Interview for the Ukrainian Field Notes blog
- Vlad Fisun
- 6 days ago
- 12 min read
British journalist Jeanmarco del Re has been blogging about Ukrainian music since May 2022, which has also turned into two volumes of books, music collections and a great friendship with the Ukrainian community. In the summer of 2025, Jeanmarco visited Ukraine and met with our team. He spoke with co-founder Volodymyr Nedogoda about the art therapy program VictoryBeats.org , and with Yevhen Skrypnyk and Andreas Bosch about the launch, construction and capabilities of EnterDJ. Link to the English original
Zhenya Skrypnyk: Hi, my name is Zhenya, I'm from Sloviansk, Donetsk region, Ukraine. My main role is the head of the Shum Rave NGO. We implement many projects related to music and cultural heritage.
Andreas Bosch: Hi, I'm Andreas, I'm Swiss, I live in Kyiv, I own several nightclubs, one of them is HVLV. I also participate in other cultural and musical initiatives. Since this year I've been living here full-time.
— Could you introduce EnterDJ?
Andreas Bosch: I wasn’t in the project from the very beginning, but I joined thanks to our mutual friend Vlad Fisun. Once he said, “There’s a music therapy project with a friend in Lviv,” and I went to see Victory Beats. I attended two or three sessions with veterans, and then I kind of switched on — I realized that this really works. I thought we need to launch this in Kyiv. Well, actually, in many places, but the first thing that came to mind was HVLV. Because HVLV is not just a bar or a music venue, it’s a cultural hub. It was a project that I wanted to work on for a long time. Everything is based on music therapy. It was very convincing, and we found a format. We made a presentation. The idea is not only for veterans, it’s suitable for anyone with PTSD, depression — which currently affects 90% of the population of Ukraine. In general, EnterDJ is not just a DJ school, it’s something completely different. It’s about developing the mind.
When I was at Superhumans in Lviv with Victory Beats, I realized that there was much more to this project than just DJing. I became very close to the veterans who participated, and the results were nothing short of impressive. There were also scientists who supported and explained what exactly music does to a person. For me, this is an exciting project. I am not a practicing musician, I collect music. But since I am involved in the entire cultural program of HVLV, I realized that we should spread this throughout Ukraine, ideally.
Zhenya Skrypnyk: I was also invited to this project by Vlad Fisun. We met in Slavyansk, and for Vlad, DJing has always been something more than just music. I heard from him about music therapy back during COVID, when he developed a small program for people who were going through difficult times at home. So, Vlad had been thinking about this project for a long time, and when he invited me to EnterDJ, a lot had already been done there by him and Vova Nedogoda from Victory Beats. They already had results — and they were incredible. When veterans shared their impressions at the presentations at HVLV — those were the moments that brought tears to my eyes. This is something special — DJing as therapy, as a journey into music that allows you to forget about the pain.
Andreas Bosch: And Vlad really knows how to do it. Actually, that's how I started DJing - it helped me in life. I was just a music collector, but, you know, when you see Vlad - his technical skills are impressive. I play with vinyl, which is already difficult, but with Vlad it's not just technique - it's selecting tracks, digging into the culture behind the music. And I understand how it works - because it helped me myself. This is the most wonderful project I'm currently involved in. — You mentioned that there is a scientific basis for this. Could you tell me more?
Andreas Bosch: I saw the first results of music therapy when I was at the Superhumans center in Lviv. I met two guys — Sasha, who lost a leg, and Roman, who lost both. There was also another participant who couldn’t use his hand — all the doctors said it wouldn’t work. But now he plays the guitar like a rock star — which means it’s all in his head.
When Nigel Osborne (a British composer, teacher, and volunteer) came to us, he simply explained that it wasn't a miracle—it was the work of neurons, and it really works. He conducted several sessions with the participants—and it all works.
We don't have a strictly scientific approach, but it's great that we have confirmation from scientists. It's not a miracle - these are proven facts, and there really is a lot of research now. I would be interested to read more about this, but we already have results. We work with people on a human level. But it's important to know that the effect is real, we see it, and scientific support is great.
— In Lviv, Victory Beats works with Superhumans. What is the situation in Kyiv, who do you collaborate with?
Zhenya Skrypnyk: We just held a presentation of the project in Kyiv. Now we are looking for a format to launch offline groups, and maybe those who read this will want to join - we will definitely find a way. That is why we invited HVLV and Andreas to cooperate - because HVLV is not just a bar, it is a cultural place, and we want to do offline courses there. During the presentation, we received many contacts from people who want to join as teachers, and not only in DJing, but also in music production.
Andreas Bosch: By the way, we opened the original HVLV nine years ago, and seven years ago we opened the upper club, it was inclusive from the very beginning. It was almost unused, but now it has turned out to be very useful. We are also looking for partners for funding, because this project cannot exist without support. It is not large-scale, but if we want to expand throughout Ukraine, we need funding and people who will work on it full-time.
Now, as Zhenya said, we are at the stage of finding access to those who want to participate in the program. Of course, there will be a combination of online and offline. In general, we should be a hub. I have already contacted many friends - musicians and composers, and they are all happy to participate in the sessions. Many are ready to play together with veterans or other participants. Participation will be free, so we need funding. We already have preliminary interest from a potential donor - let's see how everything goes.
— Question about funding: are you looking for private donors or also institutional funding?
Zhenya Skrypnyk: We are looking for any funding! And then it will depend. It would be cool if private companies or businesses joined us. Also, as a registered NGO, we will be able to apply for grants. Andreas: We are definitely looking for institutional funding as well, but we will see. We know that we will do it under any circumstances. I am a person who punches through walls with my head. Everything is fine — the project is on the right track. We have been implementing it on a volunteer basis for two years, so it seems like we don’t have to look for money tomorrow. But if we want to scale it — we need funding.
— When I came to Superhumans with Victory Beats, I got the impression that it was like a space where you could come whenever you felt like it and were ready. But you talk about both courses and real training. How exactly is EnterDJ structured?
Andreas Bosch: Obviously, the huge advantage is having a center inside the clinic. This could be a model that we can replicate. HVLV is also great for that. That we don't know yet how to work with veteran hubs, because there are logistical difficulties: you have to physically get there. But we can manage.
Vova is more involved in this - he has contacts with all the veteran hubs. And I'm here to organize everything that's needed. Yes, there are logistical difficulties, but we want to hold offline classes with live music, DJing...
— When you talk to veterans or civilians, what do they tell you? Do they come with expectations? What motivates them to get involved?
Zhenya Skrypnyk: From what I saw during the presentation, people come because they are interested in trying DJing - and then it turns out that it also helps their mental health.
Andreas Bosch: The most important thing is respect for their rhythm. Some of them are more open, have already overcome some of their social fears. Of the two guys who came here and whom I know well, Sasha is already very open, he came to my DJ set and danced right on the dance floor. And Roman, at first, I didn't even imagine myself giving a speech at HVLV in front of 30 or 40 strangers. So the impact is huge.
I'm really proud of how much they've grown in such a short time. They're passionate, they love it. You can see the progress. Vlad, of course, helps them, throws them music to explore. But the guys are incredibly talented and passionate, they dig the music, develop their skills - and forget about everything else.
— A small clarification: where does the name HVLV come from and how to pronounce it correctly?
Andreas Bosch: One of our founders is very good at coming up with names. HVLV is pronounced "Hvylovy", in honor of Mykola Khvylovy, a Ukrainian poet. And the word "wave" also comes from here. All our establishments have double names. For example, there is BAR BAGRIANY - in honor of Ivan Bahryany. All these poets suffered during the Soviet era. By the way, "bharyany" is a shade of red. And this color is everywhere in the establishment.
The third establishment is KIY Billiards. "Kiy" is both the founder of Kyiv and the name of the Kyiv billiard cue. That's the story.
— I've noticed that people are sometimes shy about talking to veterans because they're afraid of traumatizing them. What's your approach?
Andreas Bosch: I'm from Switzerland, and for me, communicating with veterans is normal. People in wheelchairs live there like everyone else. Switzerland has a great support system. Whether you're blind, deaf, or in a wheelchair, everyone gets decent help. There's still a lot of work ahead of us in Ukraine.
In terms of communication, I don't hesitate to reach out to a person in a wheelchair, and that will definitely help me with this project. Veterans may have deeper trauma, but there are many such people with different conditions. I'm trying to better understand the life of a veteran, because I understand that they have almost no financial support. This is one of the topics I want to deal with.
Zhenya Skrypnyk: I'm from Eastern Ukraine, where the war started 10 — no, 12 years ago. We saw a lot of veterans at Shum Rave events in Sloviansk. For me, communicating with them is normal. But the problem with inclusive places throughout Ukraine remains. That's why HVLV is a very good place, it's inclusive, and this is very important after a full-scale invasion.
When we had our presentation at HVLV, there was a concert of a hard rock band there that same day, and there were a lot of veterans in the audience — you can see it from the T-shirts, the chevrons. We need more concert venues that are inclusive. And the country needs to become more inclusive.
— When you say "inclusivity", do you mean accessibility for people in wheelchairs or inclusion in the sense of gender, sexual orientation?..
Andreas Bosch: Community…
Zhenya Skrypnyk: I mean everything. The space should be accessible to people in wheelchairs and with prostheses, and people should feel free in these places. Because among veterans and military personnel there are representatives of different communities — with different musical tastes, with different sexual orientations, with different leisure priorities. Someone wants to listen to rock, someone — to drink tea and chill. Therefore, when I say “inclusivity,” I mean full compliance with different needs.
Andreas Bosch: And I think it's important that veterans are present among different audiences - because it shouldn't be some kind of show. The more veterans are in music spaces among other people, the more comfortable they will be, and also for other people. It should become a normal part of life. I would like it not to be the norm, but this is the reality - and this problem will not disappear, but on the contrary, it will only grow. Therefore, awareness is very important. "Inclusion" is both about physical accessibility and about social activity. And with this there is still a distance - people don't know how to communicate. Even some of my colleagues say: "Be careful..." Sorry, they just want to have a good time. And people think that you can't talk to them like everyone else - of course you can. But it's important to follow their rhythm - some of them are shy.
Zhenya Skrypnyk: A small example from the technical side — DJ consoles have a standard height and design. But we have two guys in wheelchairs who want to DJ, and they need a different table, different access to the equipment. So it's worth thinking about.
Andreas Bosch: The more you think about it, the more ideas you have for what to do - and it's endless.
— In Superhumans, the music room was completely equipped by Vova… Andreas Bosch: Yes, and it's great.
— There are a lot of instruments there. And what is your situation? Is it just DJing or are there other instruments?
Andreas Bosch: This is where the good starts! First of all, HVLV is one of the places with the best sound in Ukraine. I asked Roman: “How do you like playing here?” And he said: “Wow!” It feels good when there is quality sound. That is, for DJing it is great. And for live music we have musician friends who are ready to bring instruments, play with the participants, use DJ controllers or live instruments – whatever.
We will buy some of the equipment. This is my other project - we have a basement, and we will turn it into a recording studio. And not just a studio, but an accessible and social studio for young artists. Because life is very difficult for young artists now - it is difficult to earn money, it is difficult to record an album. So the idea is that access should be free or with a minimal fee, thanks to grants. And this studio will have a lot of instruments on a permanent basis.
I have long wanted to combine all these activities. And I would also like to involve veterans in work, because, in my opinion, the government is almost not involved in the issue of employment of veterans. Now the priority is the war, but this is a big problem. And involving veterans in the musical sphere can be a way of integration.
That's my plan for now, but in the meantime, we'll start with musician friends who are already ready to help. This is Ukraine. Everyone helps everyone.
— You mentioned the financial difficulties of veterans. How do you convince a potential donor to support music if there are supposedly “more important” needs?
Andreas Bosch: There are still many institutions that think about culture. And they are open to such ideas. I’m not saying that this is priority number 1 — there are so many needs, I don’t know where to start. But there are people who understand the value of culture. It is the only language that the whole world understands. Through culture, we will definitely find funding for our project. We have just started working in this direction, but I am sure that it is possible. Although now, without support from America, it is much less…
— Have you personally experienced the cessation of support from USAID?
Andreas Bosch: Personally, no. But 90% of my friends are in a very difficult situation right now.
Zhenya Skrypnyk: As Shum Rave, we have been working closely with USAID in Sloviansk since 2015. Thanks to their programs, we have developed Ukrainian culture in the Eastern region. I have gained a lot of experience working with them, and the closure of USAID is a big problem. And not only for culture - but also for education, healthcare. We have no research that would show what will happen in five years without this support. In small cities like Sloviansk, or in the regions of Kherson region that received assistance from USAID, we do not know what everything will look like in three years without cultural events and without the people who organized them.
Before the full-scale invasion, there was money from small businesses for cultural events. But now both small and large businesses work for the army. Many cultural figures also joined the army. And now it is very difficult to implement cultural events without international donors.
Cultural initiatives under USAID were only a small part of the budget — they mainly supported infrastructure. But now we see cultural institutions closing, some media outlets too. This is a big problem. I hope that everyone who needs this support will find it in other ways. But this was a major international donor.
— Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Zhenya Skrypnyk: If you listen to this podcast or read this interview, we have three lessons on our website they are really short, you need only your laptop, no controller or anything. Headphones are preferred but if you only have your laptop, that’s also OK. Go to our site and see what we are talking about, try to figure out how you can make this transition between two songs and play two songs together. If you feel depressed and you want to try something new that doesn’t require a lot of energy, just go to our website and try this. It can help you to understand what we are talking about here. It’s really simple.
Andreas Bosch: Also, keep in mind that this is not a program just for veterans. If you are stuck at home, all you need is a notebook. It is accessible. Try it.
Read the full interview on the Ukrainian Field Notes blog.
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