Tenderheart – Creating Music Under Fire

Can you tell us about your life when the war began?

When the full-scale invasion started on February 24th, 2022, the sense of uncertainty was overwhelming. This day marked the beginning of a new phase in the war, much larger and more intense than before. Strangely, I wasn’t thinking about money or work. Instead, I devoted all my time to volunteer efforts: digging sand for checkpoint fortifications, weaving camouflage nets for the military, loading humanitarian aid.

The first months were a heavy psychological burden. Especially after the atrocities committed by Russian troops in Bucha were revealed: mass killings and abuse of civilians near Kyiv. Streets were lined with destroyed homes and military vehicles.

Mariupol was another horror. The city was almost completely wiped out. Images of civilian cars destroyed as they tried to flee were seen across the world. The bodies piled up so quickly, there was no time for proper burials. Municipal workers dug mass graves with tractors in places where people had just walked the day before. The dead were tossed in without rituals, like trash.

How do you make a living now?

In the evenings, I worked remotely producing audio for radio companies. About a year later, when that work stopped bringing in a steady income, I had to take a full-time job. I’m now working as a sound engineer at a radio station.

Is there still space for love during war?

That’s a very personal question, and the answer differs for everyone. The war has torn many families apart. Men are not allowed to leave the country due to mobilization, and many wives and children have fled abroad. That distance is hard on relationships. For many, war has destroyed love.

But for others, young couples or those who were single, it’s had the opposite effect. They cling to each other more strongly than before. Even when entire cities were left without power, people still found ways to meet, fall in love, and maintain friendships. There is still life amidst the chaos.

Has the war influenced your music?

The stress and oppressive atmosphere in the country grew day by day. Music became my therapy. After long days of volunteer work, I would return home and create music. Not for enjoyment, but just to keep myself from going insane.

Between 2022 and 2024, I released 20 tracks on my label. The production quality isn’t what I’d hoped for, because the conditions made it impossible to mix properly. I’d like to revisit those tracks and improve the mixes, but I’m not sure I’ll ever find the time.

Can you tell us more about your upcoming releases with Amselcom?

There isn’t a dramatic story about how these 7 tracks came together. Three years ago, I decided I wanted to create atmospheric music that would feel like “a journey through the forest.” The mood shifts as you walk, but it’s always one cohesive atmosphere: melancholic, calm, and reflective.

What connects all these tracks is that they were written during the war in a city far from the frontline, yet daily drone attacks still hit us. The explosions and damage are constant. Often I hear the drones passing by my window—their engines sound like mopeds—and the air raid sirens warn of incoming attacks. Sometimes the attacks last 10–20 minutes; other times they go on for six hours. Three years ago, these sounds were terrifying, full of fear and uncertainty.

Over these three years, in my free time, I composed music to the backdrop of these sirens. These 7 tracks, written roughly between 2024–2025, are not meant to express suffering or hopelessness. I wanted them to reflect the state of my soul, and my hope for peace and calm.