The Maneken

• Year of foundation – 2007
• City – Kyiv (Ukraine)
• Language – Ukrainian, English
• Genre – electro-rock, indie-pop, indie-rock

The Maneken is a Ukrainian musical project created in 2007 in Kyiv. The frontman and founder of the band is musician, DJ, composer and sound producer Yevgeny Filatov.

Over the years of its existence, The Maneken has repeatedly changed the vector of sound – from explosive dance electronics and pop moods with disco sparkle to more guitar pop-rock and deep funk. Each track became a new step, and all the creativity gradually formed a holistic project, which today can be traced the evolution of the new Ukrainian scene.

History of the band

The project was born in 2007, when Yevgeny Filatov began performing under the name The Maneken. A year later, the album First Look was released - a work where the musician himself recorded each part, creating a completely original product. This was the case when the performer controls everything - from the arrangement to the final sound.

In 2009, The Maneken Electronic Performance program was presented on the main stage of the KAZANTYP festival. It was based on the innovative IM Table instrument from Front Pictures. Technology, electronics, live vocals and stage charisma - this is how the artist's recognizable style was formed.

The second album Soulmate Sublime was released in 2011. At the same time, The Maneken played a concert in Los Angeles during the MUSEXPO forum, and later performed at the Kyiv Palace of Sports as an opening act for British stars Jamiroquai. In July, a joint concert with Jamal took place, the recording of which was released as a separate DVD release.

In 2012, the musician recorded a special disc for ELLE magazine and released the socially important single Safe Connection, co-authored with German director Charlie Stadler. In 2013, the third album Portrait was released - one of the most successful releases of the Ukrainian scene that year. Over the next three years, two more albums were recorded. And after an eight-year break, in 2025, the single One-Night Stand was released, recorded together with French artist Nathan Daisy (dOP). This track opened work on the album Nova Era.

Key tracks and releases

In The Maneken's creative output, it is difficult to single out one main album or landmark single - each release reflected a certain stage of the band's development. At first it was funk and acid jazz, then house and technological experiments with IM Table, and later the indie sound that critics noted after Soulmate Sublime.

Each album demonstrated changes in style and became a field for experiments. Filatov himself emphasizes that his work brought more freedom, cosmopolitanism and openness to the world to Ukrainian music.

As of early 2026, the band's discography includes eight albums and several bright singles that have formed the recognizable signature of The Maneken. The project's discography:

• Magic Force (2007);
• First Look (2008);
• These Lines [EP] (2009);
• Soulmate Sublime (2011);
• Portrait (2013);
• 5. The Best (2014);
• Sale% (2016);
• Nova Era (2025).

Famous tracks by The Maneken:

• Shine;
• Keep Moving On;
• Sunbeam Girl;
• “In My Heart”;
• DZERKALO” (feat. ONUKA);
• “My Own” and others.

Production activities of the project leader

In 2009, Yevgeny Filatov opened the production studio Major Music Box, which became a platform for cooperation with leading artists and brands. As a sound producer, he worked with Jamal on the albums For Every Heart, All or Nothing and Thank You. Yevgeny's first production project was the band The Elephants. In 2013, together with Nata Zhyzhchenko, Filatov created the ONUKA project, which quickly gained popularity and recognition.

Filatov was also the arranger of several finalists of the national selection for Eurovision 2016, and in 2018–2019 he was a member of the selection jury. In addition, Yevgeny writes music for films and is a member of the European Film Academy. In December 2021, together with Nata Zhyzhchenko, Filatov became a co-author of the multimedia project "Ukrainian Constructivism", which combined electronics and visual art.

The Maneken has also always been open to collaborations. The long-play SALE% (2016) combined joint works with Sophie Villy, Brunettes Shoot Blondes, ONUKA and other artists.

The Maneken Lives

The Maneken concerts are, first of all, a groove that literally makes you move. The stage combines live instruments, electronics and charismatic vocals. Filatov turns each performance into a stylish show - with thoughtful lighting, high-quality sound and the atmosphere of a European club.

Here you can hear funky guitar riffs, deep bass and synthesizers that create a holistic, rich sound. The live format, without a doubt, surpasses studio recordings in terms of energy - the stage is a natural environment for this project.

Visual component of creativity

The visual component of The Maneken is minimalism and futurism. In Filatov's clips,takes on different forms, but always retains its signature restraint. Album covers are concise, with an emphasis on light, shadow, and form.

Even in the Nova Era period in 2025, this style has remained unchanged - no unnecessary details, only thoughtful aesthetics. This is a kind of "designer" pop, where sound and image work as a single whole.

Where to find The Maneken's music

The Maneken's tracks can be listened to on all popular streaming platforms: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, SoundCloud, Deezer.

The Maneken's place in the country's modern musical space

Over its history, The Maneken has entered the World Chart Express on MTV Europe three times and given concerts in Europe and the USA, consolidating its status as a Ukrainian project of international scale. The Maneken has long become a sign of the quality of Ukrainian pop electronics. When you want to hear a Ukrainian track that sounds no less confident than releases from London or Berlin studios, this is exactly the case.

Each album or single is a thoughtful work of a musician who lives by creativity, feels the mood of the audience, loves experimentation and knows how to charge with dance energy. That is why The Maneken remains relevant - his work does not become part of history, but sounds new every time, opening up new facets of modern Ukrainian music to the listener.