I believe in the power of positive thoughts and the power of the collective mind. I hope that more and more people will become more conscious and kind soon.
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KATRO ZAUBER , LET THE MUSIC PLAY FOR FREEDOM
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At the end of last February Russian troupes invaded the independent country of Ukraine. Unprecedented in the modern history military conflict has started.
Hundreds of thousands of people had to flee the war leaving behind their homes and theirs hearts broken for ever.
Ukrainian fashion designer, dancers, singers, painters, multidisciplinary artists came to Europe to find new home and support. Brave and bright, these men and women continue to fight for freedom and justice using theirs own weapons: theirs creatives skills and voices.
The heroine of this interview is one of that kind. The most fashionable and stylish DJ in Kiev, this girl had to leave her home city and moved to Amsterdam last March.
We met Katro in Paris, at the anniversary of Springsioux. It was a debut of her first life performance with dark wave duo Dino Velvet as vocalist.
We talked about her creative path, her unique style, her current life and the power of positive thoughts.
First, I appreciate your kind words. It was an honor to perform at SPRINGSIOUX for the all beautiful people including you, my dear. Paris after the lockdown became more charming than ever before.
I am based in Amsterdam now. I was living in Kyiv till the end of February, but after 2d of March I was forced to leave my house and run. Amsterdam is one of the safest and kinder cities in the world for me. I feel good here.
Since 2014 you gained an “unspoken title” as the most fashionable and stylish DJ in Kyiv and you became the official DJ at the Ukrainian Fashion Week, but I believe that the story started even earlier: when and how did you start to play music?
In 2006 I started to collect vinyl records and learn how to mix them. I was working in nightclubs as a promoter, booking manager, host, and pr manager. I was enjoying a lot of opportunities to be inside the nightlife. Music, lights, DJs, and free people on the dance floor – the atmosphere was amazing and I inspired a lot of the rave culture.
That’s how I smoothly moved from the management to the decks. I started to play my records at the underground parties and later became a resident in the SkyArtCafe – a place designed as a spaceship on the rooftop of the contemporary art museum PinchukArtCentre. That was an unforgettable time.
After several years in the clubs, I started to work with Ukrainian designers and fashion brands. Later with worldwide brands, including Dior, Cartier, Diesel, Puma, Lexus, BMW. Fashion, art, design, and architecture were and are the most powerful inspiration for me. Rather say, people who do create on all these spheres. I love different music and every collaboration with a brand is always a fun challenge.
Good question. I think my style begins in childhood. When I was a teenager, I had two obsessions: singing and clothes design. I sewed almost all wardrobes from 13 till 20 years old. I was an extraordinary girl and always too bright for the gray and boring school atmosphere. I appreciate my mom, who always enjoyed my crazy looks and never minded my choices.
The next level of self-identification was when I went to the flea market in Kyiv for the very first time. That’s a big area of mountains of clothes and you can find some crazy vintage stuff.
I think I started to work with many Ukrainian fashion designers after our first big after-show party in Odesa with Lili Litkovskaya. She has been my friend since childhood. We both were born in Bucha city and became friends when we were kids.
Lili Litkovskaya is a genius and for me, it’s an honor to be her friend and to collaborate from time to time for more than 10 years. She is one of the main people who are involved in my style I guess.
What are your favorite fashion brands?
Litkovskaya, Better.us, Maison Margiela, Prada, Acne Studios, Elena Velez, BEssARION, Isabel Marant, Patagonia.
You travel a lot and definitely have a very “European”, open mentality if one’s exist, is there any particular place where you feel best? Home or “adopted” home like?
At the beginning of March, I was forced to run from Ukraine to the Netherlands because of the war. I never had the experience of living abroad before. And now, after half of the year, I can feel the difference. What can I say? I love my country and I want to be there, but I don’t see how I can be useful with my skills in Ukraine now. In Amsterdam, I feel safe, comfortable, and calm. It’s not easy to build a new life from the “zero level”, everything takes time.
Here I see opportunities and feel huge support, I can continue the music creation and talk about Ukrainian culture with the world.
Besides fashion, have you collaborated or probably envisaged collaborating with any contemporary artists?
As I said before, the first place where I was a resident dj of cafe at the contemporary art center in Kyiv. I have loved art and the atmosphere of museums for many years. I have many friends who are artists in Kyiv, Paris, London, and New York. Last year I was playing a dj set for Ukrainian artist Kostritskaya Anna at her art exhibition dedicated to feminine power, who is based in London now. She is a fantastic talented girl and I’m happy to know her and have one piece of her art.
After moving to Amsterdam I was supporting the DJ set opening of The Cached house (Door Open Space, NDSM) – a huge exhibition of more than 50 artists dedicated to the war that Russia unleashed in Ukraine.
Also, I have ideas for collaboration with artists and want to create something beautiful together, uniting audio and visual art.
Even if it’s not easy to talk about, we cannot avoid the current military invasion of your native Ukraine. How did it impact you personally and professionally? Probably you have a message to pass to our audience regarding this topic?
It’s not easy to live and observe the brutal criminal genocide against my homeland. Russia is a terrorist state and all world understands that, but the war still isn’t over. Hundreds of thousands of people were brutally killed, cities are allowed, and people stayed without homes. Simple peaceful people. My brother has been a warrior since 2014, he was in East Ukraine and came back home alive. This is a miracle for our family and I am so proud of him! Now he works in the charity organization Support Azov and I am trying to help him to draw attention to the project in Europe. The “Support Azov” project united veterans of the “Azov” regiment, the Patronage Service of the unit, and the “Azovstali” Association of Defenders’ Families. The goal of the project is to direct forces in all areas of assistance to combat units, wounded fighters, and families of fallen and captured Heroes.
I am glad that I can be performing in Europe and draw attention to Ukraine.
For example, on the 24th of September I played on the Techno Parade in Paris with other Ukrainian Dj’s to show people in France our power and bravery.
I became a DJ because I was and still am in love with music. After 15 years of this amazing experience, I started to produce my music. I think it happens naturally and logically – with interest in the new knowledge to create music with all my own experience. I love to write lyrics and make a piece of music and I can do it everywhere. Plains, trains, home, studio. For inspiration I need to feel good, I can be inspired by nature, flowers, people, birds, light and shadow, deeds of a kind person, or good news. To be in harmony with my physical and mental health is the most important thing for creating. Sometimes I can be sad and write lyrics, then I feel better.
But for the hard work, I need to be full of energy, in a good mood, and have clean thoughts so I can create something real.
To be honest, I don’t have big plans because I am trying to live today, after the 24th of February I understood that your plans can be destroyed in one moment. I am open to offers and interesting invitations for collaborations. I want to do more art projects with meaning, not just fun stuff.
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