In the midst of war, music becomes more than entertainment—it transforms into a lifeline, a refuge, and a form of resistance. These reflections from Ukrainian students reveal how melodies and lyrics have accompanied them through air raid sirens, displacement, and moments of unexpected joy.
Some find solace in Ukrainian folk songs that connect them to their heritage and ancestors. Others escape into the cathartic energy of rock concerts or the gentle embrace of jazz. Many have discovered Ukrainian artists they hadn’t appreciated before, reclaiming cultural space once overshadowed by Russian influence.
What emerges from these personal accounts is music’s remarkable power to heal, to create pockets of normalcy in abnormal times. Whether it’s crawling out of a club “covered in bruises with your voice long gone,” finding “loud emptiness” through headphones during a run, or crying to the poetic lyrics of Odyn v Kanoe, each musical moment offers respite from the harsh realities of war.
These students remind us that even as conflict reshapes their world, music remains—adapting, reflecting, and providing the emotional vocabulary for experiences that often defy words.
Martha Shvets:
I’ve always loved Ukrainian music. For the past 6 years, my favourite band has been The Hardkiss. The frontwoman, Julia Sanina, is also a singer apart from her band. My first The Hardkiss concert happened in 2021, in peaceful Cherkasy. The next five concerts were already different—one in Munich, while I was living there due to the war, the others in Kyiv, but sometimes to the sound of air raid sirens.
The Hardkiss is most popular for their rock music, but the songs I love most are more lyrical and tender. Julia Sanina herself inspires me – not only does she write all the lyrics herself, but she also is a proactive citizen. Julia promotes literature, writes poetry, supports the LGBTQ+ community, and presents Ukrainian culture and music abroad (she even was one of the hosts of the Eurovision’2023 in Liverpool). This year, I even got to meet Julia and tell her how much her songs help me deal with everything in life.
Evelina Horban:
I have been a huge music lover all my life. When I was younger my mother and I would go to the conservatory, and now I frequent indie concerts and bars with live music. To be honest I rarely listen to Ukrainian music, even though I am acutely aware of how many amazing bands and artists there are. This means that most times when I buy my concert tickets I have no idea who will be playing, but not once have I been disappointed!
Dancing in a crowded basement (on your own or with a friend), listening to my besties singing and playing guitar while we are grilling vegetables on open fire, or even going to church on a Sunday morning- music always manages to make my soul move like nothing else does. I would never try to narrow it down to just “inspiration” or “therapy” or whatever, it’s cathartic. Music, especially live music, is for sure an integral part of a health human life. Cause if you never crawled out of a club, covered in bruises with your voice long gone, have you even lived?
Victoria Velychko:
The music that can calm me down and take me away into serenity at any moment is jazz. I love listening to Frank and Nancy Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louise Amstrong singing. Especially in the cold seasons, it is priceless.
My spring admiration is for the Norwegian indie folk duo Kings of Convenience. In these songs, you can hear the light guitar language and gentle vocals that transport you to an old vintage olive-colored Mercedes, driving along the road by the sea and smelling the salty smell of summer.
Ukrainian artists such as Scriabin, Palindrome, Jamala, Vivienne Mort, and of course old folk songs always make me think. These singers can make you cry and smile sincerely and feel that you are not alone, that people actually understand you.
Sophia Samborska:
“Music has healing power. It has the ability to take people out of themselves for a few hours” — Elton John. I completely adore this quotation of an icon of American music because it perfectly shows how I feel about music. Whenever I realize I need to escape, I put on headphones, turn the music up, and go for a walk or a run. I am fond of folk bands like Nazva and DakhaBrakha; I highly recommend indie pop musicians, such as Renie Cares or Nytso Potvorno.
In music, I search for the special feeling of “loud emptiness”. It means that I want to hear every note and smallest sample just to escape from my thoughts. No other form of pleasure, such as watching films or reading books, gives me the feeling that I got from listening to music.
Victoria Romas:
Music is a big part of my life. I can not go outside without headphones. From classical symphonies to modern rock bands, I listen to a little bit of everything.
After the full-scale invasion began, I started listening to a lot of Ukrainian music, learning about new artists. I was amazed by the large number of great musicians in Ukraine. Unfortunately, many of our musicians were previously displaced by russian artists.
I love Ukrainian folk songs because they inspire me. It is a connection with our culture, our ancestors, our homeland. I like both classical versions of folk songs and modern arrangements. For example, Yuriy Yosyfovych has very beautiful songs.
But I’m also a big fan of rock music. I love everything from classic AC/DC or Metallica to new Ukrainian rock artists, such as Dity Inzheneriv, Karna, Zhadan i sobaky and many others.
I like to listen to instrumental music, including classical music, while studying. It helps me concentrate and sometimes helps me feel better if I’m tired.
Music is not just a melody or a song, it reflects a soul. It will always surround people in any time, happy or tragic.
Lyubov Nurmahkamedova:
The music of Odyn v Kanoe, a Ukrainian indie band, feels like a diary of emotions that are hard to express out loud. It touches something deep, intimate, and real. The song Promise Me captures a moment of vulnerability—when the heart is quietly asking for something important but doesn’t quite dare to say it directly. It soothes with its honesty, reminding me that it’s okay to be fragile.
The song The Boat is a story in itself. To me, it symbolizes an inner journey—silent, calm, yet full of meaning. When I listen to it, I feel like I’m floating through my thoughts.
Music like this doesn’t just entertain—it accompanies your inner world. It reminds me that vulnerability is strength, and silence can be more powerful than noise.
Maria Shcherbyna:
I have noticed recently that I listen to sad music only, which surprised me a lot: previously I used to listen to inspiring, motivating music that would help me concentrate and start acting. I usually turn on the music while studying. Creating a special atmosphere while doing homework is one of the ways to complete the tasks faster and moreover to enjoy the process. Active and happy music used to inspire me, giving energy and mood to study. Now however I listen to sad music only. Usually there are some rock compositions that reflect my feelings and thoughts.
One of my favorite bands is “Odyn v kanoe” . Their music is quite similar to the way I perceive the world now. I respond to the lyrics, the metaphors they use, I enjoy the melody. Despite the fact that such music is sad and often makes me cry, I still like it a lot. After listening to it I often feel a relief, something similar to calmness and hope. Furthermore some songs even inspire me to create, to do something kind, generous and memorable, to notice little moments and enjoy them.
Veronika Martynova:
Patti Smith’s music is able to evoke strong emotions in me, and they are so different. For me, Patti Smith is firstly a poet, and therefore the words of her songs exist for me beyond the rhythm and instrumental arrangement. It’s the music with which I have the most powerful inner connection, so I love it very much. Speaking of individual compositions by other artists, Natürtrane by Nina Hagen is a song that keeps you in suspense, is very expressive in tone and even dramatic in its story about the topic of nature, which is so boring for many. Recently, the song The Gipsy Faerie Queen by Marianne Faith resonated with me. I guess it’s one of those that calms me down.
Veronika Shevych:
Lately, I discovered French pop music; since then, I can`t stop listening to it. The French language always fascinated me, and listening to it combined with light melodies brings me joy and happiness. I always listen to it when I`m blue or when I need some energy for the upcoming days; I also like to cut time with it when I commute because I live in a suburban area and usually, it takes a lot to travel from place to place. Just imagine: a sunny day, your fig fragrance creating an aura of summer days in childhood, and “Le temps de l`amour” is playing in your headphones… It`s just a sort of therapy in this time full of anxiety and stress.
Maria Fito:
Ukrainian music in 2025 is really varied, influenced by music from all over the world and our own Ukrainian style. Many types of music are popular, like pop, electronic music, hip-hop, and different kinds of folk music. People also often mix styles, which makes new and interesting sounds. For me, music is a way to feel calm, especially when there’s so much terrible news about the war. That’s why I don’t really like the music that’s at the top of the charts right now because it is usually different from my idea of quiet music.
One of the most peaceful and inspiring songs for me is Ukrainian jazz and blues from the middle of the last century. You can easily find it on official sites if you search for “Шедеври української естради: намалюй мені ніч”. Another kind of music that makes me feel better and inspires me is all of Ivasyuk’s and Kvitka Cisyk’s songs. They take me back to happy childhood memories, when I heard them on the radio at my grandma’s house. And when it comes to music styles that inspire me the most, it’s real folk music and indie music. These sounds don’t just help me to escape from reality, but they also make me feel connected to my past and give me a lot to think about personally.
Melania Melnyk:
Music is a part of my life. I can’t imagine my life without music, as I listen to it when I read books, wash the dishes, go to university, or walk outside. I listen to different kinds of music every day, but today I’ve been listening to Lana Del Rey all day, especially her songs like Art Deco, Carmen, Paris, Texas, and Fishtail. I really love Lana Del Rey’s songs because I’ve been listening to her since I was seven years old, and I grew up with her music. To me, her songs are like lullabies — I often listen to them before falling asleep. The song Paris, Texas inspires me deeply, and I usually listen to it when I’m writing essays or painting pictures. Through this song, I find harmony and inspiration to create, to dream, and to live. I also listen to the rock band Radiohead because their songs make me think about the future. My favourite song by this band is Let Down.
When I listen to it, it feels like music understands me better than people do. Another band I really love is The Smiths. I tend to worry a lot, and when I try to calm down, I listen to the song Back to the Old House. I first heard this song when I was 8 years old, and I realized that now I will always be in love with this piece of music. Also, when I try to calm down after a hard day at university, I drink green tea and listen to the Canadian singer Mac DeMarco, especially my favourite song My Kind of Woman. This piece of music helps me feel safe and forget about all the bad moments that happened today. Music is like air to me because I simply can’t live without it — it helps me feel less alone.
