Meet Just Call Me Snow—a Ukrainian artist and songwriter who has traveled from her native Ukraine to New York, with a stopover in Canada. She’s a versatile and hardworking creator who has crossed half the world to pursue her dreams. Snow is known for her cinematic – pop sound, but recently she has boldly entered the world of EDM, showing a readiness to experiment with different genres and collaborate with various artists.

Her new release, #standforpeace, is a powerful statement steeped in personal experience. Written two years ago during the war in Ukraine, the song was finally released on May 31, 2024. Through #standforpeace, Snow conveys the pain, losses, fears, and suffering of those affected by the war, aiming to unite and inspire listeners, as well as draw attention to global events. The lyrics in Ukrainian and English symbolize her dual heritage and the journey she has taken, making the song accessible to a broad audience.

Talking with Snow was exhilarating. She immediately won me over with her honesty. We discussed her new single, the challenges she has faced, and how moving to different countries has influenced her music. She also shared how she finds strength in difficult life situations. Want to know more about her, her new single, and her views on the world? Read our exclusive interview below.

Your single “#standforpeace” draws from deeply personal and painful experiences. How do you navigate the line between using art as a form of activism and maintaining it as a personal catalyst?

Music always made me feel better, no matter the situation. When I feel sad, I listen to music or write a song to release my thoughts and concerns. When I’m happy, listening to music elevates the positive emotions, and I really want to share this feeling through the songs I compose. Music has always been my personal psychologist and supporter. Every time I need to share a thought or a feeling and express myself, a new song is being born. I wrote #standforpeace when I was living in Toronto. I can vividly recall the day when I initially received the news about the war in Ukraine. This feeling of helplessness began the process of writing #standforpeace. I first wrote it as a poem, and some time later, I turned it into a song. It was one of the more difficult songs to create not only because of its plot and the story it told, but also because I felt the responsibility because of the contents to record it in a certain manner, find the perfect beat, and make it the song that would give people goosebumps and help them understand the issues that I’m trying to bring to light.

The choice to sing “#standforpeace” in both Ukrainian and English is quite powerful. Can you elaborate on the challenges and rewards of creating music that bridges linguistic boundaries?

Telling a story in two languages is difficult, as oftentimes there isn’t a direct translation for many of the words and phrases, and while art is meant to be consumed by everyone, not everyone will understand all of the lyrics in the song. Oftentimes our communication is like the song; we miss certain parts, skip over some details, and are not able to portray a full, cohesive story or point. My own journey from growing up in Ukraine, speaking 2 languages, and learning 2 others shows that although the words may be different, the thoughts, lessons, feelings, and issues are the same across languages, borders, and ethnicity. I spent my adult years in North America (Canada and the U.S.), and every day I am using 2 languages to communicate with the people around me. I felt that to best communicate the battle my country is in to listeners, I needed to tell the Ukrainian story in English and Ukrainian. 

As an artist, you’ve chosen to address the profound impacts of war through your music. Do you feel a sense of responsibility to use your voice to influence political or social change? 

I live in New York and have friends and family across the world in Europe, Asia, and South America. I cannot be on the ground struggling and helping my fellow Ukranians, but I can raise awareness in the U.S. and show my solidarity with them by making a song that explains the mind state of fellow struggling Ukranians in their language and English. I don’t think we can change everything through art, but we can be positive contributors to the changes we want to be in the world. 

As an artist who stands for “freedom in art,” what are some artistic boundaries you think still need to be challenged in today’s music industry? 

Growing up, I often heard the phrase, “You can’t be good at everything; you have to focus on one thing and reach perfection.” We also hear a common phrase, “A jack of all trades is a master of none,” but people forget to finish the rest of the quote, “There is oftentimes better than a master of one.” I think that it’s absolutely possible to be good at everything that you are actively taking part in. I personally train and practice dancing, singing, painting, makeup, photography, design/fashion, and many others. 

Each of those past skills gave me a new experience and made me a more diverse creative today. As an artist, it’s vital that you are able to adapt to any situation and explore more pathways and directions. At a certain point in my life, I was actually concerned about my inability to pick one thing to do and just become an expert at that skill in particular. I was good at a lot of things; I would even say that whatever I put my mind to, I always accomplished, accepted that challenge, and then found more things to explore. Freedom in art for me is to be able to have no limits to creativity, hobbies, and ways of self-expression. Now, when I am telling people about my life stories or creative/professional experience, they look quite surprised about me having experience and accomplishment in almost every artistic field. And I love it. I love that I can adapt to any situation and use my diverse knowledge. 

New York City is a melting pot of artistic expressions. How has living in NYC shaped your approach to music and collaboration compared to your experiences in Canada or Ukraine?

I started my music career when I was already in Canada, so I can’t say much about the music industry and how it feels to be an emerging artist in Ukraine. I feel like I am closer to reaching my full potential since I moved to NYC. I had my first performance 3 days after my arrival, released my first collaboration track 2 months later, and had 30+ shows in only one year. Moving to a different city might have felt like starting from scratch, but NYC is unique and makes everything happen faster, providing you an endless stream of opportunities and ways to show who you are and what you came here for. 

Although I wouldn’t say that my artistic career really “started” in NYC, my whole way of thinking significantly changed; my network grows every day, and I’ve had achievements I couldn’t have thought about. NYC brought a huge amount of inspiration to me, introduced me to a new world of music and possibilities, and gave me that breath of fresh air when I needed it the most. 

What do you think are the simple steps we can take to make the world a more peaceful place, and how can art help in this process?

It’s all about being mindful and educated on what’s going on in the world, not just within your social circle. And most importantly, being able and willing to help the ones in need. One person won’t change the world and won’t stop the wars, but they definitely can influence their community, inspire others to do good, and be a part of that positive change. Art helps people express their thoughts, visions, and feelings, so I’m hoping to do the same through #standforpeace.

You’ve lived in Ukraine, Canada, and now NYC. What differences have you noticed among the people in these places, and how have these experiences shaped your perspectives?

I’d say that Ukraine shaped the leadership, curiosity, and cultural spirit, as since I was in school, there were a lot of cultural events that the students were in charge of, including multiple class trips and international conferences. Somehow I was always the one to lead, propose the ideas, and participate in each occasion. With the amount of things happening in my high school years, I learned not only how to be a leader of the community and take initiative, but also to explore the opportunities and always aim for a better life.

Living in Toronto, Canada, influenced my personality, allowed me to be more open-minded, grew in confidence, and taught me the ability to network and easily connect with people. Moving to Toronto was an absolute change in my life perspectives, environment, and creative process. Helping me grow up and embrace my creative nature while channelling my capabilities and using them for good.  My first year in the U.S. taught me how to work hard towards my dreams and overcome all the challenges that life throws at me. It’s been a long way to being financially and mentally stable. There were times when giving up seemed like an easier option, but I concluded that it would not be fair to myself and my loved ones to let go of everything we are working towards. Living in the U.S. made me stronger and showed me how much I can achieve just by putting in a little bit more effort.

Now I can say that I feel happy with the progress and the future plans for my music. I work with a lot of other industry professionals, collaborate with diverse artists, and perform consistently, continuing to build my career as a singer-songwriter in the most challenging city in the world, and I am absolutely ready to take this challenge and work as hard as I can to make it in the city where anything is possible.

As a public figure, you have the power to influence trends. What are your thoughts on sustainable fashion, and do you incorporate eco-friendly or ethical clothing choices into your wardrobe?

Sustainable is the way forward for all of our products and all the things we consume on a daily basis. I play around with lots of different styles, designs, and types of clothing—streetwear, business, gowns, and dresses—and it really depends on the setting and my mood. I always advocate for smaller, homesourced brands that are showcasing their art and plan to grow, keeping sustainability, innovation, and designs front of mind. 

After a busy period of writing, recording, and performing, what’s your favourite way to relax and recharge? 

To be honest, there is no such thing as relaxing or taking a break for me at the moment; there is so much work that can still be done that I simply can’t afford to waste any time. As I am currently working on my future releases and growing my network, it takes all of the time in my day. I have a full-time job along with multiple part-time jobs, record my music on the weekends, and go to diverse creative and networking events whenever it has value and I can spare the time. 

It might sound like a lot, but I actually enjoy having my days busy and seeing my career progress over time. Progress usually seems like it’s all going slowly and there is still so much to accomplish. But when I look back to the moment of my arrival in the U.S., I realize that in 1.5 years I have achieved more than I could’ve imagined. Understanding this motivates and inspires me to aim for more and work harder. There will be plenty of time to relax and enjoy life. I will decide on what terms it will be and definitely want to do it when I am fully independent and successfully able to get my message out to millions.

Do you have any specific rituals that help you unwind?

I do have a ritual after my performances. I always have a bubble tea or an ice cream after my shows as a little treat. I use this as a small motivation before getting on stage; this way I know that I have to hit every note, bring energy, and leave a good impression; otherwise, I don’t deserve the after-show treat.  It’s interesting that before this interview, I didn’t consciously realize I had a ritual.

Being exposed to various cultures, you must have tried a myriad of cuisines. What’s your favorite dish to celebrate a successful show?

In New York City, with its incredible variety of cuisines, I have a hard time picking just one favorite dish. But if I had to celebrate a successful show or just a new music achievement, I’d go for a Korean BBQ set, beef tartare, or ceviche. Each of these dishes would perfectly complement the joy I had from performance or the work I’ve done and would leave me happy and satisfied.

Connect with Just Call Me Snow via Instagram