With “Dream of Peace,” American-Ukrainian pop artist Kelsie Kimberlin has created a fully immersive artistic statement that resonates far beyond its melodies. Released on September 19, 2025, and accompanied by a breathtaking video filmed in Kyiv, the project speaks directly to the soul of a nation longing for peace while also transcending borders to touch a global audience. Kimberlin has always been a fearless performer, one who embraces big themes and bold productions, but here she steps into a new realm. The song blends orchestral grandeur with haunting choral textures, steadily rising into a cathartic crescendo that leaves listeners moved and unsettled. It’s a prayer, a lament, and a rallying cry, delivered in a way only Kimberlin can—cinematic yet deeply personal.
The video, directed by Denys Akulov of ToBe Production, adds an unforgettable layer of depth. Set in Kyiv during a period of heavy missile and drone attacks, the shoot itself carries an aura of defiance. Yet the imagery transcends grim realities by offering a vision of transformation. Kimberlin wanders through barren, post-apocalyptic landscapes until she discovers an astronaut lying motionless in the sand. The moment she touches the figure’s hand, time rewinds and life reawakens—earthly beauty unfurls, colours bloom, and peace becomes tangible. The reveal—that the astronaut is in fact another version of Kimberlin—strikes with symbolic weight. She is the dreamer and the embodiment of hope. The final frame, with Kimberlin standing amid endless yellow sunflowers beneath a radiant blue sky, mirrors Ukraine’s national colours, making the vision not just universal but profoundly rooted in her adopted homeland.
Musically, “Dream of Peace” is a masterclass in production. Ukrainian composer Yuriy Shapeta and Colombian producer Pedro Vengoechea crafted the orchestral and choral arrangements with a precision that balances fragility and force. The piece begins with hushed tones, Kimberlin’s voice hovering delicately above minimal accompaniment. As strings, percussion, and choir swell, the song grows into an overwhelming surge of sound that carries the listener toward a transcendent release. Larry Friedman’s vocal and choral direction ensures Kimberlin’s delivery shines at its most emotional, and the final touches from Grammy winner Liam Nolan (mixing) and Grammy nominee Stuart Hawkes (mastering) give the track a polish that places it firmly in world-class territory. The result is a song that’s intimate and monumental, one that grips you in the chest and refuses to let go.
Thematically, “Dream of Peace” is exactly what its title promises: a meditation on the possibility of a better world. Kimberlin does not shy away from darkness but acknowledges destruction, loss, and despair and transforms them into art that insists on hope. The astronaut serves as a metaphor for humanity’s displacement, the feeling of being unmoored from safety, yet the video’s progression affirms the resilience of life and the potential for renewal. Through her voice and visuals, Kimberlin asks us not simply to imagine peace, but to believe in it. In a time when cynicism often drowns out optimism, this song stands as a counterweight, reminding us that dreaming is the first step toward creating.
“Dream of Peace” arrives at a crucial moment in Kimberlin’s career and in history. As she prepares to debut the video at the International Peace Concert in Los Angeles on September 21—the International Day of Peace—she brings Ukraine’s struggle and hope to an international stage with artistry that refuses to compromise. This is a cultural moment. Kimberlin’s track and video prove that music, at its highest calling, does more than entertain. It consoles, empowers, and ignites. With “Dream of Peace,” Kimberlin has crafted her most powerful statement yet, one that feels destined to echo across borders, hearts, and time itself.
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