The 30-minute LP ‘Pilgrims Never Come Back’ is the debut for Polyvoda. The release was dedicated to ‘those who had to flee from war, from fear, from themselves’
The album contains eight tracks that combine R&B, neo soul, hip-hop and modern jazz. Among them are the tracks Bonfire and Homeless, which were released in late 2023.
As the band explains, the name ‘Pilgrims Never Come Back’ refers to their journey. The members are just starting out and, like the Pilgrims, are ‘looking for doors that will be open to them’.
The ‘Never Come Back’ part refers to the fact that the members of Polyvoda are not going to make monotonous music and repeat themselves.
According to the band’s bassist Denys Levchenko, the anxiety of the album is related to the difficult times both for the members and the world.
‘Every rehearsal was a challenge to our lives and often we worked on songs in a bomb shelter, — Denys says. — Every day, while creating it, we realized that there were less and less people around, some people left, some people died, it was painful and demotivating. All those who have passed away will forever remain in our hearts. All those who have set out on the long and turbulent journey should remember that pilgrims never return!’.
Polyvoda is a Ukrainian band consisting of Kyrylo Chykhradze (keyboards), bassist Denys Levchenko (ex-Boombox member), drummer Misha Birchenko (Hyphen Dash) and a hip-hop artist whose name is not disclosed.
In March, Polyvoda released an EP titled ‘Queens’ and a recording of a live performance filmed in the greenhouse of the Kyiv City Psychiatric Hospital named after Pavlov.
The Strategic Media Support Program project implements the Lviv Media Forum with financial support from People in Need (PIN) and Pioneer Foundation.
