Kalush Orchestra

Ukrainian hip-hop outfit KALUSH channels the gravity of daily existence through precise rhythmic flows, streamlined beats, and intermittent melodic vocals. Their debut full-length, HOTIN, surfaced at the start of 2021, after which an expanded iteration known as KALUSH Orchestra secured victory at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 with “Stefania,” folding folk and traditional Ukrainian elements into the group’s sound.

The ensemble draws its name from the birthplace of founder and rapper Oleg Psiuk, who works alongside multi-instrumentalist Ihor Didenchuk of Go_A and MC Kilimmen. Their first single arrived in October 2019 when the video for “Ne Marynui” was filmed in Kalush. “Ty Honysh” followed a month later, earning the group a contract with Def Jam Recordings.

HOTIN reached stores in February 2021 as their first album on the Def Jam label. That July they issued ЙО-ЙО, also titled YO-YO, in tandem with rapper Skofka. During the same stretch they launched KALUSH Orchestra to merge folk stylings and traditional Ukrainian music with contemporary hip-hop. The expanded roster added multi-instrumentalists Tymofii Muzychuk and Vitalii Duzhyk plus backing vocalist Johnny Dyvnyi.

In February 2022 KALUSH Orchestra finished second to Alina Pash in the national selection for Eurovision. That month Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. After Pash withdrew, the orchestra stepped forward with “Stefania,” an uptempo tribute to Psiuk’s mother. Their May 2022 Eurovision win delivered the highest televoting share recorded to that point, 93.8 percent.