Your recent single, “I Need a Reason” is just incredible. What can you tell me about it?
Thank you so much! It's a very special song for me. I started writing it at the end of my first semester at Berklee, and was inspired by -and dedicated to- one of my best friends. I consider myself a very sensitive person - I feel things quite intensely. It applies both to what I experience and to what my family, friends and people close to me went through. My best friend was in a quite toxic relationship for a long time and I got to see it go from absolute heaven, her being in love, in that magic land to absolute disaster where she was emotionally abused, mistreated and manipulated into staying in a relationship by being told she would never find someone who could love her more. It was devastating to see and my heart was aching for her. As much as I wanted her to leave and advised her to let go of this person, we all know that it's up to the person to do so when they're ready.
The name of the song reflects how she was always looking for a reason to prove her partner right and to hope that one day they would love her the same way they did in the beginning. Over time, she started realizing that this place was bad for her, this person was bad for her, and she couldn't let herself be treated that way any longer. The outro of the song shows her decision to finally leave, even when there was a part that still wanted to believe things could be fixed. She couldn't find any more excuses and forgiveness. Even though it was extremely hard at that moment, it was her happy ending. Lyrics of the song reflect the whole story.
Musically, I wanted to express that love, hope, and belief mixed with sadness, anger, and nostalgia for how things were in the beginning. It's a constant push and pull - an emotional rollercoaster. With the dynamic growth of the song, I wanted to express how suppressed emotions and trauma surface through anger and devastation, and in the end turn into acceptance, and a bittersweet decision to leave. I wanted to make this a powerful ballad, with an emotional arrangement that would support the story so that even if there were no lyrics you could still feel it through the strings, piano, harmonies, and dynamic growth. At its core, I Need a Reason is about reclaiming your strength and that's a topic I try to explore in a lot of my songs - finding beauty and hope even in painful moments.
I really hope this song reaches people who might see themselves in it. Sometimes we stay in places that no longer help us grow simply because they once felt safe. We love so deeply that we forget we deserve to be loved just as much in return. In a healthy relationship, you shouldn’t feel constantly drained or uncertain of your worth. It takes courage to leave, but it also takes self-love to recognize that real love is shown through actions, not promises. I’m so happy this song is finally out and hope it speaks to those who need it most and maybe it helps someone feel understood.
Do you see more studio work in your future?
Absolutely!! I would spend 24/7 in the studio recording and creating music if I could do so. It’s one of the most fun parts for me. I love getting into the emotion of the music and just capturing it in the recording, experimenting, trying things. I love the creative process, making things up on the spot, trying out new sounds, capturing moments you didn’t plan and coming back to comping later, finding tons of creative ways to use it. It’s such a great feeling when I’m singing or playing myself, but also I LOVE to collaborate with other musicians and experience how they connect with what I wrote. There’s always something magical happening in the room.
You’re a graduate of Berklee College of Music. What’s the biggest thing Berklee did for your career?
I am beyond grateful for Berklee because it definitely got my skills on a whole another level. First of all, I did CWP which taught me variety of different skills, from arranging and composing to producing, mixing and mastering. Those skills allow me to create independently as well as collaborate with other people and be able to explain exactly what it is I want to capture and express, using proper terminology and being professional. It gave me a great strong base that I use in my career and I am looking forward to developing it further. Second of all, it's amazing friends and fellow professionals I met. It’s a pool of like-minded and extremely talented people, and I feel honored to know them and to have had the opportunity to collaborate with many of them - featuring them on my songs, producing for them, or writing arrangements. I’m continuing to work with many of the same people, and I know those connections will last a long time because there’s already so much trust and understanding between us. There are so many people I’m sure we’ll soon see on big screens and hear about everywhere - I’m certain of it, and I can’t wait for their talent and the heart they put into their work to be heard. And last but not least, a huge shout out to the incredible professors who guided me through and constantly inspired me to keep writing and growing as a musician.
Who or what would you say are your biggest musical influences?
Lana del Rey without a doubt!!! I am a huge fan of her music and lyricism. I’ve been obsessed with her music for years. There’s just something about the way she writes that is emotional, poetic and honest. Her music really influenced the way I write and think about songs. She always has a mix of beauty and sadness in the same space. I’ve learned a lot from her about letting things breathe, not rushing, and just allowing emotion to lead instead of trying to make everything perfect. I admire the "imperfections" in her production like a slightly untuned vocal or uneven layering. It adds honesty and highlights what she’s trying to say. Vocally too - I love how she uses her voice, soft and vulnerable, almost like an instrument. I try to do that in my songs too, to let the emotion come through naturally. I also love love love how visual her world is. Every song feels like a little movie: you can see it, it's very vivid. That’s something I think about a lot when I write or produce, how to make people feel like they’re inside the song. Definitely the biggest inspiration and influence.
If you could cover any Disney song, which one would you choose? Why?
Immediate answer - "Part Of Your World"! First of all, I just have an obsession with mermaids:) I always connected with any mermaid story in a special way (that's exactly why I have a song about it). Stories, legends and myths about them always drew my attention, and it, of course, includes "The Little Mermaid". I loved it as a child but also fell in love with it watching live action - which I think was brilliant. And I always connected to the song - the longing of Ariel to get to the place she has never been before and have these new experiences.
What are your immediate musical goals?
Right now, my main focus is finishing and releasing my upcoming singles and album. I’ve been working on it for a while during my studies at Berklee, and I really want to make sure every song feels true to the story and emotions behind it. There’s a blend of different genres and topics on the album, so I’m trying to find the best way to approach the promotion and really show how everything connects. Right now, I’m just focused on all the last touches and making sure it feels complete. In my plans, I want to release two or three more singles and then launch the full album. At the same time, I’m continuing to write new music, collaborate with other artists, and grow as a producer and a composer. I want to keep developing my sound and keep learning with every project I do.
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I am so excited about this new music!
As always, I want to thank Svitlana for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to accompany the interview.
I'm sure you’ll all want to follow her and see what she has going on. I would follow her on Instagram and Spotify to make sure you don't miss a thing.
Thanks again, Svitlana, and good luck reaching your goals!
Photos by Anzhela
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