“I did not clean up the traces of dust after the bombing,” Nikita Zhemerenko wrote, in a listing for music gear on eBay. “Let this be your memory. It is up to you to decide whether to clean it or leave as is.”
Nikita Zhemerenko was born and raised in Kharkiv, Ukraine, by a single mother who worked as a nurse. She was protective and doted on her only son, giving him, in his estimation, “too much time.” Nikita looked forward to the weekends, when the two would visit his grandmother on the outskirts of the city and he could spend time exploring outdoors with his friends. “I felt a real freedom there,” he told me.
“Vlad is a very emotional person,” Nikita, who is now thirty, said. Vlad introduced him to bands such as Nirvana and Slipknot. When they listened to System of a Down, he remembered that Vlad “could not stand or sit still.” He would shake his head and sing along as best he could. The pair replayed “Chop Suey!” for hours, even though they could barely make out Serj Tankian’s lyrics. “I experienced these feelings inside,” Nikita said.
He was happy with his MP3s and bootleg CDs. But he dreamed of building a proper collection. A couple years ago, he saved up and bought himself a turntable and the first LP by the Russian rock band Aquarium. Over the following years, he would document his growing record collection and the life he shared with his girlfriend, Lisa, on his Instagram account. The couple decorated their apartment in Kharkiv with strings of colorful lights, garlands, candles, glittery ribbons, and Lisa’s photos.
Nikita and Lisa took their pets and fled their home in Kharkiv on February 24th. They were going to be with Lisa’s family, hoping that their home, farther from the city center, would be a safer place to stay. Nikita planned to return to their apartment a few days later, but the intensifying attacks convinced the couple that they should leave the city altogether.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
From Selena to Freddy Fender, Tejano music chronicler knew everyone who was anyoneAyala: ‘Call Ramón’ — chronicler of Tejano music has known everyone who was anyone, from Selena to Freddy Fender
Read more »
Austin organization launches no-cost studio for creatives of colorJonathan “Chaka” Mahone is the founder of DAWA, a grassroots organization that stands for Diversity And Wellness in Action. A movement, Mahone says, is focused on supporting and highlighting creative artists of color.
Read more »
Domino Records Launches New Electronic Imprint, Smugglers WaySmuggler’s Way is today (August 4) announcing the label’s second release, a collaborative EP by Ela Minus and DJ Python.
Read more »
Ukraine condemns group's report alleging forces put civilians in dangerUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov have both denounced Amnesty International's report alleging Ukrainian war crimes.
Read more »
Great Barrier Reef sees highest amount of coral cover in 36 yearsParts of the Great Barrier Reef have recorded their highest amount of coral cover since monitoring began 36 years ago.
Read more »
Great Barrier Reef sees highest amount of coral cover in 36 yearsParts of the Great Barrier Reef have recorded their highest amount of coral cover since monitoring began 36 years ago.
Read more »