I’m constructing a vision of my own music4soul, says OKSYI INTERVIEW
“It’s my first album so I am trying to keep it secret but basically Existentialism is a philosophical theory which I admire in my own way, and I found its concept really interesting, showing a lot of paradoxes, but still preserving a strong statement for life of individualities. I read many books on existentialists and I guess it influences me to the point that I came out with this whole concept. So, what I can say is, that album has its own strange construction and contrasts needed. It was really interesting to find out that all those songs are somehow perplexed together, solving many issues and topics. I think the album might bring some freshness and originality, I do hope ;) sooo Stay tuned!!! ”
You live in Prague but you’re not from here. Why did you choose to live in Prague?
Since the first moment I came to Prague I fell in love with this city and its energy/vibes. Then I got here pretty accidentally, and I am so happy for this "accident" to happen. Pragues is where I feel home.
How do you find the music scene in Prague?
It all started with jam sessions, where many many interesting musicians and other artists were meeting. These contacts led me to visit interesting venues and I was really culturally active before the Covid. I think Prague has a lot of interesting and potential artists to show up, unfortunately sometimes there are pretty annoying obstacles beginning with rare, or low payment, bars restrictions, people who lives around the pubs and complaining about noise, busking bans, and so on. All those things are making it harder to be an artist and doing what you love and need. Anyway I am glad we all do what we can to entertain ourselves and the others during those crazy times so Thanks!
What led you to becoming a musician?
I do not know what led me, to be honest, I guess music has been always a part of me, cause I remember I sang pretty much when I was alone, pretending I am on a stage holding a mic :D I guess I did not know whether I am good or I am not when I was young. However I always ended up singing everywhere possible, even in a choir in a church as a soloist. Things have changed when I asked for a guitar and started to learn how to play on it, cause I wanted to provide myself with my own melodies and musical ideas. Afterwards I’ve started to do my own music actively and I’ve never really stopped. To be able to create something is giving you huge power and energy, and it’s the best way how to erase boredom :)
What part do your Ukrainian and Slovak roots play, if any, in your songs?
Interesting question. We moved to Slovakia when I was 3 years old, so I got adapted to Slovakia as a new country so fast cause of the age. However I do feel like I have slightly different mentality and by age I am more and more curious about my Ukrainian "me" and roots. I hope that I’ll make some Ukrainian song, but I guess the time did not come yet. I was writing and performing mostly in Slovak language back in Slovakia, but when I’ve moved to Prague it easily changed to English language because I’m constantly meeting my foreign friends so I use English daily. Shortly - if you think English - the song will come out English :D Still awaiting my Slovak muse to come once again.
You performed The Moves of the Dunes for Avoid Sessions. Can you tell us the backstory behind it? Where and when did you write it?
It´s funny, cause I do remember the day I created this song pretty well. Outside was so sunny and beautiful and I created a vision of the Dunes in my head cause I’ve never seen them, and all of a sudden it was like a flow of inspiration. Great thing about the whole process is that I felt so easy after the creation, and some of my friends really like the song, which make me even more happy and pleased about it. I think I wrote it somewhere at the end of 2019.
What artists influence you? How would you identify your conscious and unconscious influences on your upcoming album Existentialism?
I think I have really large scale of bands and musicians that I listen to, really appreciate their music and of course I am influenced by them, but I rather not write them all down, would be long :D I also really do admire small sessions cause you always find someone interesting and original. I always look at something which catch my eye and ear in the song and videoclip and that’s enough. Like some interesting tone, voice, or movement, effect in the videoclip, you know, those details... but anyway I think I am constructing some kind of my own vision and "world" for my music4soul. Sometimes I am staying in silence for few days, it’s kind of prognosis for me that song might come out, and it’s also really a need for me to clear my minds off music, to be able to create one afterwards.
Are your songs autobiographical or do they come from your imagination, or both?
I would say both.
Do you listen to much music on Spotify, and if so, what are the top releases we should check out?
So to be honest I tried Spotify only once and I did not like it that much, so I cannot really say a lot about the topic. Anyway I think I´ll give it a chance again. But I listened to few songs when I had it and I really recommend Greentea Peng, Noga Erez, Esperanza Spalding, Febueder - they are chilly, jazzy, rappy, original and first of all really good musicians.
Lockdown has been difficult for everyone. How has it affected you and your songwriting?
Yeah it’s been difficult, indeed. I mean, it’s pretty difficult for me, cause I am not a fan of even a Skype or that kind of stuff, so online streaming it’s kind of uncomfortable for me. However, I am really glad that I can still find a way to play and do my music, and I am really happy that I work on my debut album "Existentialism". I wrote all the songs I wrote before the pandemic so we have material to work with. I have to say I still have some inspiration left even these times, and I do have some new songs I am working on as well. It’s hard to be an artist during this situation and it feels like a doom and really dumb, but I guess the only way how to overcome it is to create, collaborate if possible, and make yourself and others happy even the reality is harsh.
Your upcoming release is to be called Existentialism. What can people expect from this album and what is the concept behind it?
It´s my first album so I am trying to keep it secret but basically Existentialism is a philosophical theory which I admire my own way, and I found its concept really interesting, showing a lot of paradoxes, but still preserving a strong statement for life of individualities. I read many books from existentialists and I guess it influences me to the point that I came out with this whole concept. so What I can say is, that album has its own strange construction and contrasts needed. It was really interesting to find out that all those songs are somehow perplexed together, solving many issues and topics. I think the album might bring some freshness and originality, I do hope ;) sooo Stay tuned!!!
Now more than ever it’s challenging for ambitious musicians. How are you planning to make your mark over the next twelve months?
Right now I am concentrating on my album, and I am about to work on my first single with a videoclip to be released. On a side I do have my second solo project, which is called "Paris Quadrifolia" OKSYI | Free Listening on SoundCloud. It’s basically work with a guitar loops and some effects, mainly without the lyrics together with conceptual and abstract/strange videoclips. Now, during Covid I’m trying to collaborate with different musicians and artists if possible, so let’s see what’s going to be next, cause in this insecure world wide situation is really hard to tell anything.
And finally, if you had one wish for 2021, what would that be?
Only one? hm how to construct a sentence to have two wishes but sound like one?
For Covid to fuck off and change of mind-sets afterwards (I hope the second part will be only a natural result of my wish for Covid to disappear)
