Ukrainian singer Ranrawi: I'm a Soul-Driven Project, With Depth And Quality Of My Own

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.

Interviewer: When and how did your musical journey begin? What were your first steps in this field?

Ranrawi: Lately, I’ve been feeling more than ever like my music journey hasn’t even properly started yet. Reviews of the 2025 longlist participants really highlighted that for me. Like, if you don’t have official releases – and preferably regular ones – you’re not really an artist, just… something undefined. But if we count it by songs, here’s how it went. My first song, “I Wish I Had,” came out five years ago. It was basically me living through my own story of complicated relationships with classmates – finally closing that chapter by turning it into a song. A year later came my second track, “Blossiomy” – where I let myself invent a word for the title, added a touch of rock, a little drama, a bit of choir. Side note on the word: it exists now, at least in my universe. 

And this year, “Anymore” was released – and that was largely thanks to the National Selection, Suspilne, and Tina Karol. They saw potential in that song, and I’m deeply grateful–both myself and my small dream team. Now we’re working on a fourth song. I’ve rewritten it more times than I can count, but I really hope it’ll be born and take off this summer. I just want hearts to respond to it. As for singing – I've been doing it since I was little. It wasn’t professional at first, but I had decent pitch, so I started performing in school choirs and then at university. Later, back in Mariupol, I joined a rock band. That’s when I started taking vocal training more seriously. Now I’m slowly learning to play an instrument too. But the biggest boost to my creative activity actually came after the full-scale war broke out in our country. I started performing at charity events, helping raise funds for our defenders… you know what I mean. When you feel like you can help, like you can bring a little light and warmth into this sharp, painful reality – it's important to share it.

Interviewer: Tell us about the song you chose for Eurovision. What messages did you want to share through it, and why did you choose this one?

Ranrawi: This song actually brought me an unexpected “reunion” with some of my old university classmates – they reached out in the comments section. I’m grateful to them for that. For the attention, the life lessons, and for helping me realize so much. Life is a beautiful thing – and such a chance to do deep work on yourself. So much of it.

As for the meaning: this song existed in draft form way before I even considered submitting it to the National Selection – or anywhere, really. It’s about a painful relationship where you’re not being cared for, and instead are constantly told you’re ungrateful for the “good things” that are supposedly being done for you. I drew from stories of friends and my own experiences. A relationship that taught me to finally care for myself, listen to my heart, and follow my own path. The song breaks a lot of rules – missing grammar, odd structures, no rhymes. Some people hated it, said it felt like a desert with no real meaning. Others were deeply moved. And honestly – I’m thankful to each and every one of them. It tells the story of someone consciously deciding to break free from a toxic romance and finally choose themselves. The line “You’ll turn into backpack” really triggered a lot of people – both local and international listeners. So, what did we learn? Art-house style songs like this need to be submitted to massive projects like Eurovision with extra care. You need a clear message, and definitely fewer lyrics than I had. But hey, I know people always learn best from their own mistakes – so I’m not here to preach. Everyone will figure out their own way.

Interviewer: What has the preparation process for Eurovision been like?

Ranrawi: Since you’re asking me – I’ll tell it from my side. It was nerve-wracking but exciting. I started preparing for the audition only about a week before it happened, since I didn’t get the call right away. But once I did, it was full speed ahead.

This was my first time doing anything like this. No media support – just the backing of my friends, my team, and the people close to me. We recorded backing vocals for the track together with my girls – who are also artists (shoutout to Marielle and Pulsesiren!). They also helped me put together an outfit for the big day. And everything had to happen fast. We still had to get to Kyiv, prep the choreography, manage social media, record a video message by the deadline…

I’m especially grateful to my friend in Kyiv who stayed with me the whole audition day – hi Vika, Sasha and Dasha! Without you it would’ve been even more overwhelming. Maybe I over-prepared a little… (pro tip: give yourself time to just be). I was so nervous that for the first time ever in my stage life, I actually apologized on stage for not doing well. I’d lost my focus, doubted myself, my voice – everything. Tina Karol came up to me afterward and gave me a hug. Later, she even sent me a supportive message. It was so kind, so timely – it gave me strength to keep going. Maybe even to try again in 2026? We’ll see. I’ll let the stars decide… or maybe my Tarot cards? ;)

Interviewer: Tell us about the name of your solo project, "Ranrawi". What does it mean, and why did you choose it?

Ranrawi: I’ve always been fascinated by different universes. I love Star Wars, and I’m inspired by artists who build their own conceptual, metaphorical, and layered worlds. Ranrawi is my own planet – a space of self-expression and freedom, where you can show up and write exactly the way you feel.

How did the name come to me? Sometimes an idea just pops into your head – most of them pass by and disappear, and that’s okay, you can’t catch everything. But this one hit me like a current – goosebumps, that strange and pleasant feeling of something close and real. So I grabbed it – like catching a little fish, but instead of a fish, it’s a potentially powerful word. Interestingly, it was also the name of one of my songs – one I hope I’ll finish and share with the world. For the project title, I tweaked the spelling slightly. I also adore Indian cinema – both the classics and newer films. There's so much depth and inspiration there. I love the choreography  it’s both athletic and fluid – and the music. I’d love to experiment with blending a few of my songs in that direction. Why not? That’s what this is all about: creating, experimenting, and exploring.

Interviewer: How difficult has it been to pursue your music career during russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine? What challenges have you faced, and where do you find the strength to keep going?

Ranrawi: Like I said earlier, in a strange way, my music career really started to take shape after the full-scale invasion began. At first, there was just confusion — no plans, nothing concrete. I had actually bought a planner at the beginning of that year, thinking maybe I’d finally try to plan something for once. And then February hit — and everything changed.

I lost my home. Mariupol is under occupation now. I can’t go back to my beloved Azov Sea, or even walk into my grandmother’s house — which has been empty for years now. But I still dream of just sitting in that cherry garden, picturing her on the bench… hugging her. It’s hard to hear “this isn’t the time.” It’s hard to watch your own people turn against each other. And yet, everything that didn’t break us made us stronger. My therapist once told me something amazing after hearing my stories about tough relationships with classmates and family: “But see — you’re turning pain into beauty.” That’s how I live now. I try to process the pain, believe in better things, and carry light inside me – so that I can turn it into something beautiful. Something that warms hearts and helps people breathe a little easier, take that next step.

Interviewer: Is there a song of yours that will never be released? What’s the story or message behind it, and why won’t we hear it?

Ranrawi: Such an unusual question – I’ll try to answer it this way: none of our newer tracks will see the light of day unless we optimize our release process. Over the years, we’ve collected a lot of strong songs, snippets and demos that only close friends have heard so far. I believe in releasing everything that resonates in your heart – even if just to share it with people close to you. I don’t think commercially, but I also don’t position myself as a commercial pop project. I’m a “soul project” – with its own depth and quality. Some of our songs could easily be pitched to top-tier artists. Others I’d love to sing myself because they’re unusual and fresh. But first, we’re focusing on releasing the songs I’ve already performed live – none of which are available on streaming yet. But hey, if reading this made you curious about what I sound like, then maybe you’re one of mine already. A true Ranraver.

Interviewer: Tell us about your first solo concert on February 28. What can your audience expect during your performances?

Ranrawi: That first solo show was in Dnipro, and about 20 people came – some were friends, some total strangers who became new connections. A beautiful experience I’d recommend to every artist. I took it very seriously – put together a 90-minute set with 21 songs: 14 covers and 7 original tracks. It was also a performance where I opened up more as a person and an artist. I covered bands like Muse, Linkin Park, Within Temptation, The Hardkiss, and LAMA – powerful songs that I delivered with both technique and adrenaline. Imagine – your first ever solo show! I was supported by Lilith and the Dnipro Prometey HUB, where the concert took place. Amazing sound and lights – huge thanks to Yevhen, Lilith, Sasha, Dasha and the whole team. It was a wish I’d tucked away for “someday,” and it happened already. A core memory! People sang along, danced, and it all felt like group therapy. The best part? At the end, everyone sang along to my song from Ukraine’s national selection. That energy… I want more of that. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who came out on a Friday night when they could’ve stayed home. That meant the world.

Interviewer: What is your mission as a Ukrainian singer-songwriter? Why this mission in particular?

Ranrawi: I feel that my mission is to inspire and support. To help others feel free enough to express themselves. That’s why I want to give my audience full permission during my future shows to move however they want – to listen to themselves and not be afraid to act. Whether it’s trying their hand at art, just living, dreaming, or doing. I don’t want to be some kind of untouchable icon people worship from afar. I want to create my own universe, and invite anyone who vibes with what I do to step inside and stay awhile. I work beyond traditional boundaries because I don’t like creative limits – whether in genre, text, melodies, or concert visuals. I’m about freedom. And by freedom, I mean internal freedom – where you can hear yourself, trust your own voice, and not just follow someone else’s opinion or unspoken dream. I’m not here to live someone else’s wish for them. I’m here to live mine. And maybe it’ll inspire someone else to live theirs.

Interviewer: If you had to describe your music career with one word, what would it be? Why that one?

Ranrawi: A pleasant creative chaos – with space for both coziness and shamanic fire shows. Kind of like the photos from this interview, taken by my dear Dasha at the Jellyfish Museum in Kyiv. You should go – it’s amazing.

Why chaos, and why such a long answer? Well, if I quickly run through the setup we’d have for a major festival, it’d probably shock people just how many styles and moods we’d cover. Because I wrap people in sound – and that’s about support and expression. And it’s always different. I don’t want to be defined by one thing. I’m like a natural force. Me and my music both. Funny story: after my FemWeek performance this March 8, someone came up to me and said, “Thank you. I just had the first spirit séance of my life.” I mean… Come on, how cool is that? She heard and felt the music in her own way. That’s what I’m about – no pressure, no preaching. I wrap you in sound, like a big soft multi-layered blanket. If you feel something and want to dive in – then we’re more than just strangers now.

Interviewer: What are you working on right now? Tell us about the track you’re releasing soon.

Ranrawi: Oooooh, time to drop a little teaser!

The next release is a track called "NAHOM." And don’t rush to look up the word – you won’t find it. I made it up. It means this: when you’re struggling and feel like you’re about to give up, say this word – and do the opposite. Because deep down, you still want to keep going. You’re just scared. And that’s okay. You’re amazing. Just step into the fear and take that first step. I’ll be right here. You’re not alone in your doubts. I’ll be here with you. I hope this track gives someone the nudge they need to finally start something. And surprise – there’ll be a mood video for it, too. A dark, atmospheric piece perfect for walking in the rain with your headphones on, skating through the night, or dancing your heart out alone. Just wait – it’s gonna be beautiful.

Pictures were taken by  Daria Merkelova