The power of music as a means of persevering through the hardships and challenges that life can throw in our paths is undeniable, and to prove my point I present Ukrainian indie rock band Homeless Radio, and their new single “Submarine“. Despite the fact their country has been waging a valiant defense again their Russian invaders for nearly two years, the band have still managed to keep making music, including recording and releasing a few new songs.

Formed in the city of Kharkiv in 2016, Homeless Radio is comprised of Andrii Yampolskyi (vocals/guitar), Fedir Orlov (guitar), Stepan Tkachuk (bass), Ihor Pankieiev (guitar) and Ivan Orlov (drums), though Ihor is currently away, fighting in the war. (Their original bassist Ivan Trikoza left the band due to the war, and was replaced by Stepan Tkachuk.) Drawing from a mix of garage rock, alternative rock, and pop influences, their music ranges from pleasantly melodic to hard-driving and edgy.

From 2017-2019, the band played lots of shows in and around Kharkiv, and in 2018 released two demos “I Don’t Care” and “Cackler” on Soundcloud. Here’s a video of them performing the songs on the streets of Kharkiv in happier times:

In early 2021, Homeless Radio joined the Arizona-based indie label Sunset Alliance, through which they released their debut EP The Truth that May, featuring “I Don’t Care” and three new tracks. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, whereupon the band members became separated across the country for many months. Lead vocalist Andrii found himself living in the occupied town of Izyum for three months without any electricity, gas, water or standard comfort. In a show of support, the band released their beautiful single “About You” on May 3, 2022.

Now, after a long hiatus, the band is back with an exhilarating new single “Submarine”, which they wrote in 2015 but decided to record now. The song was inspired by British comedian, actor, writer and director Richard Ayoade’s 2010 coming-of-age comedy-drama film Submarine, which was itself adapted from the 2008 novel of the same name by Welsh novelist, poet and journalist Joe Dunthorne. (The film’s soundtrack features six original songs written and performed by Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner.) The band calls their single “a lively blend of humor, sarcasm, and unbridled optimism — a musical homage that captures the essence of teenage rebellion, the zest of youth, and the look at those “glory days” through the lens of adulthood.”

Released on January 9th, the single is dedicated to band member Ihor Pankieiev, who joined the Ukrainian army to fight for the resistance. Andrii told me “Ihor remains in the band, but due to participating in the battlefield, he didn’t take a part in the recording of [‘Submarine’]. However, he’s in constant contact with us, and some of his ideas were put on the record. He said he would record his guitar even from the army if he had a chance.”

The song opens with an aggressive jagged guitar lick, then explodes with a barrage of grinding bass, thunderous drums and furious guitars that don’t let up for a second throughout its 2:30-minute run time. Here and there, Andrii and Fedir inject blistering guitar solos that send the proceedings catapulting into the sonic stratosphere, Andrii’s spirited vocals rising and falling with the intensity of the music. The song is a certifiable rock banger, and I love it.

He was born in Swansea, south of Wales
Tried to be gentle and kind of these things
Oh, Ollie, you are so right
Please put yourself in the first side

She’s just an average woman
All things you gonna do, well
Will be kicked through the prism of her lips
And dropped by her hips

Yeah you not Cease, but you’re not worth
You’ve got to do a lot of things with high course
At the same time with strong confidence
In your 38’s it will have no sense

She’s just an average woman
All things you gonna do, well
Will be kicked through the prism of her lips
And dropped by her hips

So, all things you have you will lose
Faith in yourself and the tone of boose
Will lead you to the Victory
And you will meet her near, by the sea

She’s just an average woman
All things you gonna do, well
Will be kicked through the prism of her lips
And dropped by her hips

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Find their music on Spotify / Apple Music / Soundcloud / YouTube