- You recently went to your native Alchevsk.

How did Donbass accept you in general?

— I arrived there now, and in 2023 I want to go there again 20. When I was there, I went to all the places where I had not been for 20 years.

It would seem a depressing picture, but I'm walking - and I'm happy.

I look at that spring, on which I ran every morning.

My heart sang there because I came home. 

I approached my house on Lenin Street, where I lived until I was 19 years old.

A shell flew into this house, killed people, a child.

I met the inhabitants of the destroyed entrance there, and in spite of everything, people smile, they just live.

Although, when we walked along Alchevsk, it rumbled there, at first I was in shock, but people have no fear.

So I understood how wars are won, only with such an emotional attitude. 

There I saw that people do not have fear and hatred.

This struck me the most.

I looked these people in the eyes and realized that they cannot be defeated, these people are made of steel.

— How did you come up with the idea of ​​the Sound of My Region competition for musicians from Donbass?

“Now the main region from which it all began is Donbass, and it needs to be supported more than ever.

I just wanted to shout that there are people here too, they sing, they are unique.

I myself am from this region and I am sure that I can help new generations to be heard, to do everything possible to reveal their talent.

  • © Photo from personal archive

- How is the selection of participants?

- In general, the essence and uniqueness of my work with creative people lies in the fact that together with a person I live his talent, imbued with it and surround it with everything necessary for this talent to manifest itself.

I do this not for the sake of money, but for the sake of art itself, so that people believe: if you are talented, then Bardash will come and help you. 

The sieve through which all the demos are sieved passes directly through my ears.

I don’t have assistants to whom I would say: “So, let’s listen, if it’s okay, send it to me.”

I review each letter personally, give comments and feedback, because my heart is quite sensitive to creativity, to art, I immediately understand where the grain is. 

Only a day has passed since the announcement of the contest, but the last time I did a similar contest, about 10 thousand letters were sent in two days.

We must understand that this is Donbass, there is not a connection everywhere, many have left, so we need to spread the word about the competition.

- The site says that the artist whose track hits the target will get everything: arrangement, recording, performance and fame.

So you will lead and promote this artist in the future?

- My task is to make the work of this artist take on a finished form.

Then I have to demonstrate it to people: make a release and, of course, introduce this artist to some kind of producer, connect them so that the artist's musical career goes further.  

I act as a conductor.

I myself know what it is like when you have no support and move on your own.

You need to have a huge will and faith in yourself.

Not everyone has it, but talent and creativity are present in many.

So let's help.

Moreover, we have no age restrictions, even a child can send a demo. 

  • Yuri Bardash

  • © personal archive of Yuri Bardash

— How will you cope with difficulties in the future, promoting your artists?

- I have been in Moscow for almost half a year, and all this time I have been coping with these difficulties.

On the one hand, people have an interest in me as a person who has some experience in show business.

On the other hand, they look at me like I'm crazy: "Bardash is drowning for the NVO and for the Russian soldiers."

There is a negative attitude towards this from some.

I have my own project YOURA, and I can't hold my own concert in Moscow, because all the venues fail, although this is an electronic sound that has no analogues anywhere - this is a super level.

But they ask for "something neutral" ... Well, we won't be able to drive on this neutral for a long time.

We are in this absurdity now.

Everything that happened in show business before CBO has now lost its relevance, but not everyone got it.

Now people are being mobilized, fighters, families are sending their breadwinners to the front.

This is happening right now, and the involvement should be 100% not only from the side of the state, but also from the side of the people.

- Do you believe in victory?

And how do you think we as a society can and should help?

- Victory is possible only with the consolidation of the whole society.

That's the only way we can win.

And our task in the rear is to explain this to people as quickly and efficiently as possible.

That this soft, warm bed is over, it will not be, now the greatest battle of meanings and civilizations is going on.

The West and all who are the beneficiaries of all this will throw all their strength, because this is their last chance, this is their last convulsions.

Battles are going on at all levels: military, economic, social spheres.

This is a battle and we will win this battle.