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OLEH PSIUK (KALUSH ORCHESTRA) FOR MNE MAGAZIN: The audience of the Sea Dance Festival can expect a lot of Ukrainian music, dances and drive
Foto: Columbia Germany
This year’s Eurovision Song Contest winner Kalush Orchestra is coming to the Sea Dance Festival, which will be held at Buljarica beach from August 26 to August 28.
They have given the strong support to the festival and for their first concert in Montenegro its founder and singer Oleh Psiuk promises the audience of SDF ,,a lot of Ukrainian music, dances and drive”.
The group was founded in 2019. Its members are Oleh Psiuk, Ihor Didenchuk, MC KylymMen, Tymofii Muzychuk, Vitalii Duzhyk and Dzhonni Dyvnyy. Their music is a blend of tradition and hip-hop.
As Psiuk says in the interview for Montenegro magazin, their most important task is to spread Ukranian songs on the world market. Because our position was, is and will remain unchanged, we sing exclusively in the Ukrainian language, we show the whole world how real Ukrainian rap should sound, says Psiuk for Montenegro magazin.
Foto: Columbia Germany
Kalush Orchestra was the part of Sea Star Festival. At the end of August you are coming to Sea Dance Festival in Montenegro. How much does EXIT's invitation to be part of their festivals mean to you?
– We are very grateful for this invitation. Thanks to our creativity and participation in many concerts abroad, festivals and competitions, we have the opportunity to inform the whole world about the war in Ukraine. Moreover, we see that Europeans like our music, and this motivates us even more to make new songs. And the most important task is to spread Ukrainian songs on the world market. When we see from the stage that Europeans sing along with us, we understand that Ukrainian songs have a place here. Because our position was, is and will remain unchanged, we sing exclusively in the Ukrainian language, we show the whole world how real Ukrainian rap should sound.
Have you ever been to Montenegro? What have you prepared for the audience of the Sea Dance Festival?
Foto: Columbia Germany
– No, this will be my first trip, both as part of the Kalush Orchestra and independently. But I have heard a lot about the beauty of nature in Montenegro and I am looking forward to seeing it with my own eyes. The audience of the Sea Dance Festival can expect a lot of Ukrainian music, dances and drive. What exactly that will be, you will see soon enough, just wait a little.
In the song Stefania you say: ,,Вона мене колисала, дала мені ритм. І, напевне, силу волі не забрати в мене, бо дала вона.” How much this character, this spirit that your mother Stefania put in you has helped you through life, especially now?
– Apparently, it is historically the case that every Ukrainian has this willpower and character. As for me, I have changed throughout my life, my views and priorities have changed, but there have always been some qualities that have driven me and that I would never trade for anything. Hard work, curiosity and my determination in everything, no matter what I do. In my opinion, all Ukrainians are now moving in the same direction. Actually, in the direction of victory. And I am no exception. Nothing binds or motivates me except the inner feeling. Now it motivates me to fight in the area where I am really strong.
You said: ,,I hope that the Eurovision 2023 will be held in a peaceful and restored Ukraine.” What was your reaction when you heard EBU’s statement in which they said that it was not possible for Eurovision to be held in Ukraine?
– Of course, we are very sad that the Eurovision Song Contest will not be held in Ukraine next year. But we are grateful to the UK for their solidarity and for agreeing to hold the event in support of our country. We hope Eurovision 2023 will have a Ukrainian flavour and celebrate our beautiful, unique culture. We, in turn, will make all efforts to help Ukraine win next year as well, so that Eurovision 2024 can take place in a peaceful country.
In what way did you recognize yourself in rap music?
Foto: Columbia Germany
– I like rap a lot. More than that, I love Ukrainian rap, which was so hard to find in my youth. In rap, as in any other creativity, there should be a highlight. Ethnic motifs are the highlight of Kalush Orchestra. And ethnic motifs and Ukrainian folklore, especially in the modern interpretation, go down well with Europeans, the main thing is to work on the presentation. We have found our style and Europe has picked it up.
You are making new songs?
– With the large number of concerts per day, there is little time for creativity. But yes, we work. We have both releases and collaborations. I hope they will pleasantly surprise you. We cannot reveal all the cards in advance. I can only say one thing – there will be collaborations, not only with Eurovision participants.
Bojana Radonjić
