With millions of sales, countless stadium shows, and numerous awards to their name, Okean Elzy (@okeanelzy_official) is Ukraine’s biggest rock band. Yet as their nation faces its darkest moment, the band is now using their music as a vehicle to take the message of its struggles and steely resilience to a much wider international audience. That mission gets underway today with the release of Okean Elzy’s first English language album “Lighthouse,” via Warner Music Central Europe.
Okean Elzy – Voices Are Rising (music video)
Okean Elzy’s defiant spirit has already made waves ahead of the album’s release, First “Voices Are Rising” introduced the band to new audiences across the globe with a clarion call for resistance, before the album’s title track (featuring John Rzeznik of Goo Goo Dolls) presented a beacon of hope in troubled times.
Okean Elzy also went viral with some classic moments from the past, with an emotional performance of the anthem ‘Обійми’ (‘Embrace’) that was filmed in the courtyard of the Palace of Labour in Kharkiv, which was destroyed by Russian bombings, and footage of them performing the song with Coldplay.
Okean Elzy – “Might Have Been a Dream” (Official Lyric Video)
“Lighthouse” brings big moments with each song, starting with the focus track “Might Have Been a Dream.” It’s a song of darkness and light, with quieter introspective verses exploding into a dynamic hook, led by a characteristically passionate performance from frontman Sviatoslav ‘Slava’ Vakarchuk and given a gritty edge with a serrated guitar solo.
“Favorite Sound”
Those qualities stand tall throughout the remainder of the “Lighthouse” album as it affirms a plea for persistence set to a military-tinged beat in “Love On Fire” and ruminates on the pain of being separated – now a universal experience across Ukraine – on the dramatic power ballad “Favourite Sound.” The string-laden slowburner “Doves Will Sing” is a powerful reminder that freedom will eventually be secured, while the similarly elegant “Broken Pieces” trades the political for the personal. There are lighter moments too, with the driving alt-rock of “Running Away” and the punchy pop-punk of “Nowhere.” Yet Okean Elzy returns to their roots with the closing “Lullaby,” their take on a 1980 Ukrainian classic by Kvitka Cisyk.
Slava adds, “When the war started, I had this irresistible feeling to share Ukrainian culture with the world. Culture and art are very powerful tools to connect people, and it was obvious that we needed to make this album in English to allow people all over the world to resonate with our music. Listening to the new English album, you’ll hear a different approach to arrangements, production, and even in the way I sing. Working with different producers and with a different sound gives a different perspective – it enriches you, and I love it.”
Okean Elzy
“Lighthouse” puts a fresh angle on the social issues that Slava and his bandmates have always championed. He has actively supported IOM and MTV Europe’s human rights campaign, People Are Not For Sale. In 2003 he became an Honorary Ambassador of Culture in Ukraine before being named a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Development Programme in 2005. He is also a rare example of a rock star academic, holding a PhD in physics. That ethos has become ever more important in the wake of the current conflict. Now Slava and Okean Elzy have taken on a warrior-like zeal, supporting the morale of the army with regular performances, and using English to spread the word of their nation’s struggles.
The album was recorded with a selection of collaborators, with Slava working alongside renowned international songwriters to help express his inner thoughts in English. In addition to John Rzeznik, the album includes contributions from Travis Barker (Blink-182), Diane Warren (Taylor Swift, Aerosmith), John Feldmann (Blink-182, YUNGBLUD, Avril Lavigne), Paul O’Duffy (Amy Winehouse) and Eva Arnby Busacker (5 Seconds of Summer, Landon Barker).
Having just completed their Help for Ukraine European tour, Okean Elzy played the first of five arena shows at the Palace of Sports Arena in Kyiv. They then embark upon their biggest North American headline tour to date, which is followed by their largest-ever London show at the O2 Academy Brixton. A portion of the tour’s proceeds will be donated to Open Eyes, a charity fund founded in 2014 by global IT consulting and digital services provider SoftServe. The fund focuses on supporting medicine, education, and the armed forces in Ukraine’s fight for peace. The shared goal for this specific fundraiser is to deliver 30 ambulances, along with essential medical equipment to the frontlines where urgent medical assistance is required. Buy tickets from Ticketmaster.com to see Okean Elzy perform LIVE.
Okean Elzy’s “Lighthouse” album
We recommend adding Okean Elzy’s “Might Have Been a Dream” single to your favorite rock playlist. We would love to hear your thoughts! Please comment below and let us know how this song makes you feel. Remember, your feedback helps us bring you more of the music you love. As always, thanks for reading another great article on Bong Mines Entertainment. We’re your go-to source for new music and positive entertainment news. Remember, (P)ositive (E)nergy (A)lways (C)reates (E)levation—P.E.A.C.E.
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