I Go_A are an electro-folk band from Kiev that combines striking traditional Ukrainian vocals, modern electronic rhythms, African percussion and a powerful guitar to achieve a brilliant, aggressive and unforgettable sound. The band's name is made up of Gounderstood as a 'forward movement' and Aalpha of the Greek alphabet, symbolising cultural roots and the beginning of everything. This name perfectly reflects their music, which refers to Ukrainian traditions that have been handed down for generations; moreover, the singer Kateryna uses the vocal technique of the Eastern European folk tradition, the white voice.
The band's story began in 2012 when producer Taras Shevchenko meets the ethnic music singer Kateryna Pavlenko. After experimenting with Ukrainian folk songs, the two realised that folklore and electronics create a perfect mix of emotion and energy. In December of the same year, they released their first track Koliada (Коляда): the experiment worked and the duo has continued their collaboration ever since.
In early 2020 the Go_A are among the sixteen Ukrainian artists selected nationally for Eurovision 2020 with the song Solovey. They won the final on 22 February 2020, winning the public and jury votes, and qualified to represent Ukraine at the European contest, which was, however, cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They then enter the 2021 edition with SHUM, entirely in the Ukrainian language, and ranked fifth overall and second by televote. Since then, the single has become a worldwide trend on Spotify and reached the top of many European charts, as well as becoming the first Ukrainian song to enter the Billboard Top 200. This popularity brought them to Italy a few months ago to perform on stage at the May Day Concerton which they interpreted Imagine.
The band recently released Kalynanamed after the Viburnum opulus (in Italian, snowball), a symbol that has been part of Ukrainian culture since ancient times. Its meanings have been passed down through the centuries in legends and songs: a fallen kalyna tree was a sign of misfortune and tragedy; damaging this tree was considered a serious act. The Ukrainian people always protected this species because it was believed that it only grew near good people. According to the ancestors, the kalyna can bestow immortality and can unite generations to fight evil. The song is therefore an invitation to the world to unite for the future of all mankind. All money from the streaming of the song is donated to support the Ukrainian cause.