For obvious and very good reasons, there have been many songs in the last few years about the tragedies arising from the conflict in Ukraine. Many of these are written from a political perspective, an anti-war stance, or to raise awareness of what is happening there. And, of course, these are all the most worthy reasons for writing such songs. But Prague-based Govorukha, takes a different look at the effect of such atrocities: the more personal and long-lasting one, more intimate and often invisible.
“Hollow” discusses the effects of war and the resulting traumas and conflicts that remain with people, even after the war is over, perhaps for the rest of their lives. It talks about how, in such environments, those caught up in these traumatic effects can become numb to them and indifferent to the suffering of those around them.
The song also works on a more global level, asking how those of us lucky enough to be miles away from war and in safe homes can also be indifferent to the suffering happening, in many cases only a few hundred miles away, even to people who we consider to be culturally just like us, familiar, the same.
The message is delivered via a stark acoustic guitar and a spacious, funereal beat. Over this, Govorukha weaves vocals that move between the quiet and the emploring, from a whisper to a scream, as a violin seems to duet with him, as expressive as any human voice.
Although inspired by events not too distant from his own homeland, “Hollow” is a song applicable to all wars, no matter where they spark and who they consume. It would be better if there were no more need for such songs, but until then, artists such as Govorukha will continue to make their voices heard. The fact that they still feel driven, too, and with such regularity, is perhaps the saddest aspect of the whole song.
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