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 has unveiled 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 traditional performance film, the two-part project offers an intimate portrait of Ukraine’s creative community and the artists continuing to write, record and collaborate despite the realities of war. Filmed during a period of intensified aerial attacks on Kyiv, the documentary explores the city’s music scene through the perspective of artists determined to preserve their culture and keep creating under extraordinary circumstances.
The journey began with What So Not returning to Ukraine to continue his creative relationship with Alina Pash, following their collaborations on “EVEREST,” “Candy Flipping,” and “Don’t Wanna Leave Yet.” During his stay, the producer also recorded with Ukrainian musicians who remain unable to leave the country because of wartime restrictions, gaining a deeper understanding of the importance of amplifying Ukrainian stories, language and artistic expression.
The documentary opens on the morning of July 2, 2026, as emergency sirens sound across Kyiv following an overnight wave of attacks on the capital. The tense backdrop stands in stark contrast to the creative activity unfolding inside the city, with What So Not moving between studio sessions, preparations for a rooftop performance with Alina Pash and moments of everyday life as smoke rises in the distance and air raid sirens signal the need to seek 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, audiences are brought into Kyiv’s creative spaces through recording sessions, conversations and quieter personal moments. Rather than allowing the circumstances surrounding the artists to define the entire story, the documentary places its focus on the people themselves and the role music and collaboration continue to play in preserving a sense of identity and humanity.
That spirit reaches its peak with an intimate rooftop performance overlooking Kyiv, where What So Not and Alina Pash perform together against the city skyline. The setting transforms the performance into something larger than a conventional live session, capturing the connection between two artists while reflecting the power of music to cross borders and create moments of hope.
Shortly after the performance, however, the documentary returns to the reality surrounding the project as another night of intensified attacks unfolds.
“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 footage also provides additional context for the collaborations featured across I SAW A TRAP DJ AND IT CHANGED MY BIO CHEMISTRY, revealing the relationships and experiences that helped shape some of the EP’s most personal material. Themes of transformation, connection and human experience extend beyond the recordings themselves, with the documentary placing those ideas within the real-world environments and creative relationships that inspired the music.
For Alina Pash, the project represents another opportunity to amplify Ukrainian voices and introduce international audiences to the country’s distinctive creative identity. With many Ukrainian artists still facing significant barriers to international travel and collaboration, What So Not made the decision to bring his creative process to Kyiv, immersing himself in the community that helped inspire the music rather than asking collaborators to leave their home.
That approach reinforces the broader philosophy behind I SAW A TRAP DJ AND IT CHANGED MY BIO CHEMISTRY, a project built around curiosity, collaboration and the exploratory spirit of electronic music. Throughout the EP campaign, What So Not has emphasized authentic creative connections and intimate experiences, demonstrating that artistic impact does not always require a massive stage.
A key figure in electronic music for more than a decade, What So Not has built his career around boundary-pushing production and collaborations that blur genre and geographical lines. His continuing relationship with Alina Pash stands out as one of his most meaningful creative partnerships, not simply because of the music they have produced together, but because of the personal and cultural story surrounding it.
Ultimately, the Kyiv documentary and rooftop performance are about more than music. They document a creative community determined to preserve its identity, artists finding connection amid uncertainty and the human relationships that continue to fuel artistic expression.
For What So Not and Alina Pash, the project becomes a portrait of Ukraine through the people creating within it — a reminder that music can preserve culture, foster connection and offer moments of hope even in the most difficult circumstances.