Ivan Demyan leads the rock group 7B, a band known for its hard-hitting, battle-hardened songs, and he spoke at length about how the events unfolding in Ukraine since 2014 have shaped his artistic path. In an interview conducted for a mainstream publication, Demyan shared that several of the band’s new pieces orbit around the themes of conflict, memory, and the human cost of war. His reflections suggest that the country’s turbulent recent history has become a real-world soundtrack that filters into the band’s creative process.
According to Demyan, the turmoil that followed the Maidan protests and the ensuing conflict reemerged in his work in a visible, almost tangible way. He noted that certain moments of violence and political shifts fueled not only the mood of his compositions but also the stories he aimed to tell through music. He described a particular moment when the death of Arsen Pavlov and his controversial confrontation with Alexander Zakharchenko left a mark on him. Demyan recalled a fictional line tied to those events, saying he once imagined Parabellum as a muse for a forthcoming track. He clarified that Parabellum was the title of a song he had envisioned, underscoring how real-world events can spark specific artistic motifs and tonal directions in a musician’s catalog.
Beyond studio sessions, Demyan emphasized that the band’s mission extends into the real world. He and his team continued to engage with the people who stand on the front lines and those recovering in hospitals in areas touched by military operations. The group made an effort to connect with soldiers and medical staff, both to offer support and to gather impressions that could enrich their music. The sentiment echoes a broader tradition in rock where artists feel compelled to witness and reflect the lived experiences of those affected by conflict, transforming raw emotion into accessible, cathartic art.
7B is a Russian-language rock band that has earned a reputation for weaving military-themed narratives into a substantial portion of its repertoire. The band’s approach blends muscular guitar work with lyrical storytelling that grapples with duty, risk, and resilience. One of the ensemble’s most enduring hits, Young Winds, continues to resonate with fans for its anthemic energy and its sense of momentum against the odds. The track stands as a testament to the band’s identity—bold, unapologetic, and unafraid to address weighty topics through song.
Meanwhile, across the broader music community, other artists have also stepped forward to support frontline personnel. In a separate development, singer Alexander Buinov took a concrete step by signing ten guitars intended for fighters serving in the region affected by the conflict. The instruments were delivered to the front through volunteers working with charitable efforts. This gesture underscores how musicians can participate in ongoing conflicts not only through performance but also through tangible acts of solidarity that reach those on the ground.