VOOICE: Finding His Voice Through Chaos

VOOICE: Finding His Voice Through Chaos

Emerging from Ukraine’s underground alternative scene, VOOICE has spent the last few years transforming personal struggles, displacement, and emotional upheaval into a growing catalog of intense and deeply personal music. Now based temporarily in Bulgaria after leaving his homeland, the solo artist has embraced the sound he always dreamed of creating: a blend of metalcore, alternative metal, and raw emotional expression.

With recent tracks such as “Your Enemy,” “Poisoned Blood,” and “Rain of My Regrets,” VOOICE is channeling real-life experiences into music that resonates with listeners dealing with their own battles. We caught up with him to discuss his journey from rap to metalcore, his biggest musical influences, life after Ukraine, and what lies ahead.

First, introduce yourself and tell me what you do in the band.
I’m actually not in a band. VOOICE is a solo project. I’m the vocalist, songwriter, and creator behind everything. All of the music is written and produced by me.

Where are you based now, and what’s the music scene like there?
I’m originally from Ukraine, but I’m currently living in Bulgaria. I had to leave Ukraine a couple of years ago. Bulgaria is more of a temporary stop for me, a transition period before the next chapter of my life. I’m still looking toward the future and exploring opportunities in other countries as well.

As for the music scene, the local metal scene here is relatively small. There are some great people, but it’s not a very large scene right now.

Did you experience the war firsthand before leaving Ukraine?
Yes. I was still living in Ukraine when the war began, and my hometown was affected by the conflict. My parents still live there, and being so close to everything happening was incredibly difficult.

Eventually, I felt that I needed to leave. Beyond the obvious dangers and uncertainty, it became very hard to focus on music or build any kind of creative career. Even simple things like filming music videos or working on projects became difficult. It was a challenging situation, and leaving felt like the best decision for my future.

There are some great bands that have come out of Ukraine, like Jinjer and Drag Me Out. Are you familiar with them?
Absolutely. I’m a huge fan of Drag Me Out. Dennis Stoff was a major inspiration for me when I was younger. I don’t know him personally, but I’ve heard a lot of positive things about him.

I was also a big fan of his time in Asking Alexandria. That band had a huge impact on me growing up. I remember listening to them when I was sixteen or seventeen years old and being incredibly excited when Dennis joined the band. Those records influenced me a lot.

I actually saw Dennis perform with Asking Alexandria during the Warped Tour here in Los Angeles. He was fantastic.
Absolutely. For me, Dennis was one of the most exciting vocalists in the scene. I have a lot of respect for him and what he accomplished.

Let’s talk about your own music. What projects were you involved with before starting VOOICE?
Before VOOICE, I was making completely different kinds of music. A lot of it was rap and more electronic-oriented material. At the time, I was influenced by the people around me and the circles I was part of.

But honestly, creating rock and metal music was always my dream. Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to make metalcore and heavier music. That’s the music that really connected with me.

When I started working on my Ukrainian material, especially Ashes of Consciousness, I began moving toward a heavier sound. There wasn’t some grand concept behind it. I simply wanted to express my feelings honestly.

Like many artists, music helps me fight my inner demons. For me, it’s something even deeper than that. It’s the voice inside me that I can’t always share in everyday life. Through my music, I can express things that would otherwise stay hidden.

Is there an overall story or concept behind your recent single “Your Enemy”?
Yes. “Your Enemy” is heavily inspired by my own experiences. It’s rooted in a very difficult period of my life.

The song deals with toxic relationships and everything that comes after them, especially the isolation and anxiety that can linger long after they’re over. It reflects a very dark and personal chapter of my life, which is why the song sounds so intense emotionally.

Tell me about “Poisoned Blood.”
“Poisoned Blood” comes from a more recent period of my life when I made some major lifestyle changes. It was a turning point for me, and I found myself confronting parts of myself that I had been avoiding for a long time.

The song is very personal because it’s about change, self-reflection, and trying to move forward from things that were holding me back. It’s really about facing yourself honestly and deciding who you want to become.

And then there’s “Rain of My Regrets,” another fantastic track. Tell me about that one.
Thank you very much.  I wrote “Rain of My Regrets” while working at sea for about six months. When you’re isolated for that long and spending so much time alone with your thoughts, you inevitably start revisiting moments from your past.

You think about the mistakes you’ve made, the things you wish had happened differently, and experiences that still stay with you. If you’re not careful, that kind of overthinking can slowly consume you from the inside. You end up replaying those memories over and over like a broken record.

Because of that, the song is one of the most personal tracks I’ve ever written. It’s really an expression of regret, reflection, and the struggle to let go of the past.

Let’s talk about Попіл Свідомості (Ashes of Consciousness), the full-length album you released a few years ago. Looking back on that era of your music, what do you think of it now?
Ashes of Consciousness was a very significant release for me because it marked the moment when I decided to move away from the kind of music I had been making before and start creating the music I had dreamed about since childhood.

Looking back now, I can definitely see a lot of mistakes and signs of my own inexperience. But at the same time, judging from the reaction of listeners, I think it brought something fresh to the Ukrainian scene at that time.

That means a lot to me because it helped me understand what people were looking for. Trends in music are always changing. For a long time, rap was the dominant sound, but now I think many listeners want to hear more emotion again. They want music that reminds them of the sounds and feelings that came from the 2000s era of rock and metal.

You have various cover songs on your YouTube channel. Have any artists or fans ever reached out to you regarding those covers?
Not really regarding the covers themselves, but I’ve seen people posting covers of my own songs on TikTok and sending them to me through Instagram.

That’s always amazing to see. When someone takes the time to learn your song and perform it, it’s incredibly inspiring. As an independent artist, it can be difficult trying to push your music forward, so seeing that kind of support gives me a lot of motivation.

Have you ever had the chance to perform live?
V\Yes, I played a few live shows while I was living in Ukraine. They were relatively small events, and they were connected to a style of music that I don’t really identify with anymore.

Now I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to perform the music I’m making today. There are definitely challenges involved, but I believe those challenges are only temporary.

Here in Los Angeles, musicians seem to be everywhere. What about Bulgaria? Have you met any musicians there who you could collaborate with?
To be honest, I haven’t really explored the local music scene very much. Bulgaria has been more of a temporary stop for me rather than a permanent home, so I’ve been focused primarily on my own projects.

Most of my musical influences come from the British and American metalcore scenes, and that’s where a lot of my attention goes creatively.

If you could open for any band from the past or present, who would it be?
It would be an absolute honor to open for bands like Bring Me the Horizon, Counterparts, or Asking Alexandria, especially during their early 2010s era.

Those bands had an enormous influence on me growing up. Linkin Park would be another dream choice, of course.

When I’m creating music, I’m constantly trying to improve and push myself to a higher level, and those are some of the artists who inspired me to do that. Sharing a stage with any of them would be a dream come true.

What’s next for you? Do you have any new music coming soon?
Yes, absolutely. My next release will be a collaboration with Sable. The project is known for creating heavy rock and metalcore-style interpretations of popular songs, similar in spirit to what Punk Goes Pop did years ago.

Right now we’re in the final stages of mixing and mastering, and I’m very excited about it. I’ll be gradually promoting the release as we get closer to launch.

Beyond that, there will be a lot of new music coming. I want to push even further into heavier territory. For me, “Your Enemy” leans more toward nu-metal, but I’d like to explore even more metalcore and hardcore influences in future releases.

Last question. Do you have a message for your fans who have been following your journey?
First of all, I want to thank everyone who listens to my music and supports what I do. My fanbase may still be growing, but every bit of support means a lot to me.

I don’t really want to give advice, but if there’s one thing I’d like to tell people, it’s this: follow your dreams no matter what.

Keep moving forward, even when things become difficult. If there’s something you truly believe in, don’t give up on it.

And most importantly, thank you to everyone who has supported me so far.

In Conclusion

VOOICE may still be at the beginning of his journey, but his determination is unmistakable. Drawing upon experiences that most artists never have to face, he has transformed uncertainty, isolation, and personal struggle into music that feels both honest and cathartic. With new collaborations on the horizon and an increasing focus on heavier sounds, VOOICE is continuing to evolve while staying true to the emotional core that defines his work. If “Your Enemy,” “Poisoned Blood,” and “Rain of My Regrets” are any indication, his voice is only growing stronger.

For more information on VOOICE and upcoming releases, follow his social media channels and streaming platforms for the latest updates.

(Interview by Ken Morton)

VOOICE on Instagram