Main points
- Ivan Lyulenov, known for the “League of Laughter”, lives in Ukraine and does not plan to leave during the war, despite the difficulties.
- Lyulenov plans to obtain a permanent residence permit in Ukraine, but currently only has a temporary permit due to the lack of the necessary grounds for permanent residence.
- 1 About the all-Ukrainian tour during a difficult winter
- 2 About living in Ukraine and obtaining a permanent residence permit
- 3 On relationships with parents and Russified Moldova
- 4 About the transition to the Ukrainian language
- 5 About Cultural Forces
- 6 About the “League of Laughter” and Olya Polyakova
- 1 About the all-Ukrainian tour during a difficult winter
- 2 About living in Ukraine and obtaining a permanent residence permit
- 3 On relationships with parents and Russified Moldova
- 4 About the transition to the Ukrainian language
- 5 About Cultural Forces
- 6 About the “League of Laughter” and Olya Polyakova
Ukrainians know Ivan Lyulenov from the “League of Laughter.” He participated in the project as part of the “Stoyanivka” team, which won twice. The artist is originally from Moldova, but has been living and working in Ukraine for many years and remained here even after the start of the Russian full-scale invasion.
24 Channel spoke with Ivan before his solo concert, which took place on March 28 at the Kyiv club Stereo Plaza. Read the interview with Lyulenov in the material.
About the all-Ukrainian tour during a difficult winter
You are on an ongoing and almost finished all-Ukrainian tour. Perhaps one of the concerts was the most memorable for you, or did you have any interesting stories?
We played the main part – about 30 cities. What's left now are the relocated cities. Because January and February were difficult – somewhere there was no heating, somewhere a pipe burst. What do you remember? Oh, everything was legendary, interesting. I remember the lotteries: that somewhere there is heating, somewhere there is not, somewhere there is light, somewhere there is not. We rode with a generator. It was not very powerful: the kind that pulls either light and sound, or one kettle. And you choose either to drink tea or play acoustics.
By the way, how do you react to such force majeure? Are you used to it?
We weren't used to it. It was unusual in the winter. We probably got used to the worries and the fact that something could happen because of them. But what happened in the winter was a test for us, a challenge. But being in Kyiv is also a challenge. I'm proud that we managed to support our listener, and it also saved us. We were constantly on the move, doing something, because I can't imagine just sitting in Kyiv, waiting for an “arrival”, an explosion, or a blackout. It's super gloomy.
Ivan Lyulenov / Photo by Viktoriya Grechykha
About life in Ukraine and obtaining a permanent residence permit
You have been living in Ukraine for many years and call it your second homeland. You said that you cannot obtain Ukrainian citizenship, because then you would have to give up your Moldovan one. Have you changed your mind?
Now I have a temporary residence permit. The next step is a permanent residence permit. But, unfortunately, this period requires a lot of time and grounds. At this stage, I have a certain restriction: I need to leave regularly. For now, I can be like that, and then I will need to get a permanent residence permit.
Haven't you started applying for a permanent residence permit yet?
No, because I have no reason. It takes some real estate, girl (laughs – 24 Channel). Get married, live together for two years, some kind of business. I have a sole proprietorship, I pay taxes, but that's not enough. Maybe over time I'll deserve it. I live and think that over time everything will be fine. I'm here on a cultural basis.
Have you ever had thoughts of leaving Ukraine during the four years of full-scale invasion? You have the opportunity. For example, during this difficult winter, some people left.
It wasn't. I'm leaving for Moldova to visit my parents and friends. And because I have to leave, it's purely on documents. I'm so used to these realities that I can't imagine life in Europe or America.
Maybe something will change someday, but while there is a war, I definitely don't intend to leave. This is a struggle, we are all fighting. I chose this path consciously. The struggle has no deadline. That is, it is not something that will end next year or in two years. It lasts a long time, unfortunately.
Ivan Lyulenov / Photo from the artist's Instagram
On relationships with parents and Russified Moldova
You spoke up for your parents. You once admitted that you had a fight with them because of your pro-Ukrainian stance, but then, fortunately, the relationship improved. How are you now?
Good relationship. I try to tell them what's going on. They support me. Of course, they have different views, because they were born in the Soviet Union. And there are many such people in Ukraine. This is a normal situation. We either accept it and try to integrate it into our thinking a little, or we resist and don't communicate. I don't even consider the second option, because these are parents.
Moldova also has a fairly Russified society. Has the situation changed now?
I think it has changed. My environment is definitely all Romanian-speaking. They support the pro-European vector, they understand that Russia is an aggressor. They are all conscious. Of course, there is a pro-Russian part, but this is again a struggle.
You said that you have pro-Russian relatives. Have they still not changed their position?
I don't know what's up with them. I don't have any contact with them. I just cut them off.
About switching to the Ukrainian language
When the full-scale invasion began, you, like most media people, switched to the Ukrainian language. Was it difficult?
I didn't switch right away. Many media people knew Ukrainian, but I didn't, so I needed time to switch. It took me about a year to learn it, to get my bearings.
Unfortunately, many people still have not switched to Ukrainian.
I'm not focused on those who haven't switched. I'm more focused on supporting those who are in the same boat as me. Those who already speak Ukrainian, who are developing culture, who understand what's happening, who are aware. And the others will catch up.
Because a conscious minority is always stronger than the majority, which doesn't care. Lina Kostenko had this idea. I really liked it. The majority is more manageable, and everything depends on the minority.
Ivan Lyulenov at a concert in Stereo Plaza / Photo press service
About Cultural Forces
Many of your colleagues decided to go to the front after the war began. Some, for example, serve in the Cultural Forces. You admitted that you feel guilty about not fighting, but you still do not dare to voluntarily join the army. However, some time has passed since then, have you thought about joining the defense of Ukraine now?
The feeling of guilt does not change. It is always there if you are in the rear. I understand what needs to be done, what depends on me. And I do it every day. And I was in the Cultural Forces – we went to Zaporizhia, and now after the concert I am going to the guys. I have many friends there.
Some people think that the Cultural Forces only sing, but they also serve. They support the military, talk about serious topics, ask the servicemen how they feel. They raise morale and psychological support. This is quite serious and necessary work. After I went to the Cultural Forces, I realized that they also do important work. Otherwise, everyone will be demotivated.
And have you had military or medical training? After all, we live in a time when such skills can be useful even in civilian life.
I have friends who are military personnel. We went to the training ground. I have a friend who can help with medical skills. He conducts courses. Once, when there was an “arrival” near me, he came. He is a military man. He came with a backpack, with his first aid kit and helped people. He supports me in this regard.
About the “League of Laughter” and Olya Polyakova
You gained the greatest popularity in Ukraine by participating in the “Laughter League”, you also sat in the coaching chair. However, now you are more focused on your singing career. Do you plan to continue doing humor?
I want to do music. “League of Laughter” is not only about humor, but about the institute of show business. That is, you come to this institute, and then you choose a direction. Someone became a stand-up comedian, someone a screenwriter, a director, someone took up a normal job, business (laughs – 24 Channel).
It's such a cool amateur activity, where you do whatever you want: sing, dance, joke, and then choose the direction in which you see yourself. For example, my friends from the team, colleagues live ordinary lives, they have ordinary jobs. And many of the Lego comedians do the same. And there are those who continued to engage in creativity. I chose to sing because I consciously want to do it, I love it. Maybe someday I'll do something humorous, but right now I'm focused on music.
Do you keep in touch with other members of the “Stoyanivka” team?
Yes, of course, we are friends.
Where are they now, what are they doing?
Abroad. One in Germany, one in England. They work.
Team “Stoyanivka” / Photo from the team's Instagram
Your coach in season 4 was Olya Polyakova. Then the team won. However, last year there was a conflict between you because the artist allowed herself to make xenophobic jokes in your direction. You have already talked about this a lot, so I don't want to focus too much on this topic, but did you manage to talk and make up?
But we didn't quarrel publicly. It all somehow arose in the public sphere. These are some games within the framework of the show “League of Laughter”. Previously, if you remember, Potap and Polyakova constantly quarreled. This is such an element of the show. There needs to be a confrontation.
But it's supposed to be funny.
Yes. Well, you see, sometimes someone succeeds, and someone doesn't (laughs – Channel 24). I try to turn everything into a joke. Don't forget that this is a show. What I had to say, I said. We talked. After all, this is a show, we don't have a close relationship behind the scenes.
Did you notice similar behavior when Polyakova was your coach?
Times were a little different then. There was a lot more of that then. After 2022, there were a lot more conscious people in Ukraine, and then there was a little different context. Even we joked about Moldovans, about being from Moldova. And now these jokes look different. I don't joke like that anymore. I've changed. Because of the war, because we've all transformed, changed and don't want to live like that. And someone didn't understand everything.
Olya Polyakova and the Stoyanivka team / Photo from the singer's Instagram
You recently released the song “Icon.” Please tell us how the idea for the new track came about?
“Icon” is a song about female beauty. When I wrote it, I had an image in my head of a beautiful girl with few clothes on, her silhouette dancing and enjoying herself. So when we released the song and the girls started filming the video, I realized that they felt the emotion that was embedded.
Ivan Lyulenov – “Icon”: watch the video online
Actually, I was thinking about where the idea for this song came from and came to the conclusion that we write about what we lack. I was often cheerful, funny, and heartfelt in my work, and this time I wanted to allow myself a new emotion that, as it seemed to me, was not about me.
This feeling of coolness, sexuality, beauty. This song gave wings to me first of all. Because with all the complexes, insecurities and doubts you forget about yourself. That you are unique, that your beauty is unique, and that it exists. So it was transmitted and the listener felt this emotion and shot a video for “Icon”, because he felt like an “icon”.