“I Feel It’s Finally Time”: SOWA Opens Up About Creative Growth, a Digital Detox, and the Song She’s Ready to Share

Ukrainian singer SOWA says this summer has been all about finding balance between studying, music, and appreciating life’s simple moments. In this exclusive interview, the artist talks about her dream vacation without deadlines or social media, the personal and creative changes she’s experienced over the past year, her plans for the upcoming season, and whether there’s room for romance in her life today.

— For many people, summer is all about taking a break. For you, is it more about slowing down or finding new inspiration?

For me, the beginning of summer is always connected with university. June was all about finishing exams and wrapping up everything I needed to complete as a student. At the same time, I had to balance that with my music career—performing, creating content for social media, and working on new songs. And, of course, I wanted to make time to simply enjoy the warm days, go for walks, and slow down a little.

Summer always seems to pass by so quickly. My biggest goal is that by autumn I’ll be able to look back and honestly say I lived this season to the fullest—spent time outdoors, met with family and friends, discovered new places, and tried new experiences.

— Are you able to completely disconnect from work? What would your perfect vacation look like?

My ideal vacation is complete peace. No deadlines, no work tasks, and no social media. Just time to focus on myself, enjoy the present moment, and recharge.

Beautiful scenery, pleasant scents, my favorite music, delicious food, and a good night’s sleep help me truly relax. And, of course, my biggest wish is to experience all of that without air raid alerts.

— You’ve changed a lot as an artist over the past year. What has been the biggest transformation for you?

I think the changes have been visible both musically and personally. Throughout 2025, I felt a strong desire to reinvent myself while still staying true to who I am. Part of my team changed as well, and that became the beginning of a completely new chapter.

The start of 2026 marked a major turning point. That’s when I released my first electro-pop single, and since then I’ve already premiered two songs in that direction.

At the beginning of the year, I planned to release music much more frequently. Unfortunately, personal circumstances forced me to slow down. Right now, though, I’m working on another song, and I truly hope I’ll be able to release it before the end of the summer.

— You’ve often spoken about your creative transformation. What kind of SOWA will fans see this autumn?

I already have a very clear vision of what I want this musical autumn to look like. Autumn has always been a season that feels incredibly close to me emotionally, so my new music will reflect that mood.

I want everything to feel connected—the sound, the visuals, and the overall atmosphere. I already know exactly how I want this new era to look.

— If you had to describe the upcoming season in just three words, what would they be?

Authenticity. Meaning. Melancholy.

Those three words perfectly describe the music I’m creating now. There’s one emotional ballad that’s been waiting in my archive for a long time, and I finally feel that its moment has arrived. I want people to hear it, not just me. My biggest dream is to bring this vision to life completely—not only through the music itself but also through its visual storytelling.

— What’s your biggest wish for this summer?

To truly enjoy it. As simple as that sounds.

For me, that means not rushing, walking more, drinking my favorite summer beverages, and trying new things. This summer I’ve even started learning how to produce music at home using my laptop. It’s an entirely new world for me, but I’m genuinely excited to explore it.

— Despite your busy schedule, is there someone you especially want to spend this summer with?

Yes—my close friend Sofia. We’ve been friends for more than eight years.

I’m really looking forward to her coming back to Ukraine.

She’s been busy working on her graduation project, so her summer has been just as hectic as mine. Once she finishes her defense, we’ll finally celebrate both her achievement and our long-awaited reunion.

The closer that day gets, the longer the wait seems. We’ll finally see each other in mid-July, and I’m sure those moments will become some of the warmest memories of my summer. We’ve also planned a trip together in August.

— Summer is often called the season of romance. Is there room for love in your life right now?

At this stage of my life, my priorities are creativity, personal growth, and inner peace. I’m not looking for a relationship simply because people expect it.

If someone comes into my life who makes me feel calm, understood, and genuinely happy, I won’t close myself off from that. But right now, I truly enjoy where I am. I’m investing my energy in myself, my music, and the people I love. And honestly, that’s what makes me happiest today.