The group have toured the world, however this 12 months will launch their first album in English in addition to embarking on a UK tour, together with a date in Edinburgh.
Lead singer Sviastoslav ‘Slava’ Vakarchuk was born into the USSR, has a PHD in theoretical physics and is a former member of the Ukrainian parliament.
His old flame, although, has all the time been music – even when it wasn’t all the time readily accessible behind the Iron Curtain.
Mr Vakarchuk tells The Herald: “Some may say that it was a very pitch black from a cultural viewpoint behind the Iron Curtain, and perhaps that was true to some extent till the center of the 80s.
“However after perestroika and the breaking of the ice between the US and the USSR it was completely different, it was a really turbulent time.
“You have been free to do a variety of issues however the irony was you didn’t have the possibility to.
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“Within the 60s and 70s they’d punish you for listening to some sorts of rock music, saying it’s anti-Soviet.
“On the finish of the 80s after I was a child it was high quality, no one cared about what you listened to or performed, but it surely was troublesome to search out the actual stuff.
“For instance, I keep in mind the primary time I heard The Beatles was in 1987 after I was 12 – and I fully fell in love.
“I turned an enormous Beatles fan, you’ll have skilled it for 25 years at the moment but it surely was new for me.
“The primary time I noticed them was on one of many very first Soviet late evening exhibits, there was this black and white video of McCartney singing ‘Let It Be’ and I that was like, ‘wow, s*** man’. I keep in mind being fully flabbergasted.
“That modified my entire trajectory, my obsession with The Beatles made me a musician.
“As often occurs, if The Beatles was your old flame every part else follows that. The blokes and I, our gang from faculty, have been into previous British rock like Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd in addition to blues and rock music from the east and the States.
“Then 1991 modified the entire perspective, not only for me however for youths everywhere in the world, when grunge emerged: Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nirvana.
“I feel that combination of grunge and previous traditional British and American rock was my major affect, and you may add into that our primary Ukrainian, Slavic DNA – like you will have your Celtic roots.
“Put all that right into a cocktail and you may see the place Okean Elzy comes from.”
Okean Elzy, which interprets as Elza’s Ocean, fashioned as youngsters in 1994 and after 4 or 5 years of laborious graft turned one of many largest names in Ukraine.
At a time of relative concord between east and west in addition they toured throughout Russia and different former Soviet bloc nations, however the ousting of president Viktor Yanukovych and the following Russian annexation of Crimea modified issues without end.
Mr Vakarchuk says: “Yanukovych was, for my part, a disastrous president.
“We didn’t really feel it as a band as a result of we have been the preferred band within the nation, we performed arenas and stadiums, and I feel half of our tour itinerary can be in Russia.
“We have been the one high artist in Russia who didn’t sing in Russian or English.
“We didn’t really feel, as a band, something dangerous however as a citizen I did really feel it. It got here nearer and nearer to the purpose the place Ukrainians stated ‘sufficient’, maidan occurred and the remaining is historical past.”
That historical past is, sadly, bloody. For the previous 10 years although, Mr Vakarchuk has been travelling to the frontline to carry out for his motherland’s troops.
He says: “The conflict in Ukraine didn’t begin in 2022 like lots of people suppose, it began in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea and took over some elements of Donbas.
“I’ve been taking part in for the troops since then, so when the full-scale invasion began I additionally scaled up my journeys to the frontline – it turned my full-scale.
“To date we’ve given 241 performances combining hospitals, liberated cities, city squares however the majority is on the frontline.
“I am going there with solely my guitar, early Bob Dylan fashion or Johnny Money fashion, you don’t have any gear, there’s no stage, your chair is a field of ammunition.
“It’s very primary but it surely provides you goosebumps, the sensation of the place you’re and what you’re doing.
“Each time I am going for a tour with the band I sort of miss these items, as a result of these little performances imply extra for me than gigs in Madison Sq. Backyard or the Albert Corridor.”
Okean Elzy have simply launched their first English track, ‘Voices Are Rising’, with a full English album to observe at a later date.
Mr Vakarchuk discovered the language from a really early age, however admits making the songwriting change wasn’t straightforward.
He explains: “My mom tongue is Ukrainian and I attempt to write in a language I really feel somewhat than speak and even suppose.
“I can communicate English, however in relation to writing it’s a very completely different story as a result of that you must write what you’re feeling. I can write what I really feel in English and folks can perceive it however one way or the other it doesn’t sound cool. Even I as a listener can see that.
“I used to be fortunate to have companions for many of the songs who have been my co-writers and offered me with their good perception.
“It was a terrific expertise to write down songs with some nice songwriters from Britain and the US and I actually cherished it. It’s like a brand new web page for me, to some extent it looks like beginning your profession over, you’re 19 once more and beginning your new journey.”
He and Okean Elzy will play a charity gig in Edinburgh on April 19 as a part of their Assist for Ukraine tour, and it is with real emotion the frontman talks about Scotland.
Mr Vakarchuk says: “I’ve been to Edinburgh twice with my household and I can inform you I really like town, and I really like Scotland usually a lot.
“It’s among the best nations I’ve ever seen, the surroundings of the Highlands and Edinburgh. I haven’t been to Aberdeen or Glasgow however Edinburgh is wonderful and I’m very a lot wanting ahead to coming again to play.
“I’ve a possibility to say how grateful Ukrainians are to all British individuals – English, Scots, Welsh, whoever – for supporting Ukraine.
“We see the assist, and we really feel it too. Not solely in your phrases but additionally in actions.”
