Kentukki, a young Ukrainian musician, tells Wiktoria Sobczak about his new album.
Upcoming Ukrainian artist Nazar Vasilyev, better known by his stage name as Kentukki, shares his experience with releasing an album at just 18-years-old.
In his album, 13 Revelations he talks about losing a friend, heartbreak and much more.
The now 19-year-old tells us talks about how his music helped people who are struggling with thoughts of suicide.
In the 12th song titled ‘’Burden’’ on his first album‘’13 Revelations’’ he said, “whatever grief you’re going through, always remember, quitting life is not a way out, time heals, the right people around you can also heal, music heals.”
On 14 March 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a Tochka-U missile attack hit the centre of Kentukki’s hometown, Donetsk. “I very much hope for the speedy recovery of my city from the hands of the Russian occupants. Donetsk is Ukraine, and this city will never be Russian, no matter how many times they occupy it,’’ Kentukki said.
Born in Yalta, a resort city on the south coast of the Crimean Peninsula, Kentukki resonates with Donetsk more. “Hometown is not where you are born, or where you live right now, your hometown is the city that you yourself feel native. Lately I miss it more and more, and every time something reminds me of it, a familiar smell, a similar place, a random memory, I immediately remember it, and start feeling sad about it,’’ he said.
However, only one song stirs his innermost feelings, the 6th track on the album titled, ‘With a wolfish look’. In this song, Kentukki tells a story about a friend from his past. He sings “I don’t define a friend by his nation, or his skin colour, I don’t define a friend by his wallet in his empty pocket – I saw the same things you saw. I grew up the same, brother.
“The only person who deserves my great attention and love is this friend. In essence, this track is like a final goodbye to that person. To me, a friend is of big value, he was another brother to me, that’s what I sing about in the song, this is the only track on the album that brings tears to my eyes.”
“If it wasn’t for the friend, the track ‘Light flashes’ probably wouldn’t have come out, he was the one who pushed me to write it,’’ he says.
‘’This album is not about amazing sound and fashion, but about the meaning, it’s one big continuous story. To understand this album, you need to listen to the words, try to feel what I felt when I put all those lines in the album, and then you will love 13 Revelations.
Kentukki finishes the interview by stating ‘’To all the people who listen to my music, I would just advise them to be patient and be music lovers with me’’.
Wiktoria Sobczak explores one of Dublin’s most popular inline skating communities as they celebrate their 10-year anniversary
Inline skates, unlike typical roller skates, were first designed to work like ice skates. Single-line wheeled shoes go all the way back to 1819. originating in Europe, getting their first patent in Paris.
In the 1990s, at least 22 million people in America strapped on their skates at least once a year as it became the fastest growing sport.
By 2017, that number dropped to 5 million. However, Dublin's comeback, with hundreds of inline skating scene is making joining the community.
Celebrating their 10-year anniversary in April, 'Dublin Rollers' first came together in Club" 2013 as 'Inline Skating 'The last five to six years, our idea is to enjoy skating and to gather people together," says Igor De Souza, a member of the community, admin in Dublin Rollers and past admin of the Dublin Rollers WhatsApp group.
De Souza also organized the 10-year group anniversary event, which reached their record of 32 people skating all around Dublin that day. Initially there were just a few people actively involved in a WhatsApp group. A skater of over 10 years named Simone Marzulli who is currently an admin of the group, then started scheduling regular meetups all around Dublin and became admin.
When the group reached its limit of 250 members, due to the app restrictions, a Telegram group was made, which as of now has over 400 members. Dublin Rollers brought people together and created some wonderful memories.
‘’There are so many incredible people who always help contribute to this community. In the end
I want to say one of the best things about Dublin Rollers is that it’s a real multicultural group. I have lots of stories to tell about this group, but my favorite is when we decided to skate from St. Anne’s Park in Clontarf all the way to Howth, we all started racing together,’’ says Marzulli.
‘’My dream, goal and target has always been to turn Friday Night skate into a massive skating session similar to the Paris Friday Night Skate’’ says Marzulli.
Friday Night Skate is an event that happens every Friday, the group meets up and skates' different routes and distances through Dublin.
"We started Friday Night Skate in 2018 as a regular meetup. It's usually more popular in summertime as the weather gets better. We gather together and go for long skating sessions. The longest distance I skated during Friday Night Skate is from Dublin to Howth, which was roughly 40 km," adds Marzulli.
Over the years, rollerblading has evolved into various niches. At Dublin Rollers, you can find multiple of these styles.
Ed Perez, a member of Dublin Rollers who has been skating for 18 years, skates with in-line skates with three wheels. "It's faster and perfect for jumps," he says.
As for the future for Dublin Rollers and the rollerblading community in Dublin, there are always exciting events and meetups on the horizon.