Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, a famous Ukrainian musician and frontman of the band 'Okean Elzy', spoke about his beginnings and first fees. In the early 1990s, they received an offer to perform their first show for 70 dollars, and this moment became significant in their musical career.
«For the first two years, I didn't even know that people get paid for this. I heard about it, read stories about famous musicians I grew up with. But the fact that this could happen to us was very theoretical», added Vakarchuk. This episode showed them that music could become their serious occupation.
Founded in Lviv in 1994, the band 'Okean Elzy' became one of the most popular and influential in Ukrainian music. Their creativity is valued in Ukraine and abroad, and they actively support various charitable and social initiatives.