Interviews

Max Hechtman is an award-winning, New York–based American director whose journey in film began with a simple thought — “I can do better” — after watching his brother’s school photo montage. Since then, he has gone on to create compelling dramatic films like Abigail, I Am Here, and Remembering Isabelle. Max opened up with Drive Music Media about how it all started, how he chooses actors for his films, the meaningful moments behind each story, and what new projects he’s working on now.

Mikola Borovskiy is a Ukrainian fashion photographer who draws inspiration from the depths of the human soul. He loves to reveal people in a new light, creating a fresh space where they can rediscover themselves. A turning point in his career came when he stopped photographing only himself — as he initially started with creative self-portraits. In our conversation, Mikola shared with Drive Music Media the story of how his artistic journey began, what he would never photograph, and details about his upcoming photo project.

Ellis Murr is a Ukrainian author and psychologist, and the writer behind the book "Ginger and the Predators Around Her", which aims to shed light on the topic of abuse, drawing from experience of her clients. The book doesn't rely on strict psychotherapeutic diagnoses — instead, it uses metaphorical storytelling that makes complex psychological dynamics accessible even to readers without a specialized background. With years of experience in psychology, Ellis has encountered countless cases of abuse, which inspired her to explore and expose this subject in her writing. She opened up with Drive Music Media about the beginning of her creative path and the story behind "Ginger and the Predators Around Her."

REYNARUM is a Ukrainian composer who trusts his own feelings and creates music, beginning his journey by experimenting with layers and textures that resonated in his heart. His first serious work was an eco-lounge album dedicated to certain objects of the solar system. This year, REYNARUM joined the creation of the compilation "24.2.25," made for the anniversary of russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. Two of his tracks were included in the compilation. REYNARUM shared with us about the beginning of his musical path, his participation in the charity compilation from the label "OCHI," and his personal mission in music.

Oles Stepanov is a Ukrainian composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist known for his three music projects, including MY EX I and a new, yet-to-be-revealed project. He works in the genre of electronic-orchestral music, where piano lines and guitar riffs form the foundation of his sound. The artist has released three albums to date, including a standout EP titled Challenge, born out of a friendly competition with a fellow musician — the idea was to create a 5-track mini-album in just 5 days. In this interview, Oles opened up with Drive Music Media the story of how his musical journey began, explores his three solo projects, and opens up about his creative process.

Morgendie is a collaborative music project by Ukrainian singer Amelteyaa and composer-songwriter Dmytro Kod (Kozlitin), whose music immerses listeners in the safety of inner worlds — especially in their debut album “Maris.” Recently, the singer took part in a concert at Tepliy Lampovyi, a place Amelteyaa describes as warm and familiar — something that truly feels like home. Morgendie opened up with Drive Music Media about what musicians shouldn’t worry about at their first live show, the creative process behind “Maris”, and how she finds inspiration for new music amid the full-scale russian war against Ukraine.

Mr. Infinitum Bye is an Italian composer and songwriter based in London, working within a groundbreaking genre he pioneered himself — Cosmic-Surrealist Avant-Garde music, earning him the title The Prince of Cosmic-Surrealism. For the artist, it's crucial to create music that breaks the rules — because, as he believes, rules are tools of manipulation, narrowing the potential of what’s truly possible. He recently released a new album titled Catharcism, which merges existential themes with abstract, open-ended lyrics, offering both deeply personal and universally resonant experiences. Mr. Infinitum Bye opens up with Drive Music Meda about the beginning of his musical journey, the vision behind Cosmic-Surrealist Avant-Garde, and the creative process behind Catharcism.

Liana Rain is a Ukrainian poet and the creator of the poetic YouTube channel "Conversations That Never Happened". She is currently working on publishing her debut poetry collection, which includes poems written during the "era of isolation" throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Liana shared insights about loss, her second book dedicated to her mother, Tetiana Pirus, whom she lost a few years ago, and poetry – where not only the words matter, but also the intonation with which you say them.

RANRAWI is a Ukrainian singer-songwriter and a contestant in Ukraine's national selection for Eurovision 2025. Originally from the city of Mariupol, she believes that music should only be released when it truly resonates with your heart. Through her songs, she processes the unresolved experiences of her past and builds entire worlds of her own. Her hometown is currently under occupation, but despite the pain, she holds on to hope and continues to create music. She believes in sharing when you feel you can be of help – when you can bring even a little more light into a world filled with pain. Her single "Anymore" was released after her performance in Ukraine’s National Eurovision Selection 2025. Currently, Ranrawi is working on a new song titled "NAHOM", a name that includes a word that exists only in the universe she’s created. Ranrawi spoke with Drive Music Media about the beginning of her musical journey, her experience in the national selection, and the unique universe she’s building through her art.

Julia Nicole Tomasone is a Canadian actress and singer, based in Toronto, best known for her role as Delilah Watson, the young version of Andie MacDowell, in the popular Hallmark Channel TV series The Way Home. The show revolves around healing oneself and one's family through time travel, with the help of a magical pond. From an early age, Julia developed a love for performance, starting with musical theater. In her view, there is something powerful about telling a story through music. In her acting career, she aims to take on roles that resonate with people and evoke genuine emotion. Each role she has played holds a special significance for her. For a long time, she couldn't watch films she had been part of due to the feeling of being frozen in time — as the camera captures you at a specific moment in your life, and it was hard for her to see the changes. Over time, this passed, and she began to separate her characters from herself, viewing her role in The Way Home as that of a completely different person. Her participation in the show helped her process her own loss and reframe many personal questions. Julia shared her thoughts with Drive Music Media on the importance of each experience, the deeper characterization of Delilah Watson, which resonates with her, and the profound story of The Way Home.