Kozak System
Kozak System is a “Kozak-Rock” style show, a powerful musical formation with its own unique look. It is a synthesis of Ukrainian and Balkan music, along with rock, pank and ska, which present an energy of lyrics and an explosion of every instrument. A Kozak System concert is an instantaneous dialogue with the audience, incredible dancing, intoxicating solos and stage scenes that cannot be replicated.
BIRTH AND CREATION (1993 – 1998)
At the beginning of the 1990s, student-friends start the band Aktus – popular amongst Kyiv’s underground. In the beginning, Aktus changes its lead vocalist several times (the first was Vadym Prudnikov), then in 1993, vocalist Oleksandr Yarmola joins bass guitarist Volodymyr Sherstiuk and drummer Ruslan Ovras. With the appearance of accordionist Ivan Lenyo in the band, the group is able to unite rock music with an authentic Ukrainian sound. This becomes the trademark for the future Kozak System Haydamaky. From then on, music critics produce various terminologies to describe this sound (from Karpaten SKA to Ska Speed Folk). In 1998, under the leadership of modern Ukrainian music guru Volodymyr Nakonechniy, Aktus produces the album “No one comprehends” on the Warsaw label KOKA.
HISTORICAL TRANSFORMATION (end of the 1990s – 2001)
At the beginning of the 2000’s, British label EMI presents the musicians with an offer. The deal with Haydamaky becomes the first contract signed by EMI in Ukraine. The band’s name “Aktus” becomes history, with the musicians having renamed themselves “Haydamaky”. The musicians were endeared to the love of freedom and the non-conformist spirit of the Haydamaky – peasant-insurgents, who in the 18th century fought against external repression and occupation. The new name “Haydamaky” also demonstrates the band’s focus in creativity – a union of the band’s musical style, its social stance, and most importantly – the cultural self-identification of the members of Kozak System Haydamaky.
In April 2001, Haydamaky’s first album with the same name is produced by EMI. Critics rave that Haydamaky is the music of the new millennium.
BOHUSLAV Haydamaky-STYLE (2002 - 2004)
Haydamaky’s first video for the song “Polissya” was filmed by famous producer Viktor Pryduvalov. At this time, guitarist Oleksandr Demyanenko joins the group and enriches the band’s future albums not only with the electric guitar, but also the domra and mandolin. The musicians receive more and more offers to perform at various venues in Ukraine. European festivals invite Haydamaky to play – Pohoda Festival (2001, 2002 in Trenchin, Slovakia), Viljandi Folk, Parismuusika Festival (2003 – Viljandi, Estonia), Litomerzickyi Korzen (2002, 2003 in Litomerice, Czech Republic).
Having felt a real affection from the public, Haydamaky take to preparing their next album. To the already accustomed union of styles with Ukrainian melodies, the musicians add the sound of female folk voices from the Bozhychi choir.
The album is sweetened with the unbeatable sounds of cimbalom Vitaliy Panets, the kobzar lyricism of Taras Kompanichenko, and the bandura of Roman Hrynkiv – known the world over.
Haydamaky’s second album “Bohuslav” appears on the market in April, 2004. The video for the song of the same name filmed by Oles Sanin, becomes divine for all Ukrainian warriors – kozaks, Haydamaky, and present soldiers, which serve far away from home.
REVOLUTION IN THE COLOUR OF THE SUN AND WOODSTOCK (2004 - 2005)
Having confirmed with their second album their dedication to the union of Ukrainian motifs with modern rhythms, Haydamaky become welcome guests in Europe. The musicians start their tour in Slovakia with the band Asian Dub Foundation. From there, the band performs in the Czech Republic, Romania and Estonia. The Kozak System Haydamaky participate in the Orkiestra Swjatеcznej Pomocy festival (2004, Stalova Volya, Warsaw, Poland) and madly tear up the stage with fans at Sheshory, Mazepa Fest, and Rock Ekzystentsia. Meanwhile, trombonist Ruslan Troshchynsky and dub-master Vlad Hrymalskiy are replaced by percussionist Sergei Bravarnyuk and trumpeter Eugene Didyk.
Changes are now occurring in the country. The Fall of 2004 is a turning point for Ukraine and its people. During the Orange Revolution, Haydamaky are present at the main square both as musicians and as citizens. Their creativity, sincerity and truth are shared by thousands of patriots who came out for a moral revolution.
The year 2005 begins with a busy tour of Poland where Haydamaky play more than three dozen concerts. The band also performs at many festivals in Ukraine, including Krayina Mriy [Land of Dreams]. Haydamaky are also invited to be the first Ukrainian band to perform on the biggest stage in Europe – at the Przystanek Woodstock festival (Kostzhyn na Oderi, Poland). Kozak System Haydamaky is the headliner on the folk music stage and plays on the main stage during the festival’s prime-time slot. The performance at this concert forms the basis for the future video for the song "Bozhestvena Trompita” [Divine Trumpet]. The musicians are nominated for Woodstock’s prestigious award in the “Plebiscyt Zlotego Baczka” competition.
PERVERZIYA AND THE CONQUEST OF EUROPE (2005 - 2007)
The band’s third album entitled “Perverziya” [Perversion] is released in Ukraine in 2005. Recorded at the height of the Orange Revolution, the song "November" starts off the album. As per tradition, the band invites great musicians and good friends – violinist Vasyl Heker, bassist Yuriy Barbeniuk, cimbalom Ivan Kavatsiuk and Volodymyr Polovchyk – to play for the recording of the album. For the most part, the musicians draw their inspiration from the works of contemporary postmodernist writer Yuriy Andrukhovych, to whom the Haydamaky dedicate their new musical creativity.
In January 2006, under the name “Ukraine Calling”, Haydamaky present this release abroad having signed a deal with German recording label EastBlockMusic.
With this release Haydamaky’s popularity in Europe grows rapidly. Through collaboration with the concert agency “Agents4music”, and later “La Candella”, the band is invited for more tours, presentations and interviews on respected European TV channels, in addition to being presented with new offers and invitations to performances, as well as rave reviews from critics.
Just a few weeks after the release of “Ukraine Calling”, Haydamaky find themselves in the seventh spot on the European hit-parade “World Music Chart Europe”. The song "Za Nashov Stodolu” [Behind our Barn] makes it onto Charley Gillett’s play list – one of the leading BBC presenters in the field of world music. His program The Sound of the World is broadcast worldwide. Then in October 2006, as a result of the release of “Ukraine Calling” German recording label EastBlok Music is dubbed as one of the twenty best labels of the world “Top Label Award winners” according to the largest international music exposition WOMEX. Haydamaky are invited to the awards ceremony in Seville, Spain.
In 2007, Haydamaky play at numerous festivals in Ukraine and abroad including the Amsterdam Roots Fest (Amsterdam, Netherlands), Mundial (Tilburg, Netherlands), Musicas do Mundo (Sines, Portugal), concerts at the huge cultural expedition – Linz Europe Tour (Ismail-Vylkovo, Ukraine) and within the framework of the EU project “The European Capital of Culture” by founder of alpine rock, Hubert von Goisern. This same year, Haydamaky start collaborating with Lviv director Taras Khymych, with whom they shoot the videos for the songs “Kokhannya” [Love] and “Bozhestvena Trompita” [Divine trumpet].
A TRAVELLER’S SPIRIT AND THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE KOBZAR (2008)
In a studio in the mountains of Poland, with unique analog equipment and virtually complete solitude, alone with one’s instruments, is how Haydamaky’s new album was born. Foreign colleagues assisted with its recording as well – Cezary Borowski at DR-Studio (Wisla, Poland), while the mixing and mastering was done by famous dub-masters Mario Aktivator and Jarek Smokat at studio AS One. The album “Kobzar” was released in the spring of 2008. Ukraine heard the album "Kobzar" as a continuous mix of styles, along with talented bandura playing by John Tkalenko, singing by little Malanka Lenyo (daughter of accordionist Ivan Lenyo), simply wonderful creative inventions and a truly kozak inspiration.
While recording the song “Message” at DR-Studio with leading Polish band Pidzama Porno Krysztof Grabowsky, as well as duo MC Reggaenerator and Pablopavo from the group Vavamuffin a new Haydamaky video is born. The director is Taras Khymych. That same year, videos for the songs “4 dvory” by director Anton Komyakhov, as well as "Rosa" and "Efir" by Victor Pryduvalov are released. The animated film for the song "Malanka" (Head of the Children's Studio "Red Dog" Serhiy Melnychenko), which is sung by a child and created by children, wins the nomination for best “Minianima” at the film festival “Open Night. Double 12”. The film is also awarded the public choice award at the Third International Festival of Independent Film KinoLev-2008.
Meanwhile Haydamaky present their next album abroad touring all over Europe – Belgium, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, seven concerts in Germany, and Haydamaky’s first performances in Sweden and Denmark. After the Ukrainian release, the album is presented in Berlin on the EastBlock Music label.
Haydamaky’s European tour ends on March 7, 2008, with a big solo concert at the International Center of Culture and Arts – October Palace (Kyiv, Ukraine).
Among the guests are representatives not only from Ukraine’s mass media, but also from European countries as well, including journalists from the international music magazine “EAST Mag”, film crew from French-German TV channel ARTE, and presenters from TV programs on the most outstanding exhibitions in the field of art and culture in all of Europe.
The event is reported on by all the leading national media. Ukrainian music lovers and musicians are convinced – their creativity is perceived on a whole new level. The concert in Kyiv promoting the band’s fourth album "Kobzar" is historical.
CREATING A NEW LEGEND WITH VOO VOO (2008)
The year 2008 created a new chapter in Haydamaky’s musical history. At first, Haydamaky are the headliners at Ander Art (2008, Munich, Germany), and perform at the large-scale festival – Hangfoglalas Soundquest Festival (2008, Budapest, Hungary). And over a period of ten days, the band finishes off each evening of Ukrainian Week at the Festival of Folk Culture in Europe's largest amusement park, Europa Park (2008, Rust, Germany). Also, this is the first time that a band from Ukraine performs at one of the 10 largest festivals of the world – Lowlands (2008, Biddinghuizen, The Netherlands).
On July 19th, at the Strefa Inne Brzmienia festival (2008, Lublin, Poland) Haydamaky present a joint project with legendary Polish band Voo Voo. One year prior, the Ukrainian and Polish musicians are introduced to one another at a concert located on the borders of both of their countries – “European Cities - Frontier 803” (2007, Uhryniv-Dolhobychiv, Ukraine-Poland). Legends of Polish rock, Voo Voo and Ukraine’s well-known authentic Haydamaky incredibly combine their styles to create an original sound – a unique blend of creativity, which immediately finds fans on both sides of the border.
THE PULSATING SPIRIT OF KOZAK ROCK (2008)
In late November 2008, Haydamaky with German producer Kader Kesek create a new concert program. Dynamics on the stage, and painstaking work on the band’s sound and image provide positive results. Haydamaky sound and perform anew – the new sound gets aptly dubbed "Kozak-rock".
Haydamaky are invited to speak at the Kustendorf Film & Music Festival (2009, Kustendorf, Serbia) – a festival of cult film director Emir Kusturica. The musicians present their Kozak-Rock show at one of the world's largest exhibitions of popular music EuroSonic Noorderslag (2009, Groningen, The Netherlands), and promote Ukraine at the 59th International Berlinale Film Festival (2009, Berlin, Germany). These are the first concerts with young trombonist Oleksandr Charkin. In the Spring, Haydamaky record a song with Polish thrash metal band Rootwater.
This same year, Haydamaky pay tribute to all those who suffered from the Chernobyl disaster. Filming takes place in Chernobyl, and the ghost town of Pripyat, while director Serhiy Volkov uses striking archive materials for the band’s new video. The video for the song "Meni zdayetsia" [In my opinion] from the album "Kobzar" is presented on April 26th – the anniversary of the nuclear disaster.
THE MARVEL OF SZIGET AND JAZZ IN KOKTEBEL (2009)
In 2009, Haydamaky’s touring schedule is incredibly intense. The musicians present their "Kozak rock" at the Stare Misto festival (2009, Lviv, Ukraine) and at Volxsfesta in the southern Alps (2009, Bolzano, Italy). Haydamaky are also one of the performers at the final concert for the cultural expedition Linz Europe Tour (2009, Linz, Austria). Famous Ukrainian designer Olesia Telizhenko creates costumes for the band and the musicians present their new style at Ukrainian Fashion Week.
The Haydamaky / Voo Voo project headlines the Inne Brzmienia festival (2009, Lublin, Poland), and is welcomed by the audience at the Wegorzewo Eko Union Rock festival (2009, Vehorzhevo, Poland).
On June 4, 2009, the biggest Polish media group Agora releases the musicians’ joint album entitled “VooVoo & Haydamaky”. The album becomes a cultural event and a welcome gift for collectors and lovers of quality music.
The album is presented in Warsaw by famous Polish producer Mirek Olshuvki and media holding Agora. The album’s first edition sells out in music stores in less than two weeks.
In late July, Haydamaky play at the FelSziget Peninsula Festival (2009, Targu Mures, Romania). A few weeks later, a remarkable event occurs not only for the musicians but also for the Ukrainian expanse – for the first time, Haydamaky present their works on the main stage of the most popular festival in Central and Eastern Europe – Sziget (2009, Budapest, Hungary). Following this, the band plays the Huntenpop Festival (2009 Varselder, The Netherlands). In September there’s a new event for national show business – a joint performance with Voo Voo. The Ukrainian and Polish musicians headline the second day of the Koktebel jazz festival (2009, Koktebel, Crimea, Ukraine). During the three-hour emotional and energetic performance – Haydamaky present to Ukraine its new musical addition. This is also the first time that drummer Serhiy Borisenko performs with Haydamaky.
CANADA – FAR AND NEAR, AND BALKANFEST (2009-2010)
In the same year, Haydamaky take their Kozak Rock show to North America. Concerts are held in major Canadian cities – Edmonton, Winnipeg and Saskatoon. During their performances the musicians are impressed that their songs are well known to the public. The band is also the headliner for the largest Ukrainian festival in North America – the Toronto Ukrainian Festival (2009, Toronto, Canada), which brings together tens of thousands of visitors. However, drummer Ruslan Ovras does not join the band on the consequent tour of Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany. Among the group's performances in Ukraine is the festival Rock Sich, which takes place in January (2009, Ukraine).
Haydamaky are invited to represent the Ukrainian flavour at the Southern Slavic music festival – Balkanfest (2009, Kyiv, Ukraine), which hosts several thousand Ukrainian fans. The concert finishes with the song Bubamara with Emir Kusturica and his The No Smoking Orchestra, along with Gogol Bordello’s leader Eugene Hutz and Haydamaky. The musicians’ performance on stage is seen as what is known throughout the world as “Slavic spirit”. In early 2010, the band welcomes trumpeter Sergei Soloviy.
A GOLD RECORD, AND “THE CREATION OF THE WORLD” (2010-2011)
In 2011, the album “Voo Voo & Haydamaky” becomes a bestseller in Poland and Haydamaky receives its first "Gold Record". In Ukraine, the Kozak System participates in a unique concert in memory of Sergiy Kuzminsky (Braty Hadyukiny) - "I returned home", performing the song “Hey, Ivan!”. That same summer, Haydamaky perform in Kazan at the large-scale festival "The Creation of the World" founded by Andriy Makarevich. The Ukrainians perform on stage with two dozen of the best artists from 12 countries. The general producer of "The Creation of the World" festival Sergey Mirov, states, "I would like to mention the impressive Ukrainian band Haydamaky. They are the coolest representatives of Ukrainian rock to date this year. Presently, in general, modern music is very advanced in Ukraine and, not surprisingly nor regrettably, much better than it is here”.
WARSAW’S STADIUM AND HISTORICAL CHANGES.
The beginning of 2012 brings many important events for Haydamaky. On January 29th, as part of the “VooVoo & Haydamaky” project, the musicians play thier "Gold" repertoire with the legendary VooVoo at the opening of Poland’s main stadium for Euro 2012. Haydamaky are not only the sole Ukrainian, but also the only foreign band that is invited to the opening celebration of the National Warsaw Stadium
However, soon afterwards Haydamaky endures its most heated and dramatic period in its 15-year history. Irreconcilable moral and professional differences that had been brewing over the past several years, and attempts by vocalist O.Yarmola to appropriate the band’s intellectual and material property results in a serious conflict between him and the musicians of Haydamaky. Attempts at peaceful negotiations by the band’s founders, are met by the ex-vocalist’s response of appropriating access to all of the group’s online resources, circulating slanderous information to partners and the mass media, twisting facts during interviews, while trying to take credit for the band’s many achievements as his own. In February 2012, the band concludes their work with O.Yarmola.
“Kozak System"
The band has updated its name and continues to work with its original musicians, actively preparing new material for their new album. Meanwhile, the band is collaborating with famous Ukrainian artists – Taras Chubay and Sasha Polozhinskyi. In April 2012, the band is shooting a video directed by Serhiy Takhmazov, for the first single “Shablya” [Saber] on their new album. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
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