Eugene Kostyts

EUGENE KOSTYTS

DRUMMER • COMPOSER •
MUSIC DIRECTOR

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Eugene relocated to Germany. In this new chapter, he has collaborated with many leading artists, ensuring that Ukrainian musical culture and voices are preserved and heard loud and clear in the international community.

A highlight of Eugene's recent work is his collaboration with Golda in creating "Golda: A Musical Story of Love, Loss, and Resilience" – a musical which had sold-out runs in London in November 2023 and March 2024 at the legendary Theatre Royal Haymarket in the West End. Serving as the musical director, band leader, and drummer, Eugene not only performed but also crafted the show's arrangements, which received high critical acclaim.

Kostyts' festival appearances include Glastonbury 2022 in the UK, UnionScene 2024 in Norway, Flight Festival 2023 in Romania, Fest Festival 2022 in Poland, The Black&White Theater Fest 2022 in Finland, PortaFestival 2023 in Latvia, Trojica Fest 2022 in Slovenia, Atlas Weekend Fest in Ukraine (2022, 2023), Uyava Fest in Ukraine (2023, 2024), and Alfa Jazz Fest 2016 in Ukraine, among others.

In addition to his performance career, Eugene has been imparting his expertise through masterclasses and studio sessions in Berlin since 2022. His dedication to teaching and mentoring the next generation of drummers underscores his passion for music and his commitment to fostering a vibrant musical community.

Eugene Kostyts is a Ukrainian-Greek session drummer and composer based in Berlin. His rhythmic versatility has become the heartbeat of many renowned artists. Prior to relocating to Germany in 2022, Kostyts resided in Kiev, Ukraine. His portfolio includes recordings and performances with Eurovision winner Jamala, Grammy-winner Bob James, international sensation Kazka, Max Barskih, Monatik, Tina Karol, Golda and many others. He has worked with producers and recording studios across Ukraine, the UK, Germany, and the United States.

Eugene was born on August 24, 1985, in Mariupol and introduced to music early by his musician father. He began playing the drums at the age of 12, and later simultaneously graduated from both of Ukraine's most prestigious music academies.

Eugene’s distinctive approach involves integrating diverse musical genres and creating custom drum and percussion kits for each artist he collaborates with. These kits seamlessly blend acoustic and electronic sounds, making compositions more dynamic and emotionally impactful. Additionally, they are designed to maximise the visual impact of performances by allowing him extensive movement. By synchronising his playing with video art effects, he further enhances the audiences experience.

BIO

MUSIC

LIBBY PURVES, CRITIC FOR THE TIMES, THE TELEGRAPH AND THE BBC

"It's hypnotic,
never a boring note"

THEATRECAT

"The music is wild: soulful
Ukrainian-Russian-Jewish jazz, where klezmer, wedding-songs, ballad and rock and memories of Weimar meld together"

"One of the most profound moments of the show is a drum number composed by Ukrainian-Greek virtuoso Eugene Kostyts, paired with the striking choreography of Pavlo Bondarenko. In this evocative piece, Kostyts and Bondarenko masterfully portray the sharp transition from the tranquillity of peace to the chaos of war.

This performance stirs the audience's deepest emotions, vividly reflecting the dramatic shift and its impact on the characters and storyline. The powerful drumming serves not merely as a musical element but also as a potent narrative device. It symbolises the upheaval and turmoil brought by conflict, at times resembling the cacophony of bombings, the predictable ticking of a clock hanging on the wall of a destroyed house, and the arrhythmic heartbeats of lone survivors."

LONDONCULT

SELECTED SHOWS

2024

2023

JAMALA
3 JUL | Chicago

JAMALA
2 JUL | New York

JAMALA
1 JUL | Philadelphia

KAZKA
22 JUN | Cyprus

LESSONS

Wavewalkrs Sound
Boutique Studio

New Art Generation
Musikschule Berlin

Berlin

kharkiv

"One of the most profound moments of the show is a drum number composed by Ukrainian-Greek virtuoso Eugene Kostyts, paired with the striking choreography of Pavlo Bondarenko. In this evocative piece, Kostyts and Bondarenko masterfully portray the sharp transition from the tranquillity of peace to the chaos of war. Their personal experiences as war refugees infuse authenticity into every note and step presented on stage.

This performance stirs the audience's deepest emotions, vividly reflecting the dramatic shift and its impact on the characters and storyline. The powerful drumming serves not merely as a musical element but also as a potent narrative device. It symbolises the upheaval and turmoil brought by conflict, at times resembling the cacophony of bombings, the predictable ticking of a clock hanging on the wall of a destroyed house, and the arrhythmic heartbeats of lone survivors."

MEDIA

"GOLDA. A MUSICAL STORY OF LOVE, LOSS AND RESILIENCE" PREMIERED IN LONDON THIS NOVEMBER
[Music director]
Musical | London, Nov-Mar 2023-24

"The album "Transformation" fully justifies its name - at the beginning you can literally hear "disco-funko therapy" , and then the listener is transported to escapism with songs about a fictional kingdom, a personal story about relationships and other poetic compositions.

All of them are filled with melancholy, romanticism wrapped in kaleidoscopic intricate arrangements, dramatic strings, torn musical dimensions and catchy motifs."

"The music is wild: soulful Ukrainian-Russian-Jewish jazz, where klezmer, wedding-songs, ballad and rock and memories of Weimar meld together, in Golda’s extraordinary pure voice and wild effortless energy. You catch moments of scat, rock rhythms, Jewish anthems, a soaring ballad crashing suddenly into vivid jazz dance. It’s hypnotic, never a boring note."

Libby Purves, critic for The Times, The Telegraph and The BBC

TSIFERBLAT, "TRANSFORMATION"
[Percussion]
Album | Apr 2023

GOLDA MUSICAL
[Music director]
Musical | London, Nov-Mar 2023-24

"Glastonbury Festival’s Green Futures field welcomed Jamala, a Eurovision Song Contest winner, to cap an extraordinary weekend of independent music.
Jamala, who won the 2016 contest for Ukraine, delivered a powerful performance to a packed Toad Hall stage in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Jamala’s music combines elements of the Tartar folk tradition with contemporary pop"

GLASTONBURY GREEN FUTURES HOSTS UKRAINIAN POP SENSATION
[Drums]
Jamala band | Glastonbury, Apr 2022

"After winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 2016, Ukrainian singer Jamala set about saving the traditional music of her persecuted Crimean Tatar people. Then during the war in 2022, she feared the songs had been lost for good."

"My parents were in Mariupol, and I had to do something to help them escape the city. It was crazy. It was hell," drummer Eugene Kostyts said."

UKRAINIAN BAND TO PLAY AT SXSW AFTER DEALING WITH COMPLEXITIES OF WAR
[Drums]
Kazka band | Austin, Mar 2023

EUROVISION 2023: JAMALA ON RESCUING CRIMEAN FOLK SONGS FROM RUSSIAN INVASION
[Drums]
Jamala band | Liverpool, May 2023

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