FILMED IN KYIV DURING A PERIOD OF INTENSIFIED ATTACKS, THE PROJECT OFFERS AN INTIMATE LOOK AT THE ARTISTS PRESERVING CULTURE, CONNECTION, AND CREATIVITY THROUGH MUSIC.
THE TWO-PART PROJECT ARRIVES AFTER ‘I SAW A TRAP DJ AND IT CHANGED MY BIO CHEMISTRY’
AND EXPANDS THE DEEPLY HUMAN STORY BEHIND THE EP's UKRAINIAN COLLABORATIONS
Following the release of his new EP, I SAW A TRAP DJ AND IT CHANGED MY BIO CHEMISTRY, Australian electronic music pioneer What So Not unveils a new short documentary and full rooftop performance filmed during a recent creative trip to Kyiv alongside acclaimed Ukrainian artist Alina Pash.
More than a performance film, 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.
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.
“I’m still getting over how normalized it is here. Coming straight to the studio after an attack and writing songs about throwing raves after curfew in underground shelters.”
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.
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.
“I knew this was a possibility coming here. But it’s hard to explain the feeling of seeing it out the window, hearing the sirens, feeling the vibrations of the explosions. The rush to get down to a shelter. The uncertainty. The sleeplessness. Trying to make the most of it with a great group of people who live this every single day. I think in that moment I saw the true beauty of Ukraine - the people, their passion, and their resilience.”
The film provides deeper context for the collaborations featured on I SAW A TRAP DJ AND IT CHANGED MY BIO CHEMISTRY, revealing the relationships and experiences that shaped some of the EP's most personal moments. While the project explores themes of transformation, connection, and human experience, the documentary brings audiences into the real-world environments and creative partnerships that inspired the music.
For Alina Pash, the project also serves as an opportunity to continue amplifying Ukrainian voices and sharing the country's creative identity with audiences around the world.
The documentary arrives as many Ukrainian artists continue to face significant barriers to international collaboration. 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.
The release further expands the philosophy behind I SAW A TRAP DJ AND IT CHANGED MY BIO CHEMISTRY, a project rooted in curiosity, connection, and the creative spirit that has long defined electronic music culture. Throughout the EP rollout, What So Not has prioritized authentic collaboration, intimate experiences, and artistic exploration over scale alone.
Long recognized as one of electronic music's most influential innovators, What So Not has spent more than a decade building a career defined by global collaboration and boundary-pushing production. His ongoing creative relationship with Alina Pash stands among his most meaningful - not only because of the music they have created together, but because of the story behind it.
More than a documentary or live performance, the project tells a story rooted in Ukraine while speaking to artists and creative communities everywhere - a testament to music's ability to preserve identity, foster connection, and provide hope when it is needed most.
Artist Quotes
What So Not (Chris Emerson)
“A truly life changing experience for me seeing how these incredible people are forced to live their daily lives & the strength & causal nature they handle issues most people will never see in their lifetime.
Out here to work with Ukrainian artists (unable to leave the country, during a time of involuntary service & war), we threw a spontaneous rooftop concert. Little did we know we’d be caught in two of the heaviest bombings, Kyiv has seen in this four & a half year war”
Alina Pash
“There's nothing that replaces seeing a place with your own eyes. Kyiv is still trying to live like a normal city — it's not the frontline, but we're in the fourth year of war, and honestly, it's harder now than it was at the beginning. The bombing has only gotten worse. The war keeps evolving, and no matter how much new technology we have, it's still incredibly hard to stand against a machine as big as Russia's.
Chris and I lived through a few massive bombings together — sleeping in shelters, texting friends in the middle of the night just to make sure they're okay because we heard something bad happening in another district. It's dramatic, and it's strange to realize this is just reality now. This is what we live. But I think Ukraine's reality needs to be shown to the world exactly as it is — because it can wake something important in all of us.
What Chris did by coming and playing for people who can't leave the country — that's not just a show, that's a real act of bravery and love. I hope it inspires other artists to go where music is needed most, not just where it's easy.
So my message is simple — don't be afraid to have a friend in Ukraine. Come see us. We're still here, still dancing, still worth knowing.”
What So Not is an Australian electronic music producer and live performer recognized as one of the defining architects behind the rise of cinematic trap and forward-thinking bass music in the early 2010s. Emerging during a transformative moment in global electronic culture, his emotionally charged production style and genre-blurring approach helped reshape the sound of festival music, internet-era electronic culture, and modern bass music worldwide.
Across acclaimed releases including Not All The Beautiful Things, Anomaly, Motions, and 2025 collaborative EP The Quiet That Hurts with Dutch producer Buunshin, What So Not has consistently evolved beyond genre expectations - blending trap, drum & bass, cinematic songwriting, analog experimentation, and melodic electronic production into a singular artistic identity. The Quiet That Hurts in particular marked a bold evolution in his sound, pairing emotionally immersive songwriting with an innovative take on modern drum & bass and experimental electronic music.
Known for collaborations with artists including Skrillex, RL Grime, Oliver Tree, Killer Mike, Toto, and Daniel Johns, What So Not has built a catalog that balances large-scale festival energy with emotional depth and boundary-pushing production. Tracks such as “High You Are,” “Jaguar,” “Gemini,” and “Be Ok Again” have collectively contributed to more than 1.3 billion global streams.
Beyond music releases, What So Not has become known for immersive live performances that fuse cinematic visuals, live instrumentation, and emotionally driven storytelling. A staple across major global festivals including Coachella, Ultra Music Festival, and Lollapalooza, he continues to push electronic music into new territory while maintaining the forward-thinking creative identity that has defined his career for over a decade.
With his forthcoming project I SAW A TRAP DJ AND IT CHANGED MY BIO CHEMISTRY, What So Not enters a new era - reconnecting with the emotional and cultural foundations that first shaped his music while reframing them through years of artistic evolution and experimentation.
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Upcoming Tour Dates
AUG 9 - Das Energi 2026 - Salt Lake City, UT
AUG 14 - The Midway - San Francisco, CA
SEP 5 - Sunny Side Up @ Aussie World - Sunshine Coast, QLD
SEP 18 - Substation - Seattle, WA
SEP 19 - The Loft at Skyway Theatre - Minneapolis, MN
SEP 24 - Myth Nightclub - Jacksonville, FL
SEP 25 - Breakaway Music Festival - Concord, NC
OCT 2 - Art Club - Houston, TX
OCT 3 - Wish Lounge at Believe Music Hall - Atlanta, GA
OCT 9 - Otherworld - Philadelphia, PA
OCT 10 - Otherworld - Columbus, OH
