Tag: Ukraine

HOMELESS RADIO – Single Review: “SleepNot”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews11 Comments
Cover art by Kostiantyn Borshch

This past January, I introduced my readers to Ukrainian indie rock band Homeless Radio when I reviewed their terrific hard-hitting single “Submarine“. To summarize, the band formed in the city of Kharkiv in 2016, and includes Andrii Yampolskyi (vocals/guitar), Fedir Orlov (guitar), Stepan Tkachuk (bass) and Ivan Orlov (drums). Guitarist Ihor Pankieiev is also technically still a member, though he’s currently away, fighting in the terrible war against their Russian invaders. Drawing from a dynamic mix of garage rock, alternative rock, skate punk, grunge and pop influences, their music ranges from pleasantly melodic to relentlessly intense.

Andrii, Stepan, Ivan & Fedir

Now the guys are back with a blistering new single “SleepNot“, delivering more of the raw, unbridled energy we loved with “Submarine”. Released on July 2nd via Arizona-based indie label Sunset Alliance, the track was mixed & mastered by Nikolas Quemtri at NRQ’s Studio. The appropriately-titled “SleepNot” features hard-driving instrumentals and emphatic lyrics that beautifully express the singer’s aim of keeping up with the frantic pace of modern life and enjoying all it has to offer. And yet, while on the one hand he laments “Sometimes I wish that I could never fall asleep, yeah. I’m not enough for a day!“, he then concedes that he just wants to sleep when his alarm clock abruptly wakes him. It’s a conundrum I’m sure most young people have experienced. I remember staying out late partying many nights in my college days, then having to wake early to finish a paper.  

Starting off with a deliciously dirty bass riff nicely executed by Stepan, the song blasts open with a volley of Ivan’s smashing drumbeats and Andrii and Fedir’s dual grungy and fuzz-soaked guitars. As Stepan’s dexterous bassline and Ivan’s pummeling drums continue driving the rhythm forward, Andrii and Fedir lay waste to the airwaves with scorching guitar riffs. I really like Andrii’s passionate heavily-accented vocals, which soar to spine-tingling fiery wails in the bombastic choruses. “SleepNot” is an electrifying rock banger, and another marvelous single by this talented foursome.

It’s admirable that Homeless Radio have still managed to keep making music, despite the fact their country has been waging a valiant defense again their Russian invaders for more than two years. I hope they will remain safe and able to continue doing what they love.

(Alarm clock rings, I just wanna sleep)
(Alarm clock rings, I just wanna sleep)

Every day when I open my eyes
I see a plan for a while:
I need to join a party,
get drunk in the nearby town
I want this, you can be sure
And today I've got one aim
I'm trying to finish my business
I worry about my brain

Sometimes I wish that I could never fall asleep, yeah
I'm not enough for a day! Yeah!

Every time when I see you
My country blows up
I wanna be somewhere near you
But my business is still undone
To be smart you must catch up with the rhythm
It's speed can make you insane
See, honey, I'm still in the middle
In this competitive game

Sometimes I wish that I could never fall asleep, yeah
I'm not enough for a day! Yeah!

Alarm clock rings, I just wanna sleep
Alarm clock rings, I just wanna sleep

Homeless Radio Socials:  Facebook / X (Twitter) / Instagram / TikTok

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

HOMELESS RADIO – Single Review: “Submarine”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews14 Comments

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.

Andrii, Stepan, Ivan & Fedir

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

Follow Homeless Radio:  Facebook / X (Twitter) / Instagram / TikTok

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

Song Review: VINITSKY – “Hola”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn ReviewsLeave a comment

Vinitsky is a Ukrainian electro pop/rock singer, songwriter, producer, DJ and social activist. Now based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, her dynamic music is a raw mix of electronic sound, heavy guitars and powerful vocals. Her style fuses pop, rock and electronic influences, and draws inspiration from Ukrainian vocal melodies and 80’s sounds of bands like Depeche Mode and Kraftwerk. And she’s a busy woman. Besides recording and producing her own music, for the past several years she’s been performing as an artist or DJ throughout Central and Eastern Europe. She also sings and writes songs for several nu-metal bands in Ukraine – including OnesteP, whose EP I recently reviewed.

Vinitsky released her first electronic album Stereo Radio under the name ‘Kate Orange.’ The similarly-named single from the album garnered more than 52 000 views on YouTube, and was supported by David Guetta on the Spanish TV show El Hermigueiro. In 2016, wanting a fresh approach to her music, she released an excellent self-titled album under the new name ‘Vinitsky.’ The Spanish single “Hola” is taken from that album. A fun feature of Vinitsky is that every track is illustrated, with each picture telling a story about the song and it’s mood. Vinitsky states that the pictures are also meant to relieve stress: “You can color them by yourselves, so sharpen your pencils and create your own work of art!”

Vinitsky

The song “Hola” has a somewhat raw sound, infectious Latin dance beat and simple, understandable Spanish lyrics, even for those who don’t speak the language. Vinitsky explains that her inspiration for the song comes from the Dutch obsession with Spanish traditions, holidays and recreation.

The track starts off with her singing a capella, with a crackling noise in the background, as if the song was being played on an old Victrola. It then bursts open with an irresistible Latin dance beat, as buzzing electronic synths, exuberant horns and heavy bass all conspire to get your hips moving. Even sitting at the computer, my head was bobbing and hips were swaying like I was giving my chair a lap dance! She handles the Spanish lyrics quite nicely, her commanding vocals soaring with the intensity of the music, making for quite an exciting track. Take a listen:

To learn more about Vinitsky, check out her website.
Connect with her:  Facebook /  Instagram
Stream her music:  Soundcloud /  Spotify /  YouTube
Purchase:  Bandcamp