Death Pill: The Ukrainian female punk trio separated by Russia’s war – ‘I don’t choose to live in a horror film’
From a music club sheltered underground in Ukraine’s capital, Mariana Navrotskaya cannot hear the air raid warnings sounding above her. It is her bandmate Anastasiia Khomenko who informs her after checking online that there is a nationwide warning in effect at the time of their Zoom call.
“It is very good you are in a shelter,” she tells her friend, concerned but not shocked by what is happening in her home country anymore. “It is my every day,” Mariana replies.
It’s 2pm in Kiev, 1pm for Anastasiia, now living in Barcelona, and 10.30pm for the third member of their trio, Nataliia Seryakova, who is currently in Adelaide, south Australia.
Across the time zones, thousands of miles apart, the three members of feminist punk trio Death Pill have reunited for their first UK news interview – which just happens to be, it turns out, also the first time all three have seen each other together, albeit on screen, since they were separated shortly after the start of Russia‘s war on Ukraine 10 months ago.
While Nataliia, 25, was able to move temporarily to Australia for work, Mariana, 26, chose to stay in Kyiv. Anastasiia, 29, made the difficult decision to take her son Orest, who turned eight in November, to safety in Spain; leaving her husband Evgenij behind.
“When the war began, I didn’t want to leave Kyiv,” she tells Sky News. “But I know that I must because I have a child and I want him to be safe and have a better life.
“Every time when I think about children in the Ukraine, it’s very painful for me. They have air alerts, they’re [having to go] down in the shelters… it was a very difficult decision. I didn’t want to emigrate. I love my country very badly.”
A hardcore punk trio, Death Pill in its current line-up began in 2021, when bass player Nataliia joined. Emerging from Ukraine’s diverse underground music scene, they recorded their self-titled debut album and were ready to take on the world.
“After all, rock is not only about brutal men with curly long hair, right?” states Mariana in their promo.
But then the war broke out. For the first month, Anastasiia and her family slept in their bathroom, the safest place. Now, she is separated from her husband and parents – her father is fighting for Ukraine – and she and her bandmates are spread across the world.
Despite the distance, they have managed to put the finishing touches to their album online since they have been apart.
Their releases so far have started creating buzz and they have been named among the 10 exciting new bands to watch out for in 2023 by Metal Hammer. Signed to London label New Heavy Sounds, the plan is to release it on 24 February 2023 – marking the first anniversary of the start of the war – and they are all hopeful that one day, hopefully soon, they will get to tour together.
While it was never meant to be this way, the aim now is to use their platform to keep raising awareness about what is happening in Ukraine.
“Right now we have a dream team, our golden trio,” says Anastasiia. “We’ve played in a lot of Ukrainian cities… now we have a lot of attention from Europe, America. And we appreciate that because we can spread the word about the war.
“We can share all this information from the people who are actually living this and going through it… we were waking up on 24 February from missile strikes. It’s not propaganda, it’s real life.”
‘A year ago, we had it all’
In recent months, Russia launched attacks on power supplies, causing blackouts across Ukraine. It is the reason Mariana has placed herself in the music club, which has a generator, for this interview; she is not able to communicate from her home.
Despite everything, she is resilient. “It’s making me stronger and more powerful,” she says. “You can’t imagine this situation at all. At all.
“It’s a lot of hard work living now in Ukraine – in Kyiv, in any other city – because you need to find electricity, internet, water.
“One year ago, you have it all and you don’t think about it. And now… when you read the history of World War II, you think that’s very bad, but now is another time, it will never happen again… I can’t find the words to explain. It’s f***** up.
“But now, it’s very interesting to live here because you understand the importance of everything that you [thought] was…”
“Basic,” Anastasiia answers for her. They now appreciate the everyday things they took for granted.
Nataliia and Anastasiia tell their bandmate they think she is more positive now than before the war.
“I’m going through big changes, and that’s cool,” she replies. “You see how strong Ukrainians are?” Anastasiia says about her friend.
But they miss each other. Brought together by a mutual desire to make music with something to say, to stand out from the crowd, they are desperate to see each other in person once again.
I ask how they are feeling about not being able to play together at the moment. “You want to see our tears?” Mariana responds. “It’s a very sad question.”
“It’s s***,” says Nataliia. “You can’t plan. So I just know, like, half a year forward what I can do. But after that, I don’t know. It’s slow, but it’s as good as we can do. It is what it is.”
‘We smash the patriarchy, now we smash Russia’
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One positive to emerge from the war is the underground music community coming together to support their country.
“Because we have a lot of people who are artists, musicians, great people of our nation [who] are now with weapons protecting their country, to protect all Europe,” says Anastasiia.
Nataliia says Russian artists with any sort of platform, those who are elsewhere in the world and able to see what is really happening – rather than the “propaganda” – should also be standing up for Ukraine.
“Even a lot of famous artists from Russia say nothing about it, and this is s***,” she says. “[People say] they were just born in Russia, but they have mouths to speak.”
She says she has lost contact with some of her own family members in Russia as they do not believe the truth about what is happening in Ukraine.
“When the war started… there were a lot of explosions not far from me,” she says. “I saw explosions in the window, it was like five kilometres from my house.”
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Russia has “taken everything” from us, says Anastasiia. “I miss being carefree because I don’t have it anymore. When I see [in Spain] a lot of people, they are so happy, carefree. I’m very glad for every one of them, and for you that you never, ever have what we have in our life.
“But in another way I feel very angry because we also had this in our life. We also were carefree and did silly things and were just hanging out together and [making] music in Ukraine. And now people in Ukraine need just to survive…
“For all people who are supporting Russian terrorists, I want them to see how it is. I want them to open their eyes, in a horrible way. It’s true and it’s our life. We don’t want it and we don’t deserve it.”
Having travelled back to Ukraine in the summer to see her husband, Anastasiia has plans to do so again next year. “I will see Mariana,” she says. “We will play together, maybe do some songs.”
“We smashed the patriarchy together and now we smash Russia together,” says Mariana.
“Right now for us, it’s our life,” says Anastasiia. “For me, it’s like I’m living in a movie. But I don’t choose to live in a horror film. I want a movie where we are rock stars.”
Death Pill release their self-titled debut album through London label New Heavy Sounds on 24 February 2023
Entertainment
MOBO award winners including Central Cee, Bashy and Darkoo revealed at ceremony in Newcastle
Central Cee, Darkoo and Bashy are among the big winners at this year’s MOBO Awards.
The ceremony took place in Newcastle this evening, with Krept & Konan, Bashy, Spice, and Nova Twins among the performers.
Central Cee was named best male act, while Darkoo was named best female and picked up the MOBOs‘ song of the year award for Favourite Girl, featuring Dess Dior.
Central Cee – who wasn’t at the ceremony to accept his accolade – is now the joint most-decorated rapper in MOBOs history, tied with Stormzy on seven awards.
Darkoo was one of the performers of the night. Pic: PA
Bashy’s Being Poor Is Expensive was crowned the best album winner, and the actor and rapper was also named best hip-hop act.
A special gong was handed out to athlete Denise Lewis, who took home the “paving the way” prize, recognising trailblazers across different industries including sports, media and entertainment, as well as music.
Bashy on the red carpet. Pic: PA
Dame Denise Lewis collecting the paving the way award. Pic: PA
She follows previous winners such as Idris Elba, Sir Lenny Henry, Nicola Adams, and the late Jamal Edwards.
“King of dancehall” Vybz Kartel was also honoured with the MOBOs impact award.
“The MOBO Awards have always been about recognising and celebrating cultural pioneers who have reshaped the landscape of music and beyond,” said MOBOs founder Kanya King ahead of the ceremony.
“Denise Lewis is a true inspiration and it’s an absolute pleasure to honour such a legendary figure. Few people have contributed more to their field in this country.”
She went on to say that Vybz Kartel’s impact on music was “immeasurable”, with an influence extending “beyond the world of dancehall, in which he is a musical giant”.
Punk rock duo Nova Twins were among the performers. Pic: PA
Odeal was named best newcomer and also took the best R&B/soul act prize, while Ayra Starr made history with her two gongs. The Nigerian singer became the first African woman to win best international act and the first female winner of best African music act in 16 years.
Other genre category awards included best jazz act for 2023 Mercury Prize winners Ezra Collective, best grime act for Scorcher, best drill act for Pozer, best electronic/dance act for TSHA, best gospel for Annatoria, best Caribbean music act for Shenseea, and best alternative music act for ALT BLK ERA.
Scorcher accepting his accolade. Pic: PA
Elsewhere, Juls was named best producer, 90s Baby Show won the media personality prize, video of the year went to Mnelia’s My Man, and actor and musician Jacob Anderson was recognised in the best TV/film performance category, for his role in the series Interview With The Vampire.
Central Cee, Raye, and Dave were among the big winners last year, with Soul II Soul, Sugababes and Ghetts receiving special achievement prizes.
The MOBOs celebrate black music in the UK and internationally and will mark their 30th anniversary in 2026.
In December, King revealed she had been diagnosed with stage four cancer but said she would continue to lead the organisation.
The Jam drummer Rick Buckler has died aged 69, his former bandmate Paul Weller has confirmed.
Buckler played for the band from its formation in the early 1970s until they broke up in 1982, alongside bass player Bruce Foxton and lead singer, songwriter and guitarist Weller.
The Jam released six studio albums and Buckler played on them all, including the critically-acclaimed All Mod Cons (1978) and Sound Affects (1980).
Rick Buckler in 1979. Pic: Steve Joester/Shutterstock
They enjoyed four UK number one singles and one UK number one album, and are best remembered for tracks such as Town Called Malice, Going Underground, and Down In The Tube Station At Midnight.
The band split in 1982 and never fully reunited, but Foxton and Buckler subsequently played together on a number of occasions as From The Jam.
In a Facebook and Instagram post, Weller said: “I’m shocked and saddened by Rick’s passing. I’m thinking back to us all rehearsing in my bedroom in Stanley Road, Woking. To all the pubs and clubs we played at as kids, to eventually making a record. What a journey!
The Jam – Paul Weller (L), Rick Buckler (C) and Bruce Foxton appearing on ITV’s So it Goes in 1977. Pic: ITV/Shutterstock
“We went far beyond our dreams and what we made stands the test of time.
“My deepest sympathy to all family and friends – P.W x”
Bassist Bruce Foxton said on the same posts he “was shocked and devastated to hear the sad news”.
He said Buckler was “a good guy and a great drummer whose innovative drum patterns helped shape our songs.
“I’m glad we had the chance to work together as much as we did. My thoughts are with Leslie and his family at this very difficult time.”
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Blink-182 star Mark Hoppus is set to auction a rare Banksy painting that is estimated to be worth up to £5m.
The 52-year-old musician, singer and bassist in the punk-rock trio acquired the work with his wife Skye Everly in 2011.
Crude Oil (Vettriano) was first exhibited by Banksy in 2005 and is the anonymous artist’s reimagining of Jack Vettriano’s career-defining The Singing Butler from 1992, which itself was auctioned by Sotheby’s for £744,800 in 2004.
Pic: Sotheby’s
Now, the hand-painted Banksy will be auctioned by Sotheby’s in London, with some of the proceeds to be donated to causes including the California Fire Foundation, which helps people impacted by the LA wildfires, a children’s hospital, and a cancer research centre.
“We loved this painting since the moment we saw it,” Hoppus said. “It’s borne witness to our family over these past dozen years. It hung over the table in London where we ate breakfast and our son did his homework. It hung in our living room in Los Angeles…
“This painting has meant so much to us and been such an amazing part of our lives, and now I’m excited for it to be out there in the world, seen by as many as possible.”
The Blink-182 star said he would also use the proceeds to buy works by up-and-coming artists.
Blink-182 (L-R) Travis Barker, Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge on stage at the Coachella festival in California in 2023. Pic: Amy Harris/Invision/AP
The singer added: “Coming back to punk rock, one aspect of the community I always hold dear is, if you get lucky enough to gain success, you bring your friends with you.
“Larger bands bring smaller bands on tour. We support one another from within. I want to take some of the money from the sale of this painting and use it to buy works from younger, upcoming artists.”
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Hoppus revealed he had been diagnosed with stage four diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in June 2021, but after chemotherapy he announced he was free from cancer just a few months later.
He rose to fame after forming Blink-182 alongside guitarist and vocalist Tom DeLonge and drummer Travis Barker in 1992, and the trio went on to define the pop-punk genre with hits such as The Rock Show, All The Small Things, What’s My Age Again?, and I Miss You.
DeLonge left the group at the beginning of 2015, but returned in 2022 following his bandmate’s diagnosis.
Hoppus’s memoir, Fahrenheit-182, is due to be released in April.
Banksy painted a series of animal images, including piranhas in a police box, across London last year. Pic: Yui Mok/PA
Crude Oil (Vettriano) will be on display at Sotheby’s in New York this week before being brought to the UK for a preview exhibition starting on 26 February. It will then headline Sotheby’s Modern And Contemporary Evening Auction in London on 4 March.
“Street art and punk rock share the same vocabulary – they speak to the outsider, the rebel and the overlooked,” said Oliver Barker, Sotheby’s Europe chairman.
“Both movements were born from the margins. They challenge authority and re-write the rules, a fundamental trait shared by Mark and Banksy.”
Last year, Banksy made headlines by painting a series of animal works across London, one a day for nine days, including a rhino which appeared to be mounting a parked car, and a gorilla lifting a shutter at London Zoo.
In February, London Museum announced it had acquired one of the works – piranhas painted on a police sentry box, resembling a fish tank.
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