A unique song has been released as a collaboration between English and Ukrainian musicians.
Entitled A Million Flags, its combines the talents of Cheshire jazz singer Megan Lee and acclaimed Ukrainian ladies choir Czervoni Maky.
They acknowledge the war in Ukraine has provoked widespread horror and outrage – but say it has also inspired solidarity and spurred many individuals to action and support.
Adding to the body of art and creativity to come out of the suffering and resistance, the remarkable new track was released on the first anniversary of the Russian invasion.
Leicestershire-based former NHS worker Sue Graham composed A Million Flags as her own tribute to the Ukrainian spirit, after being devastated by unfolding events during 2022.
She and her musician husband Jim forwarded the song to producer Nigel Stonier who immediately offered to work on it.
The result is a stirring, beautiful track with Megan’s sublime alto voice delivering the heartfelt sentiments over a stately backing and the initially hushed, then ultimately elated, tones of the choir.
Jim Graham said: “On the eve of the invasion in 2022, Sue went to bed quite agitated and upset about the upcoming conflict.
“That evening she had a dream about being on a bus in London with a group of Ukrainian women. One lady started to sing and then the whole bus gradually joined in.
“Although Sue couldn’t understand the language they were singing in, she felt the sentiment of the song strongly.
“The melody stayed with her and the following morning she played it out on the piano. The words were written over the next few days.”
Six months later, Sue played the song to her husband who produced a rough demo and sent it to his friend Nigel Stonier.
Nigel recruited Megan Lee to sing the lead and it was felt that the addition of a Ukrainian choir would make the song complete.
A search was made and the Czervoni Maky choir was found, with the song finished and released to coincided with the anniversary of the invasion.
A Million Flags is available now on all major distribution platforms, including YouTube, Spotify and Apple Music.
It’s hoped the song will reaffirm a determination for justice and peace to ultimately prevail.
The project has been privately funded and any royalties will go to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.
