Over the past few years, KOLA has become one of the most recognizable artists on the Ukrainian pop scene. Her songs about separation, falling in love, loss, and hope have resonated with a wide audience, while her creative journey has gradually been enriched by genre experiments and collaborations with musicians of different generations. On the singer's birthday, Wave RBC.UA prepared a retrospective of five key stages in her musical history — from her first viral hit to the fresh single “Trymayesh Mene,” released on October 15, 2026.
“Chy Razom?”: A Personal Story That Became a Shared Experience
A turning point in KOLA's career was the track “Chy Razom?”, released in June 2022. The song emerged against the backdrop of a full-scale war and the singer's personal experiences related to separation from her partner. The artist's own story intertwined with the experiences of thousands of Ukrainians, and the track quickly spread across social media: the YouTube video gathered millions of views, and the composition itself climbed to second place on the Ukrainian Apple Music Top 100 chart. In interviews, KOLA noted that she did not set out to create a universal hit — she simply put her thoughts into music. Following the success, the singer tried to write something similar, but eventually concluded that repeating the previous result was not the best creative path, and that it is more important to speak about what one feels at the moment.
Expectation and the Value of Those Nearby
Continuing to address the theme of love in times of war, KOLA released “Dochekaysu” in 2022 — a song about waiting for the return of a loved one. The composition became especially close to those who found themselves far from loved ones due to the war. Later came “Bilya Sertsya,” in which the focus shifted to the value of people who remain nearby and the feelings that help one endure difficult times. An interesting musical fact is that “Bilya Sertsya” uses the exact same chords as “Dochekaysu,” but in a different key and with a slightly modified third chord. Despite the shared harmonic foundation, both songs convey different emotional states: one focuses on anticipation and faith in return, while the other reminds us of the importance of cherishing those who are close.
“Porichka” with YAKTAK: A Duet Played Over 300 Thousand Times
In April 2023, KOLA teamed up with YAKTAK to release “Porichka” — a song about falling in love, tenderness, and happy moments beside a loved one. Unlike the dramatic compositions of the previous period, the track received a lighter and warmer sound. It quickly gained popularity on streaming platforms and social media, becoming one of the most successful duets in the discography of both artists. In February 2026, the track was honored with the “Golden Playlist of Ukraine” award. According to Hit FM radio, “Porichka” has been played on Ukrainian radio stations more than 300,000 times.
Collaborations and Genre Experiments
A separate direction in KOLA's development has been her collaborations with representatives of different generations of the Ukrainian music scene. In the song “Lyudy,” recorded alongside MamaRika, the spotlight focused on relationships, support, and feelings that help overcome difficult periods — continuing one of the recurring themes in the singer's work. Another notable experience was cooperation with Svyatoslav Vakarchuk and the Okean Elzy band on the track “Koly My Dwoye.” These works showed how KOLA's voice interacts with various musical styles while allowing the artist to maintain her unique performance manner and emotional delivery. The song “Smorodyna,” in turn, demonstrated yet another facet of her work: the singer, whom listeners are used to associating with poignant compositions about complex feelings, could be heard in a lighter sound.
“Trymayesh Mene”: A New Single About the Need for Support
On October 15, 2026, KOLA presented the single “Trymayesh Mene,” addressing the need for support in moments of exhaustion. At the center of the composition is the state of a person losing connection with themselves and trying to find the strength to move forward. The image of the one who “holds” becomes a symbol of support that helps not to give up when one's own resources are almost depleted. As the authors of the retrospective note, this story can be viewed more broadly than a tale of romantic relationships: it is also about closeness, trust, and the people who help us survive difficult times. If the foundation of “Chy Razom?” was a personal story of separation and uncertainty, “Trymayesh Mene” appeals to a more universal need to feel supported. From solo tracks to duets and new releases, KOLA's music has changed its sound and expanded its thematic range, while the unifying element of her work remains her attention to human feelings and her ability to express them through song.
