Details: Anyone attempting to write about Slava Vakartschuk and his band Okean Elzy can't help but stray beyond the music itself. Which, in a way, is a shame given that they've been writing rock anthems that easily fill stadiums since the late 90s and early 2000s. For decades, Okean Elzy have been making waves across their home country Ukraine. Their tracks, such as "?? ????" ("Na Nebi") and "??? ???" ("Bez boyu"), exude empathy and tenderness unique to a vocalist like Svjatoslav Vakarchuk, aka Slava. Whether delivering raspy timbres, poetic whispers, or grand vocal drama, the band's lead singer excels in versatility. In the Spring of 2024, Okean Elzy are gearing up to release their upcoming single "Voices Are Rising", a track that serves as a testament to their prowess. Starting with folksy guitar sounds and Slava's softly sung lyrics about losing time, feeling less, and slowly drifting out into the open sea, the music and rising voices ultimately pull him back onto the safe mainland. With the song's gradually building crescendo and the captivating power of it's chorus, one could be inclined to think Slava called Coldplay's Chris Martin to get a few tips. An idea that's not too far-fetched, considering Martin is a fan of Okean Elzy and even covered the band's song "??????" at a Coldplay concert in Warsaw back in 2022. The title roughly translates to "Hold Me", and although it was already written in 2013, it has recently become a great anti-war anthem in Ukraine.