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Ukrainian singer Igor Tselyp says fame in the modern music industry often creates illusions. While audiences see concerts, bright videos, and social media clips, artists themselves are frequently dealing with emotional burnout, financial pressure, and constant public judgment.
In this extensive interview, Tselyp speaks openly about criticism, life on the road, creative expenses, and why he believes authenticity matters more than hype.
“The industry became addicted to hype”
According to Tselyp, one of the biggest problems in modern entertainment is the obsession with viral success instead of artistic growth.
“Today many people are chasing numbers, scandals, trends — anything that creates fast attention. Sometimes talent itself becomes secondary,” he says.
The singer believes social media changed not only promotion, but also how audiences evaluate musicians.
“People consume music differently now. Sometimes a fifteen-second TikTok fragment becomes more important than the song itself.”
Still, Tselyp says he refuses to build his career entirely around algorithms.
“I don’t want to become a character invented for clicks. I want people to remember songs, emotions, concerts — not just random internet scandals.”
“People don’t realize how expensive music really is”
The artist also spoke honestly about the financial reality behind modern releases. According to him, many audiences underestimate how much independent musicians invest into their careers.
“A professional song can cost thousands of dollars. Then you add video production, promotion, photos, styling, studio rent. People see the final result, but not the process behind it.”
Despite the difficulties, Tselyp says he continues investing in quality because music remains his priority.
“There are moments when you feel tired, especially during difficult times in the country. But then you go on stage and understand why you started.”
Touring during wartime
Igor admits that charity tours and constant traveling became emotionally exhausting over the last years.
“Sometimes you barely sleep. You move from city to city, perform, meet people, give interviews, and then repeat everything again the next day.”
Still, he says concerts during wartime gained completely different emotional meaning.
“You understand that music can support people psychologically. Sometimes audiences cry during performances. Sometimes they simply want to feel normal again for one evening.”
One of the most emotional moments for the singer happened during a public performance of the Ukrainian anthem in Amsterdam.
“It felt like huge responsibility. When you stand abroad representing Ukraine, every emotion becomes amplified.”
Hate, criticism, and online attacks
The singer also addressed online hate and public criticism, admitting that harsh comments affected him more in the beginning of his career.
“When I was younger, negative comments could destroy my mood for days. Especially when people judged you without knowing anything about your life.”
Over time, however, he learned to separate criticism from noise.
“Now I understand that social media often pushes people to release their own anger onto others. If someone writes hate comments all day, it usually says more about them than about you.”
Tselyp recently reacted sharply to critics online after receiving dismissive comments about musicians and entertainers.
“There’s a stereotype that artists only dance, sing, and live easy lives. But people don’t see the emotional pressure behind public work.”
“Silence helps me recover”
Despite his energetic stage image, Tselyp says his recovery process is surprisingly simple.
“When I feel emotionally overwhelmed, I usually disappear into silence. No loud places, no noise, no social media.”
The singer explains that solitude helps him reconnect with himself.
“I think creative people absorb too many emotions from the outside world. If you never stop and breathe, eventually you burn out.”
For now, Igor says he wants to continue creating music honestly rather than trying to fit industry expectations.
“I don’t want to become fake for popularity. If success comes, it should come naturally.”
