Zlata Ognevich — Ukrainian singer, Honored Artist of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the country’s main bachelor. Her voice with a range of 3.5 octaves conquered many fans and helped the singer win 3rd place at the 58th Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden. The singer with the fiery name is traveling around Ukraine with the song tour “LIGHT”. Zlata is convinced that her weapon is music. The artist told more about her work during the war and Ukrainian music in our interview.
We are glad to see you, you organized a mini-tour of Ukraine. Tell us what your goal is and how you work in today’s conditions?
The mission of my tour— is to bring light to people in such dark times. A song of the same name was created, which is dedicated to the rescuers of the State Emergency Service. These are real heroes who risk their lives for the sake of other people.
If we take into account the concerts, nine million hryvnias were collected with my participation. This is not the end yet. We plan to continue charity tours. It is too early to talk about “Light”, because the total amount will be known at the end. You see, in addition to funds for charity, you need to pay for rent, sound, lighting and much more. Personally, I do not take a fee from the concert, so I hope that this part will also affect the total amount that we will transfer. Organizing such concerts — is a duty, our contribution to victory!
Now let’s talk about your new song “Leleka”. When I first heard it, I was covered with goosebumps. Tell me how this song was created?
This song was created for quite a long time. I approached Sasha Lozovsky, he is also a musician. I told him: “Please write me a song about Ukraine, about each of us, about what lives in the heart of every Ukrainian”. In response, I heard: “Okay” and he went to create. A year has passed since then, but when Sasha showed me this song, I just fell in love. It is the same support. “Leleka” brings light and goodness, gives hope, what we need right now. There is another version of this song, we created another “bunker” version, where Sasha sings, I and our musicians play.
Now the Ukrainian scene has united for victory. We know that you are also preparing a fresh duet. Who will it be?
This is a man, a very talented, legendary Ukrainian artist. That’s all I can say.
Tell me, when can we expect this collaboration?
I can’t say that, because creativity cannot be planned, you just have to create and sing. I hope you will hear about our joint work this year. The end of the year is not that far away, so this is a forecast for a few months.
It’s been several months since you gave concerts in European cities in support of Ukraine. After many performances, isn’t the level of support from Europeans decreasing?
There was one concert that upset me. It was in Italy. It seemed to me that people came to the performance just to relax, I didn’t feel that much support for Ukraine. I was ashamed and very unpleasant because of it. Therefore, I call on everyone, and all Ukrainian artists do this, that we are now the voice of Ukraine! We must not allow Ukraine to disappear from the information space and world media. We must constantly say that we have a war, an enemy on our land, our people are dying and that we will win!
Do you feel the revival of Ukrainian culture? What would you like to see it in the future?
I have felt the process of revival since the Revolution of Dignity. Then I realized that something had happened in society that there was no turning back. I can’t even describe it in words, it’s just felt in music, culture, communication, and people. Now there is such unity among Ukrainians that there has never been before. I think that because of this path that we are overcoming, because of all the losses—— we have no right, neither we nor our descendants, to forget this. I will definitely never forget this, I will tell my children about it. It is worth realizing that we pay a very high price. We live in an incredibly cool country. I have been to 35 countries around the world and did not stay there. I could live somewhere there, and go to Ukraine to give a concert. Ukraine is my country, my homeland. I feel good here, as good as in no other country in the world. The time has come when we need to appreciate, so we will appreciate and revive what is ours.
What do you think Ukrainian showbiz should do after our victory so that we don’t step on the same rake?
It is already doing it now. Such difficult times help to leave behind everything artificial and insincere. There will remain real artists, musicians, strong-spirited individuals, those who are for Ukraine, who respect themselves. I am interested in going to a concert to see an individual, getting pleasure from this concert and knowing that this person has a position. I understand that on stage there is an individual, he thinks and lives like that. The time of artists who were negotiated has already passed, it is all plastic, artificial. Society is not interested in “plastic” artists now. How many cool new names are being born in our country. For example, I really like Skofka. And in general, I really like what is happening in Ukrainian music. Our culture has finally come out of the dungeon and now it is played on the radio. Now they know and love it.
What will Zlata Ognevich do when she finds out that Ukraine has won?
I will find out where the parade will be held. I hope it will be on Khreshchatyk. I will come there, kneel down, bow my head and cry looking at these real titans. Titans of our time, such are our heroes.
Tetyana Panchenko
