Ukrainian writer Sana Dutka: I advise aspiring writers not to give up – rejection doesn’t mean your manuscript is bad

Sonny McCartney is a photographer who hopes that what he creates will live longer than he does. He describes his journey as passionate. From an early love of graphic design to music photography and eventually opening his own studio in his hometown of Liverpool, every step of Sonny’s 18-year career holds deep personal significance for him. When Sonny was younger, he moved to London because Liverpool did not yet have a photography studio like the one he would later go on to create himself. He believes that the role of a photographer should not cross ethical boundaries and feels that, unfortunately, paparazzi culture has cast a shadow over the profession as a whole. Throughout his career, he has remained committed to his own principles. One of Sonny’s most powerful projects is Don’t Mind Me, which explores mental health and documents the real-life experiences of people who have faced it. Through this work, he both filmed and photographed participants, creating an honest and deeply human record of their stories. Sonny spoke with Asya Radko, founder of Drive Music Media, about his project Don’t Mind Me, his work supporting artists after amputation and people with disabilities, the creation of his own studio, and what exists beyond the frame of his camera.

Angelina Spilnyk is a writer who believes that stories should not be simple. For her, literature is an opportunity to reveal new perspectives, challenge familiar ideas, and invite readers into a world where every layer hides another meaning. She is drawn to complexity, symbolism, and questions that rarely have straightforward answers.Whether writing about memory, migration, war, technology, or identity, Spilnyk explores the connections between personal experience and the broader forces shaping our lives. Her work ranges from therapeutic fiction and poetry to speculative narratives that examine humanity's future and the societies we build.Her stories have appeared in several Ukrainian anthologies, including Light Between the Lines, Beyond Yourself, and Prose of a New Era. Alongside her shorter works, she is currently developing her epic poem Peccata Mundi and her debut novel Steppe Stork.About her literary journey, the challenges facing contemporary Ukrainian writers, the stories closest to her heart, and the mission she carries as an author, Angelina Spilnyk spoke with Drive Music Media.

Danyil Shpudeiko is a Ukrainian poet, songwriter, and co-founder of the band “Tonkyi Marsh” — a project that emerged not from a calculated career plan, but from a need to transform thoughts, social tension, and personal freedom into music. Having spent most of his conscious life in sports before unexpectedly stepping into the music industry, Danik never considered himself a traditional musician. For him, music became a channel for poetry, reflection, and honest conversations about society, politics, inner conflict, and identity. Together with his bandmates, he built “Tonkyi Marsh” as a space where lyrics matter more than trends and where songs are meant not simply to entertain, but to provoke thought and emotional response. Danik shared with Drive Music Media the story behind the band’s creation, the philosophy of their music, the meanings hidden inside the mini-album Painted Souls, the challenges of creating art during wartime in Ukraine, and why freedom remains the defining word of his art.

On April 27, the British indie-rock band MOSAICS held a launch party at the concert venue of the pub The Lower Third to celebrate the release of their debut album “A Guiding Life”, which began in July 2025. The album includes five tracks: “Godspeed,” “Heaven Knows,” “A Thousand Faces,” “Sing Me to Sleep,” and “Different People” — one of which, “Different People,” was performed as a duet with James McCartney. The album was released with the involvement of sound engineer George Lloyd-Owen, mixing by Lue Stylianou, mastering by Matt Colton, and publishing by Xaccuti Productions. The atmosphere of MOSAICS’ concerts has a way of pulling you inward — somewhere deep into your own thoughts. During “Different People,” it feels like a quiet conversation with yourself: about how you change as the world around you shifts, and how following your dreams brings both outcomes and losses. One of the most striking lines — “All these city lights have really taken their toll” — becomes a precise metaphor for the experience of moving, which lies at the heart of the song. To mark the release of their first album, James joined MOSAICS at the launch party and also performed one of his new songs, “Angeles.” Discover the atmosphere of MOSAICS’ concert this Monday in a report by our founder, Asya Radko.

Cherepanov is a Ukrainian guitarist, songwriter, and one of the key figures in Kyiv’s alternative underground scene — a musician who doesn’t just play music, but builds an entire ecosystem around it. From early inspiration Pet Shop Boys to founding bands, organizing concerts for international acts, and running the iconic Kyiv based art-space “Tepliy Lampoviy,” his journey reflects a deep commitment to creative freedom and community. As a member of Spokusy and Aghiazma, and the mind behind numerous cultural initiatives, he continues to shape the sound and spirit of a new Ukrainian wave — raw, emotional, and unapologetically independent. In this interview, Cherepanov speaks about his musical beginnings, balancing multiple projects, creating during wartime, and why his entire creative path can be summed up in one word: afterparty.