“Stomach Butterflies” - MAX BARSKIH
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
A soft touch. A deep message. A bold, bilingual new chapter from a Ukrainian pop icon.
If you know Max Barskih, you know he’s never been afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve—or his soul in his songs. But with “Stomach Butterflies,” the first single from his upcoming English-language album, Barskih takes vulnerability to a whole new level. It's not just a song—it's an experience, a statement, and a soft but powerful wave of emotional resistance wrapped in delicate synths and poetic lyrics.
This track, and everything surrounding it, feels like modern Ukraine speaking to the world—not with rage, but with resilience. Not with noise, but with intimacy. Not with politics, but with people.
Before the song even dropped, Max laid the emotional groundwork with a five-part audiovisual experiment, featuring confessional videos of young Ukrainians sharing raw truths—from loss and displacement to hope and loyalty. Shot on gritty VHS, these videos are snapshots of real lives impacted by war—yet still filled with love, laughter, dreams, and identity.
This campaign wasn’t just for buzz. It was intentional, heartfelt, and deeply therapeutic. Barskih clearly understands that music is more than sound—it’s medicine. And in a time where mental health often takes a back seat to survival, this single reminds us that healing is resistance, too.
“Stomach Butterflies” might sound delicate, even dreamy—but it’s loaded with emotional gravity. The title itself speaks to that universal flutter of anticipation, nervousness, or—let’s be honest—love. That first stir in your chest that says, “I’m feeling something real.”
Musically, the track floats in that gorgeous Max Barskih sweet spot—lush synths, soft beats, and vocals that feel like a whisper from someone who really sees you. Singing in English opens the door wider for international fans, but he keeps that signature Barskih soul fully intact.
And then there’s the music video, directed by longtime collaborator Alan Badoev. It’s more than just visuals—it’s a group therapy session set to melody. Featuring the very same young people from the pre-release clips, the video captures everything from tentative eye contact to physical connection and symbolic removal of clothing. It's about trust. Safety. Reconnection. The touch isn't provocative, it’s healing. And it’s art with purpose.
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
Ukrainian psychologist Sofia Pkhaladze, founder of the SOPHY mental wellness app, collaborated on the project and praised it as a mirror of trauma recovery. Her breakdown of the video’s emotional arc—moving from isolation to intimacy, from fear to trust—is more than analysis. It’s validation. This is pop music as psychological art therapy, and honestly, that’s revolutionary.
To further that mission, Barskih’s team and SOPHY launched a free mental health resource for Ukrainians globally. It’s called “Together We Are Strong,” and it offers exercises to help people navigate anxiety, emotional pain, and war-related trauma. Again—this isn’t just an album rollout. It’s a movement.
“Stomach Butterfly” is proof that quiet can be powerful. That softness doesn’t mean weakness. That a love song can also be a lifeline. Barskih isn't just giving us a new single—he’s offering connection. Between strangers. Between languages. Between past pain and future healing.
So if you’re looking for music that sounds beautiful and means something, this is it. It’s one of those rare releases that might make you pause your day, listen deeply, and maybe—just maybe—feel a little bit more human afterward.
Max Barskih has always had star power. Now, he’s channeling it into soul power. And the world’s better for it.
“Stomach Butterflies” is available now on all major streaming platforms
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Listen to MAX BARSKIH and other similar artists on our Spotify Playlist ‘New Music Spotlight - Pop’
