An artist of many creative pursuits, Vitaliy Shtapura is a 2D/3D cartoonist, voice actor, internet personality and musician. With his music, he forges a unique blend of ‘Soviet synthpop’, comedy rap and 30s big band style. Self-taught in musical composition and arrangement, he’s used Garageband since 2015 to create his own original sound.
Born in Israel to Ukrainian videographer parents, his family moved to Brooklyn in 2002. At just six-years-old he started taking illustration, screenwriting and acting classes in New York. By age nine he was sharing his songs and cartoons online, with over 130 pages of a semi-autobiographical comedy webcomic to follow soon after.
Following a successful career in advertising, he left his corporate role during the pandemic to focus on finding a more peaceful life that cultivates his soul. Now he brings us his latest full-length release, with the new album Safe.
A work that explores his fear of abandonment, it was originally inspired by a break-up, before becoming a more bright source of joy as he reconnected with family and rediscovered his faith. Across the thirteen original songs, he shares the extent of his creative vision, offering a range of different genres all filtered through his own sonic lens.
Commenting on the album, he shares, “A big theme of the album is wrestling with a fear of abandonment and leaning in to unconditional love. Particularly, the song “Why You Cringy?” exemplifies unconditional love. The song “Safe”, in contrast, is ironically about what happens in an unsafe relationship – when love is built on the fear of abandonment.”
Adding, “The album ends with leaning in to my newfound beliefs. This year I discovered I was a Quaker. I deeply relate to the notions of peace, love, and togetherness of all people. The song “By The Lilies and the Roses”, written in an 1890s style that emulates joyous circus tunes and nickelodeons and dance hall organs, attempts to articulate these large loving feelings.”
Listen to Safe below
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