? Why not rework that childhood song and release it? Especially after seeing the kind of feedback it got.

Sadly, the world has changed since we were kids, and now this song is not just about fantasy heroes but also about our real-life defenders, warriors, and heroes — a symbol of the resilient Ukrainian people who won’t break under the pressure of invading darkness.

Interviewer: What challenges have you faced continuing your career abroad? What advice would you give to those just starting?

Anna: I moved to Austria in 2022, like many other Ukrainians forced to leave due to the full-scale invasion by russia. At first, I couldn’t pull myself together after everything we had endured. But eventually, I realized I needed music to heal, so I decided to join a choir.

What surprised me was how many choirs in Austria are amateur — people join them purely for joy. Even professional musicians say it’s hard to find steady work in the field, despite Austria being a country of music, home to greats like Mozart and Haydn.

I sent out many applications to different theaters, and most of the time received no reply. But I didn’t lose hope.

I’ve since performed solo Masses at the church where Haydn once worked in Eisenstadt. I was invited to sing in the Musicalstars in Steinbruch show choir. After numerous auditions, I became a chorister in both the chamber and main choirs of Vienna’s Augustinian Church — one of the country’s key cathedrals, where Austrian emperors were once married.

And I’m still building my path, brick by brick.

My advice: never give up, even when you feel like you’ve hit a wall. Keep looking, and build friendships in the industry.

Interviewer: What projects are you working on now?

Anna: I’m currently writing a new song. During the first stage of the full-scale war, I had no strength or inspiration — my inner voice was buried under fear and anxiety. But now it has something to say, and I can’t keep it quiet any longer.

I’m also looking for musicians to perform with — to do street gigs and jam sessions, not only singing popular covers but promoting Ukrainian culture.

Interviewer: Is there a song you’ve written that will never see the light of day? What’s the story behind it?

Anna: Not that it will never see the light — more like not anytime soon, or it will need heavy reworking. I’m a huge fan of Eurovision and have been ever since Ukraine’s first win in 2004 with Ruslana. That’s when the dream was born — to one day represent Ukraine.I know I’m not there yet, but the song already lives in my head. It’s a fantasy love ballad. I’ve even imagined the staging, the costumes, the decorations — I used to direct musical performances for kids and teenagers, adapting shows like Notre-Dame de Paris, Mozart Rock Opera, Romeo and Juliet, and more — and performed in them myself. Whether this dream comes true remains to be seen, but as per the rules, the song can’t be released early. So it will wait… if it’s meant to be Ukraine’s next Eurovision song.

Interviewer: What differences in the development of the music industry abroad have you noticed? How does it compare to Ukraine?

Anna: One thing I’ve noticed is that Austrians study music theory from a young age, and nearly everyone knows how to play at least one instrument. The music scene here is mostly project-based, so there’s not much long-term stability. However, there are more opportunities to join music projects even without formal training — if you have basic skills and talent.

Interviewer: What is your mission as a Ukrainian singer? Why this mission?

Anna: My mission is to make Ukrainian music popular around the world — to show that our country is full of melody and soul. Beyond classical and folk songs, there is also a world of modern, high-quality music by Ukrainian artists — music that truly deserves a Grammy.

Interviewer: What word best describes your musical journey? Why that word?

Anna: Hope. It’s the hope that people will love my songs, that they will resonate deep in the soul and pulse in their hearts — that hope is what pushed me forward even when I had no more strength to go on.

Pictures were provided by Anna Arden