Photos by Ava DeGrinis
Echoes from the East: Ulitsa Vostok (Улица Восток)
In the burgeoning heart of LA’s contemporary post-punk scene, meet Ulitsa Vostok, an emerging Ukrainian-Russian band that’s been making waves from Eastern Europe all the way to our own West Coast. Tapping into their roots, this enigmatic group harnesses the brooding energy of their homeland and transforms it into rhythmic, entrancing melodies suitable for thrashing on the dancefloor or crying alone in your car.
A couple weeks ago I had the pleasure of seeing them live when they performed with the hot, up-and-coming indie band, Aspen Forest, at The Echo. Taking the stage first with an air of dark, debonair confidence was Ulitsa Vostok. Their haunting tones sung entirely in Russian paired with their effortlessly cool command of both stage and instrument drew the crowd in, even being met by a couple red roses. Safe to say I became an instant fan and reached out for an interview to learn more about their mysterious lore. I met up with them at their studio in the heart of LA’s Arts District, where they walked me through their history, creative process, and their new album in the works.
Gena & Sasha
Relocation & reconstruction
Frontman Gena, radiating edgy mystique, created Ulitsa Vostok (“East Street”) in 2019 back in his hometown of Kyiv, Ukraine. The name spawned from his affectionate pastime of wandering the historic streets of his city all day and all night. Adhering to his affinity to explore, Gena migrated to the sunny boulevards of LA two years ago, taking his vision of the band with him. Though, the relocation proved to be more than just a change of scenery; it marked a shift in perspective. Gena and lead guitarist Sasha explained they found themselves immersed in a world of sunshine and opportunity, a far cry from the darkness and despair of their homeland. Yet, this newfound optimism came with the challenge of reconciling their past with their present, a struggle familiar to many immigrants navigating the complexities of cultural identity, needing to “live two lives” said Sasha.
Gena summarized his relationship to this experience: “In this country and this city I am reconsidering who I am, trying to find myself again. Russian and Ukrainians are very, very different people; Americans think in a very different way. I am trying to understand, but I still don’t yet. I am being reborn in the process.”
The tension of this identity rediscovery and emotional duality shines through the band’s latest music, showcasing melancholic, weeping guitar tones interlaced with toe-tapping, dancy drumlines.
Not only has the sound of Ulitsa Vostok evolved, but since the relocation to LA, the band makeup has also transformed. Besides Gena on vocals, the band boasts an entirely new lineup, all originally from Ukraine/Russia. Newest members include: Slava on sticks, Sasha on lead guitar and Gleb on rhythm guitar. Most recently, they’ve even added a permanent bassist to the roster, Tema, since Gena (who usually multitasked during shows) recently dislocated his arm. But no complaints from Gena, he actually appreciates this newfound freedom. He even went as far to say that the Echo show was the most memorable moment of his musical career: “I was free to just sing and dance. Sometimes when you’re on stage, you’re stressed, you’re unconscious — but I remember every moment of that last show, all 28 minutes.”
Sasha & Tema
Sound that transcends language barriers
At the show I witnessed lots of jumping and dancing, but not much sing-along (well, maybe a few passionate lip sync attempts). Since Gena sings solely in Russian and Ukrainian, his lyrics are foreign to American ears, so instead, the band must utilize evocative melodies to get their complex messages across. Gena explained: “One of the biggest problems I face is I try to create really interesting lyrics but I can’t do that in English, so we try to share this deep emotion and feeling through just sound instead.“
When I asked if he planned on ever adopting English lyrics, I was met with a swift “No.” He elaborated, “I can’t create good lyrics in English. If you were to read my Russian lyrics, it is essentially poetry. I see it as an art, I read a lot of Russian/Ukrainian books and poems for inspiration. I am a poet first and then a musician.”
Creating poignant verbal pictures is a priority for Gena; his goal is to develop messages that offer a unique experience for each individual hearing it. “A good song is one that is interpreted 3 different ways by 3 different people.” He noted that the first song he ever made does this well. “Ночь” (“Night”) explores feelings of isolation and the bleakness of existence, including a line illustrating the last train of the night burning down on an empty platform. More dark and deep lyrics are on the horizon for the band’s next album, including a song that literally translates to “The Depth” (“Глубина”) which debates the inextricable link between pain and happiness, ultimately coming from the same source.
(From left to right) Gleb, Slava, Sasha, Gena, Tema
Bold yet understated style
Having an affinity for fashion myself, I had to ask about their polished style. On stage, Ulitsa Vostok cuts a striking figure, clad in sleek, all-black ensembles that reflect their Eastern European sensibilities. In a city full of aspiring stars, the band mentioned that they notice a lot of artists adopt outrageous looks and styles to develop a persona and gain attention. “It’s not that we don’t want to be flashy, it’s that it’s natural to us to not be. We don’t need to be showmans, we’re musicians” Sasha asserted. Eschewing flashy gimmicks in favor of a more serious demeanor, they channel the spirit of ’80s post-punk, where the music speaks for itself.
Gena backed by Sasha, Tema & Gleb
Dedication to authenticity
The freshly finalized band has been busy in the studio developing their next album. The songs are all complete (these songs actually made up most of their set list at The Echo), they just need to record them now.
Sasha explained their newly adopted creative process: “Many bands record songs and then figure out how to play it live (like ‘How I am I going to play the 17 guitar tracks on this?’), but for our songs, we started by playing them live so they will sound just as good in the recording. We want to try to keep the integrity of the songs and maintain authenticity.”
They’re even going as far as moving away from screens and employing a vintage Tascam mixer instead, forcing them to appreciate the imperfections of their mix. “For the next album we’re definitely going for more of an analogue approach. Less automated, more honest. If you fuck up, you fuck up” said Sasha.
The upcoming album is a testament to the band’s genuine approach not just to their music, but how they present themselves to the world. You don’t need to speak Russian to appreciate the fervent message of their songs; the visceral emotions are communicated through their thundrous drums and anguished guitar tones. Ulitsa Vostok is offering the world something different, something raw by remaining true to their roots and sharing their unfiltered narrative that transcends beyond borders. Their rebellious refusal to compromise the integrity of their sound or style to conform to the status quo has allowed them to carve out a distinctive niche in America’s ever-evolving post-punk scene.
Follow their story here and keep a look out for upcoming shows in LA.