Svyatoslav Vakarchuk on how to assemble a full hall in New York and what is the problem of Ukrainians

Svyatoslav Vakaruk. Photo by Pavel Terekhov.

Concert of “Ocean Elzy” in New York. Photo by Katerina Panova

The Ukrainian group “Okean Elzy” played a sold out show in New York. The rockers performed at the Manhattan Center, Hammerstein Ballroom with a capacity of 3500 people. For two days in a row the hall was full. Organizers of concerts aimed at emigrant audiences rarely manage to gather so many people, much less organize online ticket sales without a hitch.

The musicians left to give their last concert in Chicago. ForumDaily went to the Okean Elzy concert, and then talked with the band leader Svyatoslav Vakarchuk.

Leader of the group "Ocean Elzy". Photo by Pavel Terekhov

Who organized tours for you in New York and what are the specifics of marketing promotion in the USA for our artists?

These concerts were organized by our own company, Kiev. There were no local promoters.

Ukraine is trending now, has this helped you gather more American listeners - or is it still emigrants who go to concerts?

I do not think that Ukraine is really in trend. At least for now. The country will be in trend when it becomes concerned about itself and put its interests first.

Using the example of our group, I can say that we never sit and do not expect that someone will do it for us. Just take and affairs that we consider correct.

A few months ago we were already in New York with a concert of the “Earth” tour, tickets for which ran out in just a couple of days. The hall was small enough for us, and there was only one concert. This time we decided not to look for anyone, but to organize everything ourselves and held two big concerts.

Or another example. Understanding the complexity of the situation in the country, knowing that hospitals and people who suffered in the ATO [anti-terrorist operation] need help, we do not go to ask the authorities or volunteers, but organize our own charitable assistance and transfer it to those who need it. We're just doing our thing. I am sure that this is the key to success - take action!

As Kennedy said: "Do not ask the country what it has done for you, ask what you have done for it." The big problem of the Ukrainians today is that they blame everyone except themselves: there is an external enemy, there are invented compulsory friends and brothers who for some reason need to urgently help, there is some fatal bad luck. And we blame anyone for our troubles, just not in a hurry to understand ourselves.

Alas, you won’t get far with such a philosophy. We must be strong and understand that no matter what happens, we ourselves must make decisions, take responsibility and do everything with our own hands. I think this is the best philosophy.

Was there an opportunity to communicate with the local audience and understand the mood? It is no secret that the majority of immigrants watch Russian television and listen to stories about the junta and the fascists.

The man himself chooses whether to go into his cage and become an animal in the menagerie. This is his personal position, especially in a free country like America. In a total information war, this is the only correct position.

What is your favorite place in New York?

This time I practically didn’t have the opportunity to go anywhere, maybe there’s a moment to stop by Greenwich Village, I love “small” New York, Soho. But although I really love and respect New York for its energy, my favorite American city is still San Francisco, I could live there.