Entry #27
Statement
by AtomTM
Dear …………,
It has come to my attention that some defamatory accusations were made against me via “social” media regarding my recent performances in Russia. Up until today I had very consciously refrained from any statements in reaction to this, due to the hostile and irrational environment of the so-called “social” media itself. This will be the first and probably only statement in reaction to this particular topic.
This document is for public use and you can share it freely.
It is, and should be needless to say, a real shame to see art and music dragged into this, clearly politically motivated smear campaign against me and fellow artists which dared to perform their music in certain places, unsanctioned by a certain group of political activists. It is also painful that at this point in my career I have, for the first time, to make a non-musical public statement of that sort, yet it seems that times require this to be done.
I would like to make clear that all I do is music.
I consider myself a profoundly non- or rather trans-political person. Many years ago I had decided to take the path of making true human bonds through music. Unlike politics, which is the mode of separation, I had chosen music, which is the mode of connection.
It should be redundant to say that I do not perform music for countries, nations, governments, ethnicities, political or ideological ideas, but for people – for other humans, independent of their passports, skin color, gender or whatever cultural background they may have. It seems that music has lost that, previously obvious, message. In conclusion, I do reject speaking the language of war and hate or the language of nationalism. I do reject ANY AND ALL flags. I do not share the uniform hatred against any civil population, since I do not make the language of war the language I speak.
Unfortunately, and especially here on “social” media, a group of political activists has hijacked the environment of music, as in they managed to infiltrate here, camouflaged as either “fans”/“audience” or otherwise “scene related” actors (“journalists” as they jokingly call themselves). As one of their leaders Maya Baklanova, a political activist which works for the “K41 Community Fund” and a couple of other politically funded NGOs [see footnote 1], with her group (or rather “club”) of fellow cyber snipers and bots, has managed to successfully cause havoc by threatening and blackmailing cultural/musical institutions all over the western world, such as clubs and festivals, but also individuals. Her activities are aimed at discrediting and defaming all those which have dared to have touched Russian soil. Her modus operandi is always the same, as in there is a well established method and vocabulary at play, which ranges from personal intimidation to public coercion. Her “arguments” are usually a confabulation of lies and unsubstantiated factoids and her method is to create the make believe, that beyond her handful of accounts lays a “real” group of people – a deceit only possible on Instagram and other, oligarchically owned “private” media.
This way of political/ideological warfare does of course not only concern the topic of “Russia”, as we all know, since it expands into “Palestine” and a plethora of ever expanding topics, all with their own background and reasoning. Every single one of them is here to seed division and obedience, which I herewith profoundly defy.
In a very foresighted, diplomatic gesture, my recent performance in Russia was backed by an official support letter, issued by the German Embassy in St. Petersburg. This letter was accompanied by a meeting with the general consul Mr. Schimandl about which an official post was made by the German Embassy itself [see footnote 2].The absolute necessity to speak the language of diplomacy and to understand the unique power of art and music as perhaps the only unifying gesture left, I take very seriously.
From hundreds of private conversations with colleagues and friends, I know that this situation, the one of being forced into political obedience, is a universal one. It transcends genres and sub-cultural niches and has poisoned music and other arts as it enslaves them to ideology.
It is your choice, dear ………………….., which language you prefer to speak.
Sincerely yours, with
Love, Music and Engineering.
AtomTM
Footnotes
[1] Interview “Kaltblut Magazine”, Berlin, October 2023, in which Mrs. Baklanova states: “I switched my professional area from working in communications at K41 club to focusing on mental health issues among Ukrainian youth through an NGO.”
[2] Publication on the German Embassy’s official social media account. (https://vk.com/gkstpe?w=wall-63820101_2330) [Note: this link may be blocked in your free, democratic country]
50 Responses to “Entry #27 – Statement”
Meow
🎶
🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼
Dear Uwe, every time russians manage to get western artists to come over and perform during this time is treated as a victory to them and normalization of their current cancerous state. I know your world view does not agree with it, but the problem is, they don’t care about any of that, except furthering their normalization goal, and they used you as a pawn. At this stage, everything russian must be boycotted, until they manage to really change and pay their debts to the world.
As a free thinking person, you should be able to understand how your worldviews can be manipulated by bad actors, don’t let yourself be a pawn of the aggressor.
If you want me to punish cancerous states, I would see myself forced not to perform anywhere.
exactly.
cunt.
Oh, welcome UK citizens to this conversation. “Cunt” has always been one of my favourite cuss words.
One more case of whataboutism. russian lobbyists were doing a really good job lobbying Europe to rely on import of natural resources from russia. Making drastic provider changes take time, Europe is finally starting to understand that russia is using its resources export as a hybrid warfare form, there’s going to be changes.
Pretty much every russian news outlet is somewhere in between soft and hard form of propaganda, there’s no free press there, and lots of foreign outlets are in control by the state, don’t rely on russian sources too much.
Hi Uwe.
It takes bravery & intelligence/wisdom to walk your own path without agenda imo.
As a species we are controlled by an inate desire to assimilate rather than discriminate. —-> ‘Social Media’ 🫣
Keep the faith and walk even taller. Consider never answering to those with loaded agenda’s. —> ‘Bad training’.
Music is a gift made by people for people. Its ours & always has been.
Onwards..with a smile. 🙂
“everything russian must be boykotted” are you serious? you don´t see any relation to racism in that? must we boykott also anything jewish? anything turkish? anything white? anything black?
You are the first who were not afraid to speak out! My respect!
Totally agree with everything Uwe says. People absolutely forgot about freedom-that freedom what music give to us and we are create this musical world. Just to be connected deeply with each other! Music , Rave, Dance – is about unity between each other- not about the distance. So why some of people following politics ? When it was like this? Are you forgot our goal?..
So many artists and promoters and agencies afraid to come to Russia .. why? What are you afraid of. I think everyone should ask himself inside.
I was never followed this social system.. it’s never was connected with the music on this way like now!
People don’t understand that political side controlled them!
What will be when everyone who cancel gigs or any connection with Russia, or any other country, what will be when they understands that they was marionettes in the bad hands ..
I’m very sorry. But it’s not a freedom, it’s something different..
I wish to the all artists to be not afraid of anything in life and doing their best for themselves and others trough MUSIC.
All my life, music helps me a lot, I speak trough music, everyday with music, playing, looking at the people who is happy ! Without any words and systems! We decide what we want to see trough our eyes.
here. here.
we are regressing quite a lot. we have conquered freedom of speech, human rights , etc and now it seems that these young stupid , intrepid young kids lost these fundamental rights. Many people have died in order for this to become a norm ! Any form of expression does not relate to nationality.
This is a brave man, who goes against the whole system and this inspires confidence and admiration. Thank you for your sincere words. Well, what can I add to this words from Uwe? I guess only my subjective feelings and a bit of objective sight.
Since 2022 when all started in country where Iliving (Russia), it was difficult to get used to. All world against your country, including the most favorite thing in your life – music. As a musician, music is the most secluded place for me from the real world, which has been full of different trials and traumas for me, including this conflict. I expected to hear sympathy, ordinary sympathy, without politics, just like “well guys, let’s move on, don’t give a damn about it”. But what I got?
A bunch of publications in any socials from artists which music I listend and playing still often about how we are terrorists and people should not cooperate with us.
Anyway, I have always separated art from the person who makes it, for me these are different things, so I will not stop listening to my favorite music because these artists have different views on life than mine.
We are figures of art, not politicians, we unite people, not divide them, as Uwe writes here, and this is absolutely truth.
Unfortunately, the masses will always look for and listen to the shepherd.
I hope people who really need and love art, especially music, will be able to understand it all and let go of such prejudices.
👏 Respect!
Thanks you!
Thank you for standing for real human values!
Music has no borders it unites not divide. ✨ thank you
as a ukrainian i want to say: stop to hating each other! they (politicians) want only this and they got this! music, dance, rave – is place of love and freedom, don’t allow any other feels and actions! war sucks and I belive only humanity can win
Finally someone said it out loud! Thank you, you are a strong man with the right words!
There is no black and white. Bravo Uwe! 100% Support!
Much love and respect!
Thank you very much, atom, for this message, I was at your performance, and I was very glad to see you and listen to your great music. Thank you for being there. Endless inspiration and love.
U are absolutely right Uwe! Provocateurs and brainwashed people are everywhere! Art out of corrupted politics and dirty bloody money! We will unite, all humanity. More then 100 years all the same tricks and propaganda from politics and corporations. They made a new crysis and now want New war and more money and power, but we are want peace and civilized existence. With respect and support from Russia! Russia is not a Putin!
We live here, we may want to escape the idiocy, but it will follow us. Not taking a stand against the killing makes you into one of the bystanders. Does this ring a bell? If you don’t do politics, politics will do you.
Sounds like blackmailing to me.
I went to the doctors the other day. I said, I’ve broken my leg in three places.
He said, ‘Don’t go to those places.’
That’s great!!!
In addition to Maya Baklanova, there is such an activist and her media partner, an artist of Russian origin whose name is Buttechno. He has repeatedly called on you not to go to Russia. Although himself performed in Crimea in 2015, after the peninsula was occupied by Russia and he is trying to hide this fact. For example, he managed to request the removal of the announcement of this event on the Russian social media VK:
https://m.vk.com/southcafe?q=Buttechno&search=1
(please give him just disprove if it’s a lie).
It’s just a moral side illustrating the position by Maya Baklanova, Buttechno and others their media partners who support to the view that ‘music is always political’ and how they use this against people who can’t support this.
It is very sad to see how memorized and negligent the comments (and unfortunately also some of the affirmative ones) are, because they are in stark contrast to the down-to-earth thoughts of a person who deigns to express himself very plainly. Even in this micro-habitat, the vulgarity of our approach to this great human problem and it’s results whose name we call war, whose motives we do not fully understand and whose interests we do not share is imposing. Although it is disheartening to see that this disease progress to this degree, I am consoled to see that someone still expresses himself and his beliefs hale and healty through an extraordinary human value called music.
Oh Uwe, you got 1: CUNT 1: (maybe 2) Nazi, a meow, some notation and a sprinkling of well-intended engagement.
Im bittery disappointed with the lack of controversy here and shall be writing a letter very soon. In the meantime I seek to lay a gentle but firm hand on your shoulder and whisper “Dont forget, ART FUCKS BACK”. Much love from the other side of this complex simulation. St Petersburg is somewhere I’ve dreamed of visiting. Enjoy.
Actually, I got a couple of “cunts”, but I kept them for myself 🙂
Thanks for your words and support!!!
Thank you for your courage, you’re a true artist. Respect!
Your eloquence is remarkable. Thank you very much for your statement.
Unfortunately I have decided to no longer personally reply to comments here. This is mainly because I do not want to thin out my line of defense by expanding the attackable surface via delivering a personal psychogram. Needless to say that I appreciate your support, amidst the noise of assumptions and indirect accusations, formulated as generic “arguments”.
Love, Music, Engineering!
Thank you so much Uwe, for your bravery. Music should unite people! And making it a weapon against, not for, is basically denying its only purpose. Your performance with ASA was astonishing. We all really appreciated it so much.
I admire and fully back up your position. We know nothing about this conflict. None of those who spread hate actually talked to someone outside their comfy bubble. Yet they spread hate against you and a whole nation. Against their brothers and sisters. Because of a bunch of asshole politicians who are doing their things. This is mad. Play wherever you want for whomever you want. It‘s people. It‘s music. That‘s all that counts. Leave politics out there or you‘ll never be happy.
What do you mean “we”, white man? We can know a lot about Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine if we pay attention. There is a huge amount of information available about it. Photos, videos, articles, books, eyewitness testimonies, physical evidence, thousands of dead bodies. This does not only exist in the realm of politics. This is not merely an abstraction.
The racial implication, dear Gary, was not necessary at all.
Oh, I was just quoting Tonto from the old TV show The Lone Ranger. Or, were you being ironical? It can be so hard to tell on the internet. Now I’ll feel embarrassed for explaining myself. Writing comments is such an emotional roller coaster.
Oh…that quote got lost crossing international frontiers. Never watched that TV show. Now understood!
I have always appreciated your way of expressing yourself, which denotes consequence and solidity in your position in the face of the paradox that is this absurd reality, and I do agree that we are shipwrecked in the sea of bots that push our existence to a simulacrum of ideologies that do not identify us.
For me this gesture of communication is worth in terms of reflection as a provocative act of discomfort.
People talk about the supposed Freedom, inclusivity and democracy of the West (lol) but the truth is that we live under a totalitarian regime. Everything that escapes the established discourse is harshly canceled, silenced, boycotted by these groups of humans/bots organized and financed by governments or private entities with (of course) economic and power interests.
It doesn’t matter in what country you live and what the reason for the cancellation is, the modus operandi is always the same.
Thanks for this statement. Very brave. And of course, thanks for your music!
Luckily there are still some beings capable of questioning propaganda. Wars have never been of the people. The only way to build a better world is with the union of peers. Anyway… let them sink into their own purity spiral, while cancelling people through their iPhone, running on batteries built thanks to child exploitation. Tilt. In the end they will end up eating each other.
I have a question: some people, especially on reddit, are talking about this embassy letter being fake. Can you say something about this?
This allegation would imply that I had fabricated it, and therewith falsified an official document issued by the German consulate. It is needless to say that such a thing would not only be stupid on my part, but also potentially legally problematic. For anybody with doubts: instead of distributing accusations and disinformation of that sort, one can easily get in touch with that German Embassy, or have a look at the accompanying post the very embassy published (https://vk.com/gkstpe?w=wall-63820101_2330). I am certain the embassy will help everybody with their concerns.