Ukrainian singer Manita: I want to promote our culture and language, which are modern and vibrant, among Germans

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.

Interviewer: Manita. Share the story of your stage name.

Manita: My full name is Margarita. As a child, I had a crush on a boy who couldn’t pronounce "Margarita", so he affectionately called me Manita. When it was time to choose a stage name, that name immediately came to mind.

Interviewer: Why music? What drew you to this field?

Manita: Music has interested me since childhood. For me, it’s everything: sadness, joy, love, passion. It’s all about music.

Interviewer: After the start of the full-scale war by russia against Ukraine, you migrated to Germany and began building your music career. Tell us about your first performance for a foreign audience – what were your feelings?

Manita: In May 2022, my father came to me and said that Ukrainian performers were needed in the West. At first, it was difficult because I saw it as a hobby. But now, I feel confident on stage, and I receive wonderful feedback.

Interviewer: You are currently planning to release your first album. Tell us about the process: what is it like working on it? When is the release planned?

Manita: I am currently working on my first album, and it’s a very interesting process. All the melodies and lyrics are written, but arranging and recording vocals take a lot of energy and time. I try to make everything perfect, paying attention to even the smallest details of the sound.

The first song for the album is called "Forgotten". It’s about my former jazz pianist. At that time, I was going through a very deep depression because our relationship was unhealthy. His attitude toward me was bad, but I loved him so much, and he meant everything to me. This song is about the confusion of my feelings, wanting to return to the past, but realizing that it was painful. I wrote it to tell myself, "Margo, forget". I repeated that to myself for hours, but I remembered every day we spent together. This story became an unresolved gestalt that left a deep mark.

Interviewer: You mentioned that a music video could be released with the first song. Tell us about the process of creating the music video. What ideas do you want to implement in it?

Manita: Regarding the music video: the team has already been formed, and the script has been written. I think filming will begin very soon. I also plan to make a video for the second song.

Interviewer: Tell us about the meanings you put into your songs. What inspires you?

Manita: Throughout my life, I’ve been in many different situations and felt a wide range of emotions, which has given me a lot of life experience. Most of my songs are about love, sincerity, passion, and understanding myself through those feelings.

Interviewer: Tell us about your team – do you create music on your own or do you have a band?

Manita: Regarding my team, this is also very interesting. For arrangements, I have a close friend who is a professional in the music field and also plays with me at various events. I have a wonderful manager who helps me both in my music career and personal life. My vocal teacher not only helps me with technique but is also a wonderful person. As for concerts, recently I have been performing with live music. I have a permanent pianist, and other musicians are unique and bring the sounds needed to convey the emotions each song requires.

Interviewer: How difficult is it to build your career abroad? What challenges do you face in your work?

Manita: My full creative development started in Germany. In Ukraine, I sang at school and private concerts. In two years in Germany, I have already had about 50 concerts. This is the result of my hard work and the help of my wonderful manager.

Interviewer: What direction do you plan to move in – towards foreign or Ukrainian audiences? Why?

Manita: My audience is currently very diverse: both Germans and Ukrainians. At this stage, I write songs in Ukrainian and work for the Ukrainian listener. Among Germans, I want to promote our culture and language, which is modern and vibrant.

Interviewer: What is your mission as a musician?

Manita: All my music is created through the lens of love, sincerity, and deep reflection. I would describe it as the feeling of relief and light after a heavy breath.

Pictures were taken by JoDariia Zaharchenko, Valentyn Karminskiy and Johann Wittenburg