KOLA: “Music saved me from severe depression”

On April 6, the lyrical soul of KOLA and the Ukrainian singer YAKTAK will delight their fans with a new joint song “Porichka”. The artists are known to Ukrainians for their sincere and heartfelt songs. But the new track has a light, warm and cheerful character. Woman Magazine talked to Nastya about changes in her work, collaborations, and the general attitude towards music culture in Ukraine. Read more in the article.

Nastia, tell us about your new collaboration, why is this song special?

When I first heard the song “Porichka”, I felt a pleasant lightness, a smile appeared on my face and I thought that finally, Yaryk and I will have a cool, fun, dance song together! He and I have a very similar vibe, so it was really nice to work with him. I like the fact that he has a desire and a dream, and, like me, he feels responsible to the Ukrainians who listen to us. After all, every song is a projection of the artist’s thoughts, and when they are sincere, beautiful, positive, you can follow them. This is exactly what Yaryk has, and I am very impressed by it. Everything was easy, I like it when they don’t make something grandiose out of preparing for the release of a song, and everything happens naturally. Everyone just did their job efficiently and confidently! The song turned out to be warm and kind, it’s about the sincere, pleasant and cloudless love of a young couple. I am very pleased with the result of our work.

Today, artists’ work is being adapted to the military process. What has changed in your case?

With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, my work took on a new meaning. I just started doing what I’ve always enjoyed, without thinking about the future, just acting here and now, and only what I felt. Music saved me from a severe depression, and I’m happy that I had it at that moment. By the way, for about a month I really didn’t talk to anyone and sat on benches alone and wrote songs. Today it’s a little more complicated with time and loneliness, but music will always immerse me and keep me going for a long time, it’s the only thing I can spend a really long time on without fidgeting, and do it with great pleasure. One day I want to take a break for a couple of weeks and be alone somewhere in the woods without communication… This is my dream now, I just want to listen to the silence, it inspires me.

Kola

What do you think of Ukraine’s representatives for Eurovision 2023?

I really like our song. It is powerful, stylish, tasteful and motivating.

I love TVORCHI and have been listening to them for a long time, about 5 years ago I really wanted to do a fit with them, I even approached them with an offer several times, but at that time I was writing other music, and I understand why the guys didn’t respond. We must continue to talk about Ukraine everywhere, about the terrible damn war, about the fact that it is not over yet, and this publicity must take place in all countries of the world! So I believe that the guys will represent our country with dignity and will repeatedly talk about the situation we are in now and how much we need support.

What do you think about the purging of everything Russian, whether Russian literature should be removed from the school curriculum, etc.?

Yes! I support this with both hands! We should have done this a long time ago. I hate everything related to Russia, a volcano starts to grow inside me when I find out that there is something Russian around me: music, a painting, a book, a person… Everything! It’s a pipe! I really want my future children to never know this language, I want them to know one thing – this country is a center of terrorists and the biggest scum in the world, that’s all. There can be no literature, no language learning in any corner of Ukraine! I’m writing and I’m already shaking, I’m telling you seriously, I can’t get this rage out of me against every person or object from this terrible country, I just can’t!

Do you think the grief that united the whole of Ukraine will preserve the spirit and integrity of the nation after the victory? What do Ukrainians as a nation need to work on in order to be truly what the world thinks of us after the victory?

I really believe that we will preserve all of this, because we have many more conscious people than not. 

First of all, we all need to work on rebuilding the country in all aspects, and I think we all need to love our language and somehow make sure that we have one language and that everyone wants to speak it, it would be great because it would unite us all even more! I think language is very important because it is our weapon! 

The second thing is not to listen to Russian music, never again in your life! Because it is she who develops the Russian in us. 

The third is to study, to learn more about our traditions, our history, to delve deeper into who we really are. 

The fourth is to remove the excess. Finally, to understand that the value of life is not in money and clothes, but in people, in deeds, in actions, in the ability to do good for others, to control oneself and to do everything to make our society more intelligent, conscious and developed. 

Fifthly, do not point out arrogantly and do not write/say: “I am…, and where were you and what did you do?” Everyone does their best to the best of their ability! That’s all. There is no “I” or “you”, there is “we”! This is what we need to work on at a time when our guys and girls are defending our country with such dignity, and of course, we need to donate! 

Kola

During the war, what did you come to value most in your life?

Time, people, moments, moments, sun, air, mountains, sea, mom, myself, love, feelings, and just every day! I appreciate any opportunity that is given to me today, I am very grateful for everything that is happening to me and my work.

They say that there is no female friendship. What is the situation in the work process of two bright and creative personalities Kola and Mamarika?

Female friendship exists if both women are adequate. I have friends, which means that friendship exists. Nastia and I have a super cool relationship, we both say everything we think, we both value people and their work, we are also open, hardworking and the kind of people who are not jealous and do not try to push themselves forward. That’s why we made an incredible duet, which was the beginning of our friendship. I feel very warmly about Nastya and her family, and I think that in a normal, sane life, it should be so. 

Author: Daria Skotchenko
Photo: Woman Magazine press service