#lostsleep

Written from the shifting frontiers between Russian and Ukrainian control, Donetsk’s LOSTSLEEP shares deeply personal track “8 Years of Silence”. Though recent escalations have captured global attention, LOSTSLEEP’s latest track is a cathartic release for a city that has been perpetually frozen in conflict for the last 8 years in the restive Donbass region. Yielding to an atmospheric post-rock build where wide-reaching guitars dazzle against blaring air raid sirens, it’s a darkly track that feels strangely optimistic. Though not intended a political statement or to take away from the human tragedy unfolding in Ukraine, LOSTSLEEP expresses his frustration at the global silence experienced in his native Donetsk where the conflict has never stopped. Speaking about the track inspired by continual conflict, LOSTSLEEP had this to say in his deeply personal letter”

“Hi. I was born and raised in Donetsk. In the very one in which the war has been going on for almost 8 years. It began on May 26, 2014, although in fact it was already underway, not just here, but in the areas of Slavyansk, Kramatorsk and other cities. And it was scary. I heard the sounds of shells everywhere. I did not know where to expect a possible arrival from. Somewhere in July-August, I left with my family for Mariupol, where I waited for about a month for this nightmare to end. But that did not happen. I had been in college since October, but the sounds of shots and shells did not subside. Thank God, I was even more than comfortable: I lived in a place where the shells practically did not reach. However, now I have moved to the one of the most dangerous districts of Donetsk. And it's really scary here. Why am I writing about this right now?Because the world has been silent for almost eight years. Now everyone is worried about Ukraine and, believe me, me too. However, not a single celebrity, not a single media personality spoke out against the aggression directed at us. No one paid attention to us and no one wanted to save us. It's OK. I'm used to. I have been at home for the last week. I'm scared. I feel lonely. I'm in pain. I don't really know what to do. I wrote this track to show you what I really feel. And while I was working on it, I practically stopped understanding where I hear explosions from: in this track or outside, on the streets? I'm not doing this to hype and draw attention to myself. I am not writing this to make money. My track can be downloaded absolutely free on Bandcamp. I do this because I'm just tired.”

You can check out the atmospheric “8 Years of Silence” alongside the shoegazing exhilaration of frosty synth track “Personne”:

“8 Years of Silence”

8 Years Of Silence by LOSTSLEEP

“Personne”

Lostsleep