Massive Attack’s Robert “3D” Del Naja has remixed a song by Ukrainian singer Slava Vakarchuk, the frontman of Ukraine’s most popular rock band, Okean Elzy. “Obiymy (Legacy of War Mix)” was reworked by Del Naja and Euan Dickinson last March, and is now available via Del Naja’s own Battle Box label. Check it out below.
All proceeds will benefit the Legacy of War Foundation—an international charity founded by photographer, writer, campaigner, and UN Global Advocate Giles Duley. The foundation supports civilians affected by conflict. Legacy of War Foundation will be partnering with United24, a global initiative launched by president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to support Ukraine. A vinyl version of “Obiymy (Legacy of War Mix)” will be released in April, featuring the B-side “Field Recordings/2022.”
Del Naja said in press materials: “I first met Slava in Kyiv in 2018 when we played in Kyiv, and we re-established contact when the invasion began. I returned to Ukraine with Giles Duley last year to see for myself the destruction inflicted on Kyiv and its suburbs during a year of Russian military aggression. The primary intention of this collaboration is to express an act of civil solidarity with the people of Ukraine and offer material aid to those most in need.”
Vakarchuk added: “It’s a great privilege for me to be a part of this project. I use every opportunity to raise funds for Ukrainians who are in need during these hard times and to spread the word about the terrible war to the people of the world. Being a huge fan of Massive Attack I am extremely happy that Rob Del Naja and his team created this great version of Obiymy. Many versions and remixes had been made before but this one stands special for me.”
Duley, who shot photos for the project, wrote: “Over the past twelve months I’ve witnessed first-hand how Ukraine has stood up against the violent and wholly unjustified Russian invasion. From the frontlines in Donbas, to Kyiv or Lviv in the West, I’ve seen Ukraine stand united in the defence of their freedoms. At its heart Ukrainians know this is a war of cultural identity, an identity Putin wants to erase. So more than ever, food, the arts, music take on a vital role of defiance. Which is why this track is so much more than raising desperately needed funds for the rebuilding of Ukraine—this track is about saying we stand in unity with a country fighting for freedoms that so many of us are lucky enough to take for granted.”
