- Year founded – 2010
- City – Lviv (Ukraine)
- Language – Ukrainian
- Genre – indie, indie rock, acoustic music
Line-up:
- Ira Shvaidak – vocals;
- Ustym Pokhmurskyi – guitar;
- Ihor Dzikovskyi – percussion.
Former member: Iryna Davydenko – percussion.
Band History
Odyn v kanoe is a Ukrainian indie band founded in Lviv in 2010. It all began with joint rehearsals of seven or eight strangers who played completely different styles of music. The original line-up featured three lead vocalists, and none of the members had a professional musical education – they were simply exploring the creative industry. The line-up changed until the vocalist and guitarist decided to form a separate project. Later, a percussionist joined them, and in 2010 the first official line-up of Odyn v kanoe was formed. The band released its first music video only in early 2019.
The band's name appeared unexpectedly. While reading about Native Americans, vocalist Iryna came across a name that translated as «One in a Canoe». She liked it so much that it became the band's official name. The band's logo resembles a six-petaled flower. Its shape is similar to the sound holes of a traditional Ukrainian bandura, while each petal also symbolizes a canoe.
Interestingly, Ira Shvaidak never planned a stage career for a long time and was not seeking popularity or public recognition. Although she received a musical education in piano, she deliberately avoided vocal lessons. She wrote her first song, «Sky», while still a university student learning to play the guitar.
Creative Journey
On November 27, 2010, the band performed its first solo concert, presenting original songs. Since then, the musicians have performed in most of Ukraine's major cities. They have also played in Prague, Paris, Cambridge, Minsk, and Gdańsk, participated in numerous festivals, and expanded their community of devoted fans.
The band's line-up evolved over time, and only two members from the original group remained: the vocalist and the guitarist. A percussionist later joined them, and the trio performed together for six years. Despite gaining popularity among lovers of quality music, until 2015 the members combined music with their regular jobs. Without a producer or management team, they handled all organizational matters themselves.
In 2016, the musicians released their debut album, «One in a Canoe», featuring 25 tracks that summarized five years of creative exploration. Alongside the album, they released two singles: «Icons (To the Sixtiers)» and «I Have No Home». The latter became the band's first music video and reached around five million views during its first year.
In June 2021, the band presented its second self-titled album featuring 12 tracks, including «Icons» and «I Have No Home». In the autumn of 2024, the band performed in numerous European cities, and in the spring of 2025 embarked on a concert tour stretching from Berlin to Barcelona.
Style and Development
Odyn v kanoe's defining feature is its unique charisma and ability to combine folk, electronic music, and ethnic influences into a distinctive musical style. Their enduring motto is «Strength Lies in Simplicity». Song lyrics always remain at the center of attention, as they are written primarily for Ukrainian listeners. The band's frontwoman avoids excessive romanticism in her songwriting, considering this part of her artistic growth, and often invents fictional stories and characters. Some songs, however, have deeply personal origins – for example, «Little Boy» was written after Ira decided to leave her job at a youth rehabilitation center.
The band's guiding principle is to determine its own direction, remain honest with itself, and create only the music it truly enjoys.
Discography:
- «One in a Canoe» (2016);
- «One in a Canoe» (2021).
Singles and Best-Known Hits:
- «Icons»;
- «I Have No Home»;
- «One Man Is a Warrior»;
- «The Boat»;
- «Too Little Memory»;
- «Promise Me» and others.
Awards and Recognition:
- «Selection» Award by Jam FM (Breakthrough of the Year), 2017;
- included in LiRoom's list of the best Ukrainian albums of 2021 («One in a Canoe»);
- included in the #ShoTam portal's list of the best albums by Ukrainian musicians of 2021 («One in a Canoe»).
Interesting Facts:
- the musicians jokingly say that their greatest weakness is being slow. They describe the pace of their creative work as «perfectly reasonable if people lived for 300 years», and sometimes criticize themselves for ideas they have not yet realized;
- until 2015, Ira Shvaidak combined performing with her work at a youth rehabilitation center;
- one of the brightest moments in the band's career was its collaboration with Okean Elzy on the song «The City of Spring». Dedicated to Lviv, the song has gained more than 36 million views on YouTube.
