For music lovers, indie-folk fans, and cultural arts enthusiasts — this New To The Street interview spotlights Valeriia Vovk, the Ukrainian-born singer/songwriter blending centuries-old Ukrainian folk tradition with contemporary American folk and indie sounds.
Right off a successful U.S. tour, Valeriia Vovk shares how artists like The Lumineers, Fleetwood Mac, and Joni Mitchell shaped her modern folk sensibilities — while her roots, language, and Ukrainian vocal heritage anchor her emotional identity as a songwriter.
Audiences don’t need to understand Ukrainian to feel what she’s saying — the emotion and melody carry the story. She explains why melody comes first, how she rearranges historic folk songs into modern acoustic forms, and why young artists should start by digging into their own roots instead of trying to sound like everyone else.