Interviews

Maria Shyshak is a Ukrainian singer in the alternative rock genre who has decided to continue her career through her new musical project, ENAVE. Despite her academic background in music, Maria chose to step beyond its confines, showcasing different facets of her personality by experimenting with various genres. This fall, the singer released a new single, "Broken Promises", which became a kind of manifesto for her. Maria shared her journey, from starting out as part of the band Endless Times to creating her own musical project ENAVE, as well as her recent releases, with Drive Music Media.

Olena Tereshchenko, a Ukrainian writer and author of Mages Love Too, believes that rejection from publishers should not discourage new authors from pursuing their craft, nor does it mean that the manuscript is flawed. Despite a pause in writing due to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, she found the strength to complete her novel, which was published and will soon be followed by the second part of Mages Love Too. Olena shared her journey as a writer, her collaboration with Oleksandr Bilohura, and the continuation of her story with Drive Music Media.

Svitlana Vasylchenko is a Ukrainian writer and the author of the novel Island of Forgotten Easter. She firmly believes that without readers, there is only a book, but no story, as every reader interprets it through the prism of their own emotions. After engaging with readers, new questions about the story arise — ones she had never considered before. When Svitlana sent the manuscript to the publisher, russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine began, and she was uncertain whether her book would ever see the light of day. However, the novel Island of Forgotten Easter was published as part of the A Good Day to Live program by Tempora Publishing, carrying profound symbolism in light of today’s events. In an interview, Svitlana shared insights with Drive Music Media about her novel Island of Forgotten Easter, her new book Lviverpool, and her plans to write a trilogy.

Anna Zakletska is a Ukrainian TV and radio host, known as the voice of Radio "Promin" and the face of many television programs in Ukraine. She has always been passionate about exploring her family heritage and has deeply studied the ethnic culture, symbolism, and traditions of the Ukrainian people. Her love for the legacy of past generations inspired her to create her own ethnic clothing brand, Striy. Through this brand, Anna sought not only to preserve the outward appearance of ethnic attire but also to uncover and convey the meaning behind each individual symbol featured on the fabric. The founder firmly believes that the wisdom of ancestors can serve as a powerful tool, and her mission is to bridge that wisdom with the spirit of contemporary events. Anna shared with Drive Music Media how her grandmother's stories laid the foundation for her brand, how she combines ethnic traditions with modernity, and her personal mission in the fashion industry.

Manita is a young Ukrainian singer building her career in Germany. Despite starting her musical journey while living abroad, she writes and performs her songs in Ukrainian, promoting the language on an international level. Very soon, Manita will release her debut album, which she has been working on with her team. Manita shared her thoughts on the upcoming album, building a career abroad, and the importance of spreading Ukrainian culture with Drive Music Media.

Anastasiia Katolichenko is a Ukrainian photographer who, during the war, realized she wouldn’t put her dreams on hold. She decided to leave the legal field and opened her own photo studio. Her work has been featured in magazines, including projects on socially significant topics like "Anorexia" and "Melancholia", which were published in Canadian and British magazines. Anastasiia shared her journey of pursuing her dream, opening her photo studio, and creating the "Anorexia" photo project with Drive Music Media.

Iryna Sanzharovska is a Ukrainian photographer who, after reaching a managerial position in sales, realized she was losing herself. The desire to be more and to create without limitations reminded her of photography, which had been an important part of her father’s life. Photography became the field that could not confine her within boundaries, so she decided to purchase a photo studio and eventually began pursuing photography herself. Iryna believes that she is not only doing what she loves but also continuing a family tradition in memory of her father. She shared her thoughts with Drive Music Media about carrying on the family legacy, having her photographs published in magazines, and her future plans.

Anna Stadnik is a Ukrainian writer and editor at the BookBanda publishing house, who sees her mission as contributing to the development of modern Ukrainian literature. She feels she cannot afford to do otherwise while so many people are defending Ukraine on the frontlines. This fall, Anna and writer Jan Braz presented two books – “One’s Own Stranger” and “The Penal Group” from the Lifira’s Routers cycle, united under a shared lore. “One’s Own Stranger” was authored by Anna, while “The Penal Group” was written by Jan Braz. The events in both books take place in the same universe but feature different protagonists. Anna shared her thoughts with Drive Music Media about her writing journey, which led her to an editorial position at a Ukrainian publishing house, her own book, and her future plans.

Zoriana Bezodnia is a Ukrainian writer and the author of the fantasy novel The Obsidian Dagger, who believes that words are a living code capable of influencing people when they are heard, spoken, or read. Fascinated by the power of words, she decided to pursue a degree in philology at university. Her writing journey began with the birth of her younger sister, for whom Zoriana created fairy tales. At just 14 years old, she began working on her book The Obsidian Dagger, the first edition of which was published last fall. This autumn, she plans to release another edition of her book. Zoriana shared with Drive Music Media her experiences of studying philology, writing fairy tales for her sister, and creating her first book.

Uliana Dadak is a Ukrainian writer who, despite holding two degrees in ecology and tailoring, stayed true to her childhood dream and embarked on a new path in writing – a passion she has nurtured since youth. Her debut book, Beyond Reality, is set to be published soon. Despite early rejections from publishers, she never stopped writing. Uliana shared with Drive Music Media insights about her fantasy worlds, the writing process, the importance of connecting with readers, and her plans for her next book.