What So Not Releases Kyiv Documentary With Alina Pash

Filming During Wartime

What So Not has released a short documentary and rooftop performance filmed in Kyiv alongside Ukrainian artist Alina Pash. The two-part project documents Ukraine's creative community and the artists continuing to make music despite the realities of war. Filmed during a period of intensified aerial attacks on Kyiv, the documentary offers an intimate look inside the city's music scene through the eyes of those determined to keep creating, collaborating, and preserving their culture under extraordinary circumstances.

The journey begins as What So Not returns to Ukraine to continue his creative work with Alina Pash following their collaborations on "EVEREST," "Candy Flipping," and "Don't Wanna Leave Yet." During the trip, he recorded with Ukrainian musicians who remain unable to leave the country because of wartime restrictions, gaining a deeper appreciation for the importance of continuing to amplify Ukrainian stories, language, and artistic expression.

From Emergency Sirens To Studio Sessions

The documentary opens on the morning of July 2, 2026, as emergency sirens echo across Kyiv following an overnight wave of attacks on the capital. Against that backdrop, What So Not captures the contrast between uncertainty and everyday life – from studio sessions and preparations for a rooftop performance with Alina Pash to smoke rising in the distance, air raid sirens, and the search for shelter.

Throughout the film, viewers are invited into Kyiv's creative spaces, witnessing studio sessions, conversations, and personal moments that reveal the resilience of the city's artistic community. Rather than centering solely on the circumstances surrounding them, the documentary focuses on the people behind the music and the role creative collaboration can play in preserving humanity during times of uncertainty.

Rooftop Performance Over Kyiv

The journey culminates in an intimate rooftop performance overlooking Kyiv, where What So Not and Alina Pash celebrate their shared work against one of the city's most recognizable skylines. More than a traditional live set, the performance becomes a symbol of hope and a reflection of music's ability to connect people across borders.

Shortly after the performance, the documentary captures another night of intensified attacks, offering a stark reminder of the environment in which the project was created.

The film provides deeper context for the collaborations featured on What So Not's recent EP, I SAW A TRAP DJ AND IT CHANGED MY BIO CHEMISTRY. By traveling to Kyiv rather than asking collaborators to leave their home country, What So Not chose to immerse himself in the creative community that inspired the music – documenting not only the songs themselves, but also the people, places, and stories behind them.