Victory at Eurovision and donation scandals: Where's KALUSH Orchestra now?

What is known about KALUSH and Kalush Orchestra

The band's name comes from Oleh Psiuk's hometown. The Ukrainian rapper, also known by the stage name Psiuchyi Syn, was born on May 16, 1994, in the city of Kalush. In 2019, he created the group KALUSH together with producer Klymenko. Oleh began searching for musicians online. On Facebook, he found sopilka (Ukrainian flute) player and multi-instrumentalist Ihor Didenchuk.

Another member became the mysterious MC KYLYMAN, whose identity remains hidden behind a mask. On October 17, the group released their first video for the song "Ne marynui" ("Don’t Delay"), which was filmed on the streets of Psiuk’s hometown.

In 2021, Kalush Orchestra was formed at the initiative of the group’s leaders. The current lineup includes:

• Founder and lead singer Oleh Psiuk
• Multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Tymofii Muzychuk
• Vocalist Oleksandr "Tab" Slobodianyk
• Multi-instrumentalist Vitalii Duzhyk
• MC KYLYMAN

The group previously included Andrii Handziuk, aka Johnny Dyvnyi, who in May 2023 decided to pursue a solo career, as well as multi-instrumentalist Oleksandr Kondratiuk and Ihor Didenchuk.

Kalush Orchestra at Eurovision and afterward

After winning the national selection, Kalush Orchestra represented Ukraine internationally with the song "Stefania." In the final, they scored 631 points and won the contest. During their performance, the artists called for help for Mariupol and the defenders of Azovstal.

That same year, they released a new music video for the winning song, emphasizing the war that Russia started in Ukraine. Later, the group went on a U.S. tour and performed at the 2022 MTV Europe Music Awards.

They auctioned their winning Eurovision crystal microphone together with Serhiy Prytula for $900,000 in a charity auction. The funds were used to support the Ukrainian military.

What Kalush did with the Eurovision trophy (photo: instagram.com/kalush.official)

Kalush Orchestra can boast collaborations with international stars. In October 2022, together with The Rasmus, they released the song "In the Shadows of Ukraine," a cover of the iconic hit by the Finnish rock band. They also met Arnold Schwarzenegger and worked with Polish rapper Szpaku, Canadian rapper bbno$, and others.

In September 2023, Kalush Orchestra launched an experimental project. They released the track "Vohon horyt" ("The Fire Burns") without Psiuk and went on a mini-tour. Many fans thought the frontman had left the group, but those worries were unfounded.

On October 17, 2024, the group began an independent path, ending their collaboration with Klymenko’s label Enko. In March of that year, KALUSH released two songs with KOLA: "Pamiatai" ("Remember") and "Upiimai moe sertsie" ("Catch My Heart"), and in June, their album "Dlia dushi" ("For the Soul") was released.

Oleh Psiuk (photo: instagram.com/kalush.official)

Scandal with charity fundraising

The band was not without controversy. In February 2025, its members refused to support a charity fundraiser for a drone called "Dzyha." Representatives explained that "they do not post or share information about fundraisers that involve weapons."

At that time, blogger Alina Solntseva planned to raffle off a guitar signed by the band in exchange for donations. However, the band chose not to support the initiative. Society quickly condemned Kalush’s position. Currently, Stories on the group’s Instagram again show reposts of donation campaigns.

Where Kalush Orchestra is now

The musicians continue to delight fans with new music, duets, and concerts across Ukrainian cities. In April, for instance, they wrapped up their spring tour. Among their latest tracks are "Zalezhnyi" ("Addicted"), "Slidy" ("Traces"), "Ruta," and others. They also actively participate in charity concerts and events. On May 15, for example, they will perform at the Ukrainian Fashion Film Festival in Cannes.

Sources: Instagram, YouTube Kalush, Wikipedia, Eurovision.ua.