The Armoires & Roy Crank - SONGS FOR UKRAINIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY
August 24 is Ukrainian Independence Day, and with the war-torn nation now into the third year of the devastating Russian invasion, BIG STIR RECORDS – co-founded by first-generation Ukrainian American CHRISTINA BULBENKO – brings music fans worldwide a way to help. A new two-song/two-artist split single, SONGS FOR UKRAINIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY pairs a striking track from singer-songwriter-composer (and beloved host of the widely syndicated Crankin' Up radio show) ROY CRANK of Kharkiv, Ukraine, with a new song from Bulbenko's own band THE ARMOIRES, written to honor the defenders of her ancestral homeland. All proceeds from the single – available for purchase August 24 from Big Stir's website and Bandcamp page before hitting streaming services worldwide on the 30th – will be donated to the humanitarian aid organization United Help Ukraine. Donate via purchase or pre-save to stream the single here:
https://orcd.co/songsforukraine
THE ARMOIRES – the Burbank-based indie pop band currently winning new fans with singles like “Here Comes The Song” and “Music & Animals” previewing their fourth album due this October – offer up another new selection from the record, “Snake Island Thirteen”, written at the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. ROY CRANK contributes his own composition, the poignantly-titled and beautiful “Don't Kill That World I'm Living In”, recorded for his album The Tiny Pics. The Armoires, who (virtually) met Roy when his terrific radio show Crankin' Up became a key supporter of Big Stir Records artists, had always intended for “Snake Island Thirteen” to serve as a fundraiser for the people of Ukraine, hoping to pair it with a work from a Ukrainian artist, and upon learning of Roy's own music, the way forward was clear. The single marks Big Stir Records' second benefit effort with United Help Ukraine, after an initiative in 2022 when over 20 of the label's bands including The Armoires donated all profits from record sales to the charity.
“I'm a composer and performer from Kharkiv, Ukraine and sometimes the host of the Crankin' Up radio show,” says Roy, referring to his program, carried by Topcat Radio, My Indie Radio, AntiRadio and more, that's become an essential showcase for indie artists worldwide... the “sometimes” being a reference to the show's occasional delays due to blackouts caused by Russian airstrikes. “I have created a couple of albums that I genuinely composed from the bottom of my heart to yours. Melodies, arrangement and lyrics are created by me, and I perform the vocals and analogue synths parts as well. All the other instruments were kindly performed by my musician friends in Ukraine. The song 'Don't Kill That World I'm Living In' is from my album The Tiny Pics, which you can support on my Bandcamp page. Initially the song was written to protest the deforestation of the local woodland near where I live, but since 2022 the song has taken on a new narrative meaning altogether.” The soaring, emotive arrangement of the song is sure to be a revelation to pop fans – especially those with an ear for the sophisticated, radio-friendly pop of the early '70s – who only know Roy as a DJ, and we are honored to be able to bring it to a wider audience in the service of an essential cause.
“Snake Island Thirteen” was the first song written for the forthcoming album by THE ARMOIRES (whose members, along with Bulbenko on vocals and keys, include singer-guitarist Rex Broome, bassist Clifford Ulrich, drummer John M. Borack and Christina's daughter Larysa Bulbenko on viola). Inspired by the Ukrainian soldiers defending the titular island in the Black Sea when it came under siege by Russian naval vessels in February of 2022 and their iconic radio message of defiance, it takes the core true story and combines it with the mythological folklore of the island itself and the iconography of the Ukrainian culture to celebrate the courage of those holding the line against seemingly impossible odds. It features one of Christina's most heartfelt and visceral vocal performances ever, for every reason in the world. The harmony arrangement calls back to the likes of Fairport Convention, while the band taps into the taut jangle of The Church's early work and the strings-and-guitar interplay of Porcupine-era Echo & The Bunnymen, especially on the tense instrumental bridge section. The track ends with a recording of the exchange between the Russian warship Moskva and the defenders of Snake Island, which was to become such a rallying cry for Ukraine and its supporters that it was ultimately depicted on Ukrainian postage stamps. “Snake Island Thirteen” is a song of deep personal importance to The Armoires, and they hope it will serve to foster awareness of, and action toward ending, the war in Ukraine.
UNITED HELP UKRAINE is a deeply respected non-profit supporting the Ukrainian people for over ten years, a mission that's taken on increased urgency since the Russian invasion. Their stated mission in 2024 is “to provide the people of Ukraine with critical support that will enable them to survive in the face of adversity, to defend and regain their sovereign territory, and to rebuild and thrive well into the future. UHU is committed to maximizing the impact of charitable contributions by providing humanitarian, medical and psychological assistance to those affected by the war. We also focus on raising awareness and advocating for Ukraine to remain a free, democratic and independent nation.” We're honored to be donating all proceeds from the SONGS FOR UKRAINAN INDEPEDENCE DAY single to UHU, and we encourage those who opt to stream the tracks upon their release to consider a donation.
Contact UNITED HELP UKRAINE: https://unitedhelpukraine.org
Support Ukrainian musician ROY CRANK by purchasing his album THE TINY PICS: https://roycrank1.bandcamp.com/album/the-tiny-pics
For all things related to THE ARMOIRES: https://orcd.co/the-armoires
