Kyiv-based progressive rock band Vøvk present their second studio album “Litera”. A conceptual release, it is a cohesive, multi-layered narrative exploring Ukraine’s emotional landscape in wartime. Although the word “war” is never spoken, its shadow runs through the metaphors of animals, landscapes, and natural cycles: from drought to fire, from flood to desolation.
“We realized this is how our feelings look in wartime: exhaustion, an outburst of anger, uneasy calm, new hope, and the echoes of old fears. For us, it is a single path where everything is interconnected. At the same time, we leave space for the listener to walk it in their own way,” the band explains.
The album’s title underscores the power of the word as a cornerstone of culture and civilization. A letter is the smallest building block of language, from which words are born – and with words come poetry, songs, and stories that transcend borders. Though all the lyrics are in Ukrainian, the album’s emotional core feels primal – “music speaks a universal language.”
Ahead of the album, Vøvk released two contrasting music videos. The clip for “Iskra” immerses the viewer in the raw energy of a live performance: red backdrops and close-up shots highlight the song’s central idea – the build-up of unspoken emotions ready to ignite like a spark.
About Vøvk
Vøvk are a Kyiv-based band balancing between progressive rock and post-hardcore, blending the best of both worlds. Their music is described as “a precious stone – strong and transparent, reflecting sparks differently depending on the angle of light.” It is an ordered chaos where every note carries weight.
The band’s current lineup was formed in January 2022, just before the full-scale invasion. Since then, Vøvk have grown from small shows to appearances at Ukraine’s biggest festivals and two European tours.
Their discography includes the debut album Lair, a cover of DakhaBrakha’s “Sho Z-Pod Duba,” the bilingual single Tiger | Tyhr, and the collaborative track Promin with Johannes Persson. Their music has also been featured on the official playlist of the video game S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl.