“On February 24th, 2022 I woke up to the sound of explosions. During the first days of Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine all I could do was watch the news and check on my family and friends in the frontlines and bomb shelters. I couldn’t read books, view TV series or listen to music. When the Internet was down, I didn’t know where else the attacks were going on. Two weeks into the war I finally went around my occupied town to see if the grocery stores had anything left, and realised that I haven’t listened to music in awhile. It was hard to choose something that wouldn't make me burst into tears.

I tried my best to keep in touch with my foreign friends. I couldn’t quite convey in writing the raw emotions I experienced, so I sent William “Good Night, Day” by Jóhann Jóhannsson (a piece blending traditional orchestration with contemporary electronic elements). Slowly I was able to listen to more music. Not as a way of comfort or boosting my morale but more as a way of living through the days that felt scary, long, and dark.

When William shared the music he wrote, I thought that he captured mine and Ukraine’s inner states in a meaningful and nuanced way. It felt that as friends and colleagues we were closer than ever. Many abroad think that there is not much they can do to help Ukraine, but every little bit matters whether that’s creating art, sending a donation or supporting your friend. Music is a powerful weapon, and so is silence.”

— Valeriya Golovina