To celebrate the upcoming re-release of Brian May’s “Back to the Light” (1992/2021) album, I would like to dedicate a few words to each song, reflecting either on a couple of lines from the lyrics, or on a song in general. If you never listened to this album before, please check it out (here and here)! I. A shadow of a man I used to … Continue reading The Songs of Darkness and Light
A couple of days ago I was walking through the Toronto downtown, and, as I looked at the familiar enormousness of the Scotiabank Arena, my eyes welled up with tears. Because I remembered the summer of 2019 so clearly – how we strolled by the CN Tower all the way to the venue, to a joyful crowd of people wearing Queen t-shirts – my people, … Continue reading Happy Birthday, Dr. May!
I am happy and excited to announce a new series of podcasts based on my writing. For now, I am only learning and mastering this new format; hopefully, in the future I will be able to create brand new series. The podcasts are available on Spotify and Soundcloud Please like, follow, and share! Continue reading My New Podcasts
I have put the last three posts together, because they all belong to one project that I tried to work over the last weeks. On traveling, confronting our demons and inner walls, as well as making the new windows and portals. Continue reading In Transit – a full text
A Mind Journey To every man, in his acquaintance with a new art, there comes a moment when that which before was meaningless first lifts, as it were, one corner of the curtain that hides its mystery, and reveals, in a burst of delight which later and fuller understanding can hardly ever equal, one glimpse of the indefinite possibilities within. (C.S. Lewis, Out of the … Continue reading In Transit – Part 3
A mystical journey If you shut your eyes and are a lucky one, you may see at times a shapeless pool of lovely pale colours suspended in the darkness; then if you squeeze your eyes tighter, the pool begins to take shape, and the colours become so vivid that with another squeeze they must go on fire. But just before they go on fire … Continue reading In Transit – Part 2
A Sentimental Journey Embarking on a journey means boarding a train. You sit by a window, leaning on a dusty glass (do not lean on glass, it’s dirty!) staring at the trees flying by, the wires going up and down, the thundering noise of a passing train, the tattered stations, towns, and villages, the names that fade from your memory; the well-known routes and the … Continue reading In Transit – Part 1
I am so happy to share an essay written by my dear friend and co-author Anastasia (Nastya) Arkhipova. For many years we have been sharing similar passions and interests – eventually, our lifetime friendship culminated in a book The Era of TV Series OR How the Masterpieces of A Small Screen Changed Our Lives. This is what our manifesto is about – our creative relationship … Continue reading The River of Time
Sheer Heart Attack captivated me many years ago, even though back then I understood very little, both literally and figuratively. I remember being mesmerized by the unusual tone of “In the Lap of the Gods,” loving “Tenement Funster,” being scared by the aggressiveness of “Flick of the Wrist” – again, completely missing out the lyrics but sensing the mood from the harsh riffs, Freddie’s voice, … Continue reading Sheer Heart Attack
One year ago we were told to stay home. We thought it would be like this for several weeks, for a couple of months. We postponed our plans and eventually canceled them entirely. We were clinging to each other, to our small and fragile universe, looking out at the storm that was roaring outside. On March 13, my university was still open but I canceled … Continue reading One Year
