Artist Spotlight: Meet TANKATAKA
Is there a person/event that stimulated the creation of "Anesthesia?"
Yes, the song “Anesthesia” is based on the story of a young woman who survived a missile strike in Dnipro, Ukraine, in January 2023. She was the only one in her family to survive the attack and one of the few survivors overall. After being pulled from the rubble, someone asked her how she felt, and she responded, “I feel nothing.” Her words deeply affected me. It made me think about how devastating it is when something so tragic happens, but the mind can’t even process the emotions. It’s just numbness, like being under anesthesia.
Were there any challenges or breakthrough moments during the songwriting process for this song?
It was challenging to immerse myself in this emotional state and feel that kind of pain. I tend to connect deeply with the stories I write about, and this was one of the hardest ones to write. Experiencing such emotions while working on this song made it hard to separate them from my personal life. I often felt overwhelmed and depressed, but I needed to go through this process to truly understand the character’s emotions and express them authentically in the music.
What impact do you hope this song will have on your audience?
Unfortunately, as the full-scale war in Ukraine continues into its third year, people have started to grow accustomed to it. And that’s terrifying because it’s unnatural to become used to bombings, losses, and destruction. I hope this song can provide some comfort to those who need it. You know that feeling of relief when someone shares your pain and understands it? When someone puts your suffering into words, helping you process it? This song is about emotional numbness and the inability to comprehend the horrors of life. Do we even have the capacity to feel anymore? Even if we wanted to, sometimes it feels impossible.
What role do you feel emotions play in your music, and how do you channel them into your performances?
Emotions are the essence of my music. Without them, my music wouldn’t exist. I write from a place of lived emotion, which is why I think people resonate with my songs. They can sense the authenticity in my voice, in the stories I tell. At my live shows, there’s always a special connection with the audience: we share energy, we cry together, and we talk and embrace after the performance. These moments are crucial to me. They help people confront and release the things that weigh them down, showing them the path to healing.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced as a musician, and how did you overcome them?
It’s incredibly difficult to achieve anything alone. Music is hard work, and unfortunately, many people still perceive it as mere entertainment. But behind every single, album, or live performance is an enormous amount of effort and time behind the scenes.