СОЮЗ (SOYUZ)

СОЮЗ (SOYUZ) is a creative collective originally from Minsk, Belarus, that was founded by multi-instrumentalists Alex Chumak, the band’s composer and principal arranger, and Mikita Arlou. After moving to Warsaw, Poland in 2022, they were joined by drummer Albert Karch and guitarist Igor Wiśniewski. The name of the band is translated as “union”, which reflects the creative nature of the relationship between its members and their collaborators. While the recordings of SOYUZ feature a wider array of instruments, live performances are reimagined by the quartet. They include musical insights from all the performers and leave room for collective improvisation.

SOYUZ’ albums “Это все совсем не то” 2018 and “II” 2019 released on Ukrainian label Masterskaya explored and reimagined the legacy of jazz-oriented, mostly non-English-language pop music of the 20th century with a crave for musical freedom. Their third album “Force of the Wind” 2022, released by the UK-based label Mr Bongo, features guest performances by Kate NV and Sessa. “Force of the Wind” was selected as one of the best albums of 2022 by Bandcamp, was positively reviewed by KEXP, CLASH, The Quietus and received airplay on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 6, KEXP, KCRW, FIP, NDR, CBC, NTS Radio, Worldwide FM.

“Force of the Wind” has been presented at various international festivals such as Primavera Sound in Spain, XJAZZ and Überjazz in Germany, OFF Festival in Poland, ESNS and Wilde Weide in the Netherlands, Bad Bonn Kilbi in Switzerland, as well as solo shows throughout Europe: Berlin (Lido), Stockholm (Fasching, Hosoi), Warsaw (Jassmine, Spatif), Zurich (Moods), Luxembourg (Rotondes), Köln (Jaki), Paris (Le Mazette), Riga (Laska), Tallinn (Paavli Kultuurivabrik).

SOYUZ offered two new releases in 2024, the first being a lush orchestral theme entitled “Spring has sprung”, the fruit of a collaboration with iconic Indian singer Asha Puthli and renowned Swedish composer Sven Wunder, recorded exclusively for the “Mr Bongo Record Club Vol.7” compilation. The second release, “Калі ты запытаеш (If You Ask)”, is a dreamy, blissed-out pop single with a ‘70s AOR touch. It features Biel Basile (O Terno, Sessa) on drums & Anthony Ferraro (Toro Y Moi, Astronauts, etc.) on synths and is accompanied by a music video shot by a Brazilian visual artist Gabriel Rolim.

The new album called “KROK”, released on October 24th, 2025, was recorded in São Paulo, Stockholm and Warsaw. The first full-length record of the project made in Belarusian language with the additions in Portuguese and Japanese, it highlights the band’s ambition for further international collaboration, featuring songs with the acclaimed musicians Tim Bernardes (Brazil) and Manami Kakudo (Japan). The genre of “KROK” is hardly identifiable: there are folk ballads and jazz-driven pop compositions covered in lush and often dissonant string and woodwind arrangements. The record explores themes of movement and migration, embracing the uncertainty, finding subtle moments of beauty in everyday life.

Following the success of “Force of the Wind”, “KROK” has further cemented SOYUZ’ international reputation as a constantly evolving and adventurous music collective, with positive reviews from KEXP and Allmusic, features in TURN, &Premium, Radio FIP (who also added the album to their “Sélection FIP”), Songlines Magazine, DW Brasil, Worldwide FM, and airplay on KEXP, KCRW, BBC Radio 6, SWR, Radio Canada, NTS Radio and more. An international tour promoting the album started in February 2026, featuring often sold out shows in renowned venues such as London’s Jazz Cafe, Stockholm’s Fasching, Brussels’ Botanique, Amsterdam’s Paradiso, Zurich’s Moods and many more. The band also recorded a live performance for Giles Peterson at the legendary BBC Maida Vale studios. The next leg of their 2026 tour will take them to many new places and well known venues around Europe.