Kalush Orchestra is a Ukrainian band led by the rapper Oleh Psiuk that organically blends modern hip-hop with authentic folklore: traditional polyphonic singing, the sopilka, and the telynka. The name refers to the town of Kalush in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, the home of the band's leader.
Worldwide fame came with victory at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 with the song “Stefania” — a tribute to the leader's mother that, during the full-scale war, came to sound like an anthem of love for the motherland. The win, achieved with enormous support from European viewers, became a powerful symbol of Ukraine's unity and resilience. The band later auctioned its crystal microphone trophy and directed the proceeds to the needs of the Armed Forces. Kalush Orchestra showed the world a living, contemporary Ukrainian culture rooted in tradition.
