A first-generation Ukrainian American who grew up in Detroit, Christina Bulbenko knew she had to do something when Russian forces invaded her home country in 2022. So she huddled with Rex Broome, her partner in all things jangle pop, and the two came up with a plan.
“We felt that all we could do was make some kind of creative statement as the Armoires to raise awareness and perhaps some money for humanitarian aid,” says Bulbenko, who co-helms both the Armoires and Big Stir Records with Broome out of Burbank, Calif. “We knew we could do something few other bands could do: create a song I could sing in Ukrainian.”
The Armoires’ new single, “Snake Island Thirteen,” tells the story of the battle for a small, strategically located Ukrainian island in the Black Sea. The Russian navy captured it—but not without resistance from a brave Ukrainian garrison.
“Their instantly inspirational defiance of the Russian warships calling for their surrender set the song in motion,” says Bulbenko.
As Bulbenko and Broome worked on the tune, they uncovered all sorts of mythology and lore surrounding the island. “I plugged in a guitar and tried a number of approaches, from angry to mournful,” says Broome. “But the windswept jangle approach just felt right … coastal and somehow ancient.”
The Armoires sketched out the story in English and did most of the basic instrumental tracking before running into some trouble. “Crafting the meter and rhyme structure of the lyrics in Ukrainian was more challenging than we’d expected,” says Broome. “But it was vitally important to get it right.”
“Later, when we were writing the songs that would become our new album, Octoberland, themes started arising—many of them informed by mythology and folklore,” says Bulbenko. “‘Snake Island Thirteen’ became a cornerstone of the record. It’s deeply connected to the other messages on the album: the vital importance of empathy and the way sharing stories brings us together in the darkest of times.”
Two years later, the Armoires only wish the song weren’t still so necessary. “But we do hope it speaks to people about what’s still tragically unfolding in Ukraine today,” says Bulbenko.
Ukrainian composer/performer Roy Crank’s “Don’t Kill That World I’m Living In” was a natural choice for the other contribution to the Songs For Ukrainian Independence Day split single. Crank connected with the Armoires when his Crankin’Up radio show became a key supporter of Big Stir artists.
“Initially, the song was written to protest the deforestation of the local woodlands near where I live,” says Crank. “Since 2022, it’s taken on a new narrative meaning altogether.”
The split single’s official release is tomorrow: Ukrainian Independence Day. It’s available for purchase on Big Stir’s website and Bandcamp page. All proceeds go to the aid organization United Help Ukraine. Look for the Armoires’ new LP, Octoberland, on October 11 via Big Stir.
—Hobart Rowland
