Eugene Kostyts: The Beat of Ukrainian Resilience
We rarely look beyond the frontman of a band to consider those who shape its soul. Yet behind some of Ukraine’s most iconic sounds stands Eugene Kostyts — a Greek-Ukrainian composer, drummer, and music director whose journey has been marked by career triumphs and the devastating trials of war. Renowned for his collaborations with Grammy-winning jazz fusion legend Bob James and Ukraine’s top artists, Eugene’s story transcends musical success. It is a testament to cultural resilience, artistic innovation, and an unshakable connection to his homeland. Acclaimed music critic Boris Barabanov sits down with Eugene Kostyts for Afisha.London art magazine.
Born on August 24, 1985, into a Greek family in Mariupol, Ukraine, Eugene was introduced to music by his musician father. From his early days, Eugene displayed an innate sense of rhythm, and by 12, he was already diving deep into the world of drumming. This early passion, combined with his formal training at Ukraine’s top music academies, positioned him as an artist capable of blending diverse musical languages. His genre-defying style draws upon jazz, rock, electronic, and traditional Eastern European influences, creating a sound that feels both familiar and strikingly novel. Renowned for pushing musical boundaries, Eugene made a name for himself as a musician whom global icons sought to work with.
Eugene’s early career was marked by his work with Jamala, a groundbreaking artist known for her eclectic fusion of soul, jazz, and traditional Crimean Tatar folk elements. Kostyts joined the band in 2014, helping to craft the sound that would propel her to victory at the Eurovision Song Contest just two years later. His rhythmic complexity and masterful combination of acoustic and electronic sounds were essential in accentuating Jamala’s haunting vocal lines and the emotional urgency of songs like Eurovision-winning 1944, which tackled themes of historical trauma and resilience. Kostyts’ drumming didn’t merely keep time; it added layers of meaning, underscoring the song’s message with a percussive heartbeat that felt both timeless and immediate.
Eugene Kostyts. Photo: Personal archive
In 2017, Kostyts joined KAZKA, a band that quickly became synonymous with Ukrainian pop-folk innovation. Their song Plakala broke records as the first Ukrainian-language track to enter the Top 10 Global Shazam chart, blending synth-pop textures with folk-infused melodies. Here, again, Kostyts’ custom percussion arrangements that incorporated both acoustic and electronic elements, helped KAZKA achieve a sound that was at once modern and steeped in folk traditions. His use of custom percussion sets, combined with meticulously timed beats and powerful visual art, transforms each live performance into a form of sonic storytelling. This approach adds an immersive, almost cinematic quality to their shows.
Kostyts’ collaborations have extended across Ukrainian music, working with a diverse array of artists such as Tina Karol, Max Barskyh, Monatik, Olya Polyakova, Laud, Dasha Astafieva, and Andrey Chmut. Each project showcases his ability to adapt and elevate various styles, from pop and rock to jazz and soul.
KAZKA Band, MP Arena, Stuttgart, Germany 2020. Photo: Personal archive
But in 2022, his life took an unimaginable turn. When the Russian invasion began, Eugene found himself separated from his family, who were trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol. They endured 22 harrowing days in bomb shelters, surviving without food, water, electricity, or communication. In a daring escape through a humanitarian corridor, their car was hit by a mortar shell, leaving them wounded but alive. After a perilous journey, they finally reached safety in Germany, with Eugene coordinating their evacuation and relocation from abroad.
Once in immigration Eugene has dedicated himself to the mission of amplifying Ukrainian voices through music. Together with his artists he has since performed at hundreds of iconic international stages, including Glastonbury and SXSW, introducing global audiences to the unique soundscapes of a nation at war.
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In 2023, as a composer and music director he joined forces with Ukrainian singer Golda Amirova and choreographer Pavlo Bondarenko to create Golda: A Musical Story of Love, Loss, and Resilience. This production, which tells the story of a refugee artist finding hope in a foreign land, premiered in 2024 to sold-out audiences at the heart of London’s West End – Theatre Royal Haymarket – and received critical acclaim. Under Kostyts’ direction the show, featuring virtuoso musicians and Ukrainian refugee dancers, masterfully blends Ukrainian, English, Russian, Hebrew, and Yiddish musical elements into a powerful tapestry of resilience, hope, and complex cultural identity.
Jamala Band. Independence Day of Ukraine. Warsaw 2024. Photo: Personal archive
Today he continues his mission to bring the beauty and strength of Ukrainian culture to global audiences, ensuring that its music resonate far and wide and hold history, hope, and survival in its notes. “War has taken much, but it can’t silence our music,” he says. “Every rhythm I create is a testament to Ukraine’s strength, resilience, and determination.”
Boris Barabanov, an acclaimed music critic, has had the privilege of interviewing some of the most influential figures in music over the course of his career. His remarkable roster includes Paul McCartney, Sting, Patti Smith, U2, Ozzy Osbourne, Nick Cave, R.E.M., Iron Maiden, Metallica, Placebo, and Depeche Mode, among many others. Through his interviews, Boris offers rare insights into the creative processes and personal stories of these iconic artists, showcasing his profound understanding of both the global and Russian music scenes.
Cover photo: Eugene Kostyts. Personal archive
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