KALUSH Orchestra grew out of KALUSH, the Ukrainian hip hop group Oleh Psiuk formed with producer Vanyok Klymenko in his hometown of Kalush in 2019, later joined by multi-instrumentalist Ihor Didenchuk on the sopilka. In 2021 the group launched KALUSH Orchestra as a folk-rap side project, weaving traditional Ukrainian instruments and melodies into their rap verses for a bigger, more theatrical sound than the original lineup's straight hip hop.
That side project became the one the world remembers: KALUSH Orchestra represented Ukraine at Eurovision 2022 and won, days after the full-scale Russian invasion had begun. Psiuk has kept blending rap with folk melody since, using the band's platform to raise money and awareness for Ukraine throughout the war.