Interviews

Iryna Yashchuk, a Ukrainian writer and poet, is the author of the bilingual poetry collection The House of Puzzles, written in Ukrainian and Italian. She believes that the emotional impact of a poem can vary depending on the language in which it is read. One of the key themes she aims to explore in literature is illness. Her upcoming book will be based on her personal experience of battling and living with a disease. Beyond her literary work, Iryna has been a copywriter since 2014, creating content for various companies. Iryna shared insights with Drive Music Media on how she balances copywriting with her writing career, her poetry collection The House of Puzzles, and her new book project.

BLIND8 is a Ukrainian metal band founded in 2021 by Kyiv-based musicians Roman Liashchenko, Kyrylo Ozerov, Viktor Bartsikhovsky, and Ihor Liashchenko. Their main mission now is to spread awareness about Ukraine, especially abroad. In 2024, the band released the song "Labyrinth" in collaboration with the Dutch band "Within Temptation" and joined them on their BLEED OUT 2024 TOUR. Currently, two of the band members are combining military service with their music careers, using their platform to raise funds in support of Ukraine. Despite the challenges posed by russia’s war against Ukraine, the musicians continue to create new music and perform live. On February 22, Blind8 held their first solo concert in Kyiv after returning from the Within Temptation tour, where they also organized an auction and collected donations. The band shared with Drive Music Media their experience of preparing for the February concert, their time on tour, and the deeper meaning behind their music.

Anastasiia Liubas is a Ukrainian artist and the founder of the brand "Liubas Brend" whose debut exhibition, "Life. Love. Death", was held when she was just 16 years old. Her ink paintings depict the events unfolding in Ukraine during russia's full-scale invasion. Each of her works is meticulously thought out because, for her, the most important aspect is the meaning she conveys through them. Anastasiia shared with Drive Music Media the consequences she has faced due to the war, her debut exhibition "Life. Love. Death", and how she portrays russia’s war crimes on Ukrainian soil.

Alina Araslanova is a Ukrainian fine art photographer who focuses on important social issues in her work, such as coming of age, loss, and many others. On February 27, her exhibition "Paper Shelter" opened in Vienna Lik Gallery and will run until March 17. The exhibition is dedicated to the theme of children growing up in the context of forced migration caused by russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. Alina shared with Drive Music Media her journey in photography, the "Paper Shelter" project, and the experience of opening her exhibition in Vienna.

Eugen Sedkó is a Ukrainian composer and musician in the flamenco genre, as well as a laureate of the "Spanish Melodies" and "CompoGuitar" composition competitions, is certain that his musical journey began long before he picked up a guitar, as fully formed compositions were already playing in his head. Now, he is working on new guitar and mandolin arrangements and continues to organize his own concerts in Kyiv. Eugen shared his thoughts with Drive Music Media on the beginning of his musical path, continuing his career during russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, and the process of composing music.

Anna Burban – Ukrainian writer and poet, author of the novel Frenzied, who interviews female writers and poets as part of her project "A Woman in the World of Words". A significant part of her creative work is her cultural charitable foundation "Kolomyia – Our City", through which she launched a writing mastery course open to anyone interested. Anna shared with Drive Music Media her journey as a writer, the unity of women, and her project "The Place Where I Am".

Olesya Hudyma is a Ukrainian artist specializing in the impasto technique. Her works have been showcased in 39 exhibitions worldwide, 23 of which were solo shows. She believes that art should not be confined by technical rules – it must be free. Through her paintings, she promotes Ukrainian culture, as the imagery in her works is always intertwined with the history of Ukraine. One of her paintings, "The Bride", was featured on a postage stamp by Ukrposhta. After the russian invasion of Ukraine in 2014, she created a series of paintings titled "Angels of Peace", dedicated to Ukraine. Since then, Ukrainian themes have become the central focus of her art. In this interview, Olesya shares insights with Drive Music Media about her artistic journey, exhibitions around the world, and upcoming projects.

Anastasia Drozd is a Ukrainian singer-songwriter and vocalist of the Ukrainian-German band "A.DROZD", who firmly believes she is building her music career against all odds. Before deciding to form her own band, Anastasia led her own music school and taught jazz and pop vocals at Mykolaiv Music College and later at Kyiv Academy of Hryhory. At the start of the full-scale war by russia against Ukraine, Anastasia moved to Germany, where she experienced a long period of despair. A pivotal moment in her career was her decision to enroll at Popakademie Baden-Württemberg, where she met the future members of her band: Lilo, Jonathan Michelmann, Jayne, and Emanuel Abanto. On March 6, the band "A.DROZD" will release their album titled "Neurotrans". Anastasia shared with Drive Music Media her musical journey, the release of the Neurotrans album, and her new career in Germany.

MARIÈLLE – a Ukrainian singer-songwriter who sees songwriting as a form of self-therapy. In February 2025, she released her second solo song, Lock on the Heart, where she desperately poured out her pain. MARIÈLLE shared with Drive Music Media her thoughts on the beginning of her musical journey, her new release Lock on the Heart, and building a career amidst russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.

TĒMNA RÁDIST is the project of Ukrainian musician-composer Viktoriia Kliuchnyk in the electronic music genre, with two of her compositions included in the annual charity compilation "24.2.25" as part of the "OCHI" label. One of her tracks, "On That City by the Sea", dedicated to the Hero City of Mariupol, became the musician’s first attempt to return to music creation. TĒMNA RÁDIST shared with Drive Music Media about her journey into the world of electronic music, the "24.2.25" compilation, and the challenges of building a career amid russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.