Kalush (rap group)

Kalush (Ukrainian pronunciation: [ˈkɑlʊʃ] (listen); stylised in all caps) is a Ukrainian rap group formed in 2019. The group consists of founder and rapper Oleh Psiuk, multi-instrumentalist Ihor Didenchuk, and breakdancer MC KylymMen (lit. 'Kilim Man').[1][3][4] Didenchuk is also a member of the electro-folk band Go_A, which represented Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.[1]

This article is about the Ukrainian rap group. For other uses, see Kalush.

Kalush
Kalush in 2022, left to right: MC KylymMen, Didenchuk and Psiuk
Background information
Also known asKalush Orchestra
OriginUkraine
Genres
Years active2019–present
Labels
Members
Kalush Orchestra
  • Tymofii Muzychuk
  • Vitalii Duzhyk
  • Andrii Handziuk
  • Sasha Tab
  • Sasha Kondratiuk
Past members
  • Daniil Chernov

In early 2021, the group launched the side project Kalush Orchestra, with Tymofii Muzychuk, Vitalii Duzhyk, and Andrii Handziuk as additional members.[3] Unlike the original line-up, Kalush Orchestra focuses on hip hop blended with folk motifs and elements from Ukrainian traditional music.[3][5] The group has stated that Kalush and Kalush Orchestra are intended to be distinct from each other.[6][7] On 14 May 2022, the group won the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 with 631 points, securing Ukraine's third Eurovision victory with their song "Stefania".[8]

History
Kalush at a concert in Yaremche in 2021

Kalush was formed in 2019 by Oleh Psiuk and Ihor Didenchuk, together with Daniil Chernov as MC KylymMen.[3][4][9] The group was named after Psiuk's hometown of Kalush, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast.[1][9] Their debut single "Ne marynui" (Не маринуй) was released in October 2019. After the release of their second single "Ty honysh" (Ти гониш) in November 2019, Kalush signed a recording contract with the American hip hop label Def Jam Recordings.[5]

On 19 February 2021, the trio released their debut album Hotin (Хотінь), named after a neighbourhood of the town Kalush.[10][11] On 23 July 2021, Kalush released their second album, entitled Yo-yo (Йо-йо), together with rapper Skofka.[12]

Kalush Orchestra

In 2021, Kalush announced the launch of the side project Kalush Orchestra, which focuses on hip hop with folk motifs and elements from Ukrainian traditional music. The core members of Kalush were joined by multi-instrumentalists Tymofii Muzychuk and Vitalii Duzhyk, and backing vocalist Andrii Handziuk (alias Dzhonni Dyvnyy, or Johnny Da Strange).[3][13][14][15] The group's members ask to distinguish between Kalush and Kalush Orchestra, stating that they are intended to be two different groups.[6][7]

2022: Vidbir and Eurovision Song Contest
Kalush Orchestra performing "Stefania" at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022

On 12 February 2022, Kalush Orchestra competed to represent Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy with the song "Stefania". In the final of the national selection Vidbir, they placed second with 14 points (six from the jury and eight from the audience).[16] Due to technical difficulties that occurred during the voting process, Psiuk believed that Alina Pash had been wrongly chosen as the winner.[17][18]

Despite coming in second place, the band were offered the chance to represent Ukraine at Eurovision, after Pash withdrew her candidacy due to controversy regarding her travel history in Crimea.[19][20] On 22 February, Kalush Orchestra accepted the offer.[21] On the same day, the Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne published the official voting results of Vidbir 2022, confirming that Pash had been correctly chosen as the winner, contrary to Psiuk's claims.[22]

During the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Daniil Chernov served in the Territorial Defense Forces around the capital Kyiv.[23][24] When the group left the country for the Eurovision Song Contest in April 2022, fellow dancer Vlad Kurochka replaced him as MC KylymMen, while Oleksandr Slobodianyk (alias Sasha Tab) replaced Dzhonni Dyvnyy as backing vocalist.[1][23][25] Dzhonni Dyvnyy stated that he could not travel to Turin due to commitments with other musical projects.[26]

The group won the Eurovision final on 14 May with 631 points, securing Ukraine's third Eurovision victory. "Stefania" became the first song with rap lyrics to win the contest, as well as the winning song with the highest number of televote points in the history of the contest.[27][28] The group later announced that they would put their Eurovision trophy up for auction to raise money for the Ukrainian armed forces.[29] The trophy was sold for US$900,000, with proceeds earmarked for purchase of combat drones for Ukraine's military.[30] The group subsequently embarked on a promotional tour across Europe and North America to raise awareness and donations for Ukrainian efforts in combating the Russian invasion.[31][32][33]

Members
Kalush Orchestra in 2022, from left to right: Tab, Didenchuk, Muzychuk, Psiuk, MC KylymMen, and Duzhyk

Current members
  • Oleh Psiuk (2019–present) – rap
  • Ihor Didenchuk (2019–present)[lower-alpha 1] – instrumentals
  • Vlad Kurochka (2022–present) – breakdance (MC KylymMen)

Kalush Orchestra
  • Tymofii Muzychuk (2021–present) – vocals, telenka
  • Vitalii Duzhyk (2021–present) – sopilka
  • Andrii Handziuk (Dzhonni Dyvnyy) (2021–present) – backing vocals
  • Sasha Tab (2022–present) – backing vocals
  • Sasha Kondratiuk (2023–present) – backing vocals

Past members
  • Daniil Chernov (2019–2022) – breakdance (MC KylymMen)

Discography
Kalush performing in 2022 in Poland

Albums
Title Details
Hotin
Yo-yo (feat. Skofka)
  • Released: 23 July 2021
  • Label: Columbia
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download

As Kalush
Title Year Album
"Ne marynui" 2019 Hotin
"Ty honysh"
"Hory" (feat. Alyona Alyona)
"Kent" 2020
"Tipok"
"Virus" Non-album single
"Vibe" Hotin
"Góry" (feat. Alyona Alyona, Gedz and Skip) Non-album singles
"V trendi pafos"
"Bimbo"
"Takykh yak ya" (feat. Yarmak)
"Zori" Hotin
"Voda" (feat. Alyona Alyona) Non-album single
"Otaman" (feat. Skofka) 2021 Yo-yo
"Pirnaiu" (feat. Stanislavska) Non-album single
"Khalepa" (feat. Yuyu)
"Dodomu" (feat. Skofka) Yo-yo
"Davai nachystotu" (feat. Skofka)
"Taksi" (feat. Khrystyna Soloviy) Non-album singles
"Khvyli" (feat. Jerry Heil)
"Mala v 19"
"Kaluski vechornytsi" (feat. Tember Blanche)
"Soniachna" (feat. Salto Nazad and Skofka) 2022
"Maibutnist" (with Artem Pivovarov)
"Batkivshchyna" (with Sfofka)

As Kalush Orchestra
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UKR
[34]		 BEL
(FL)
[35]		 GER
[36]		 IRE
[37]		 ITA
[38]		 LTU
[39]		 NLD
[40]		 NOR
[41]		 SWE
[42]		 UK
[43]
"Shtomber Womber" 2021 — — — — — — — — — — Non-album singles
"Stefania" 2022 1 24 22 30 53 1 36 19 7 38
"In the Shadows of Ukraine"[44]
(with The Rasmus)		 30 — — — — — — — — —
"Nasze domy"[45]
(with Szpaku)		 — — — — — — — — — —
"Shchedrivka"[46] — — — — — — — — — —
"Numo kozaky" (with Kozak Siromaha)[47] — — — — — — — — — —
"Changes"[48] 2023 — — — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart in that territory.
Title Year Album
"Sterzhen (Own Core)" (Alyona Alyona ft. Kalush, Otoy, Bilyi Bo, Shershen, Dyktor & Dyadya Vova) 2020 Galas
"Pozhovkla vesna" (Dima Varvaruk feat. Kalush & Vláda) Non-album single
"Balabon" (Panini feat. Kalush) 2021
"Peremoha" (Okean Elzy feat. Kalush)
"Cry for You" (Ochman feat. Kalush Orchestra) 2023 TBA

Non-single album appearances
Title Year Album
"You ze fa" (Sasha Tab feat. Kalush) 2021 Refresh
"Dobre pre" (Alyona Alyona feat. Kalush and Kukon) Galas

Awards and nominations
Award Year Category Nominated work or act Result Ref.
YUNA
2021
 Best Hip Hop Hit "Hory" (feat. Alyona Alyona) Won [49]
2022
 Best Pop Group Kalush Nominated [50]
Best Album Hotin Nominated
Best Song "Zori" Nominated
Best Hip Hop Hit "Zori" Nominated
"Dodomu" (feat. Skofka) Nominated
"Taksi" (feat. Khrystyna Soloviy) Nominated

Notes
  1. Not part of Kalush Orchestra since 2023.

References
  1. "Turin 2022 / Participants – Kalush Orchestra". Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  2. "Eurovision Song Contest: Kalush will in Turin gewinnen". Euronews (in German). 9 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  3. Mori, Yevhenii (2 February 2022). "Олег Псюк пояснив, чим відрізняється Kalush від Kalush Orchestra". Suspilne Kultura (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  4. "Ukraine: All you need to know about 'Vidbir' 2022 🇺🇦". Eurovision.tv. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  5. Pogodina, Ludmila (10 January 2022). "A folk-rap madhouse in your living room". Europavox. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  6. "Stefania: текст, історія створення, сенс пісні та її вплив на українську культуру". ТСН.ua (in Ukrainian). 16 May 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  7. Bronson, Fred (10 March 2023). "Ukraine's Eurovision Winner Kalush Orchestra Returns To Tour U.S., Raises Money For War Effort". Billboard.
  8. "Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra wins Eurovision Song Contest 2022!". Eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  9. Sonchkovskaya, Yana (14 February 2022). "Хто такі Kalush Orchestra, які будуть представляти Україну на Євробаченні-2022". Obozrevatel (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  10. ""HOTIN" - дебютний альбом гурту KALUSH". Rap.ua (in Ukrainian). 19 February 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  11. Horobchuk, Bohdan-Oleh (13 May 2022). "Феномен KALUSH: від наркотиків до ностальгії та фольку". Espreso (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  12. ""ЙО-ЙО" (KALUSH feat. Skofka)". Espreso (in Ukrainian). 23 July 2021.
  13. Marco, Muntean (10 February 2022). "Kalush Orchestra: "'Stefania' track is about the dearest person, Mom"". Escbubble.com. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  14. "Джонні Дивний: власний бренд одягу, кіно, гастролі" [Dzhonni Dyvnyy: own brand of clothes, movies, tours]. NV Podkasty (in Ukrainian). 27 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  15. Washak, James (5 April 2022). "Ukraine: Sasha Tab Replaces Kalush Orchestra Backing Vocalist Johnny Strange". Eurovoix. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  16. Farren, Neil (12 February 2022). "Vidbir 2022 – Eurovision in times of trouble – Alina Pash to Eurovision". OnEurope. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  17. Kolomiiets, Daryana (14 February 2022). "Scandal Hits Ukraine's Eurovision 2022 Candidate". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  18. "Скандали на Євробаченні: що відбувається". BBC (in Ukrainian). 13 February 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  19. Holden, Steve (16 February 2022). "Alina Pash: Singer won't represent Ukraine at Eurovision". BBC. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  20. Adams, William Lee (17 February 2022). "Ukraine offers Kalush Orchestra Eurovision 2022 spot "to maintain the trust of the audience"". Wiwibloggs. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  21. "Гурт "Kalush Orchestra" представить Україну на Євробаченні в Турині" [Kalush Orchestra will represent Ukraine at Eurovision in Turin]. Suspilne Movlennia (in Ukrainian). 22 February 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  22. "Як голосували журі і глядачі: Суспільне отримало протоколи з фіналу Нацвідбору" [How the jury and the audience voted: Public received protocols from the final of the National Selection]. Suspilne Movlennia (in Ukrainian). 22 February 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  23. "Краш всіх україночок: який вигляд має танцівник Kalush Orchestra без маски – фото". TSN (in Ukrainian). 19 May 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  24. Smith, David (28 March 2022). ""We have hope it will work out" — Oleh Psiuk says Kalush Orchestra still want to sing in Turin". Wiwibloggs. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  25. Smith, David (6 April 2022). "Ukraine: Vidbir 2017 contestant Sasha Tab joins Kalush Orchestra as new backing vocalist". Wiwibloggs. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  26. "Джонні Дивний пояснив чому пішов з гурту Kalush Orchestra". Rap.ua (in Ukrainian). 9 April 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  27. "Ukraine wins Eurovision Song Contest after performance by Kalush Orchestra". Sky News. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  28. "Eurovision 2022: Ukraine wins, while the UK's Sam Ryder comes second". BBC News. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  29. Renee Kristiansen, Wivian (16 May 2022). "Kalush Orchestra to auction off the Eurovision trophy". ESCXTRA.com. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  30. Jackson, Patrick (31 May 2022). "Ukraine war: Eurovision trophy sold to buy drones for Ukraine". BBC News.
  31. "Ukrainian Eurovision winners Kalush Orchestra to perform first UK concert at Glastonbury". The Guardian. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  32. Davda, Rishi (24 June 2022). "Eurovision's Ukrainian winners say Glastonbury set a 'huge responsibility'". ITV News. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  33. Gallicchio, Federico (3 July 2022). "Eurovision 2022, Kalush Orchestra: la band prepara il tour in Nord America". Eurofestival News (in Italian). Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  34. "Top Radio Hits Ukraine Weekly Chart". TopHit Music Charts. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
    "Top Radio Hits Ukraine Weekly Chart". TopHit Music Charts. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  35. "Kalush Orchestra – Stefania" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  36. "Kalush Orchestra – Stefania". offiziellecharts.de (in German). Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  37. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  38. "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 20" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  39. "2022 20-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  40. "Discografie Kalush Orchestra". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  41. "VG-lista – Topp 20 Single 2022-20". VG-lista. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  42. "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 20". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  43. "Kalush | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  44. "Kalush Orchestra und The Rasmus veröffentlichen neue Version von "In The Shadows"". bleistiftrocker.de (in German). 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  45. "Nasze Domy (feat. Szpaku) - Single by KALUSH & Kalush Orchestra". Apple Music. 4 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  46. "Kick Off the Festive Season With Our Joy-Filled Holiday Spotify Singles". PR News Room. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  47. "Козак Сіромаха та Kalush Orchestra випустили спільну бойову пісню: "Нумо козаки по конях"". ТСН.ua (in Ukrainian). 2 December 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  48. Daly, Rhian (3 March 2023). "Listen to Eurovision winners Kalush Orchestra's first English-language track 'Changes'". NME. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  49. "Десята церемонія. YUNA 2021". YUNA (in Ukrainian). 15 February 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  50. "TVORCHI, KALUSH, Пивоваров та Wellboy: премія YUNA оголосила номінантів 2022 року". Espreso TV (in Ukrainian). 14 December 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2022.


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