Within Temptation, ATLAS UNITED 2024

In 2024, Mariia Yaremak’s participation in the ATLAS UNITED festival was instrumental in organising a performance by Sharon den Adel, lead vocalist of the band Within Temptation, alongside the Lumos Orchestra, conducted by Roman Kreslenko, and the Yevshan Choir. This landmark event, which marked the first time a world-class artist had visited Ukraine with a major show since the full-scale invasion, formed the basis of the documentary film *Within Temptation: The Invisible Force*.

Mariia took on a multifaceted role: she acted not only as a composer and arranger, but also as an organiser and pianist. Her main creative challenge was to transform the band’s heavy rock sound into a cinematic soundtrack format, where the orchestra became the core of the performance rather than merely an accompaniment to the band. At the band’s request, Mariia also gave a central role to the piano, which bore the main musical burden during the show.

One of Mariia’s most significant innovations was the integration of Ukrainian folk elements into the orchestral fabric of the performance: 

– the intro (‘Podolyanochka’): the start of the concert was based on the melody of the folk song ‘Viydy, viydy, podolyanochko’. This had symbolic significance: following the ethnic introduction, Sharon took to the stage, emphasising the unity of cultures. 

– Ukrainian language: a piece with Ukrainian lyrics, symbolising unity, was included in the programme. The band spoke highly of these ideas, describing Mariia’s arrangements as brilliant and special.

Work on the project was fraught with challenges, the behind-the-scenes details of which are also captured in the film: 

The event attracted over 60,000 spectators and helped raise over 100 million hryvnias for charity. The story of this collaboration, from their first meeting to the performance, was recounted in detail in the film *Within Temptation: The Invisible Force*, which premiered on 6 May 2025 on the band’s official YouTube channel. The film is a poignant account of how art becomes an ‘invisible force’, capable of uniting hearts and offering hope even in the darkest of times.