The Maneken presents the music video for "Зупинись"
"Зупинись" ("Stop") is a musical homage to the golden era of Ukrainian pop music in the 1970s. Inspired by the documentary Mustache Funk and the works of Volodymyr Ivasiuk and Nazarii Yaremchuk, the song blends tender nostalgia, creative drive, and a touch of irony. The video, shot in Chernihiv against the backdrop of the Palace of Ceremonies, is a visual nod to the aesthetics of late Soviet-era musical films. "Зупинись" captures a fleeting moment one wishes could last forever.
The track gains a special emotional depth from the delicate second voice of Nata Zhyzhchenko (ONUKA).
The video was made possible with the support of the Unified Art Space of Chernihiv — a local creative collective whose contribution helped shape a distinctive and authentic visual narrative. Their involvement shows how meaningful cultural projects can emerge even with limited resources.
Ukrainian musician, composer, arranger, sound producer, and frontman of The Maneken, Eugene Filatov, releases the album “Nova Era” after an eight-year break. The work on the album spanned four years, with the gap between the fourth and fifth releases totaling eight years. During this time, Eugene fulfilled his dream of becoming a renowned film composer, joining the European and Ukrainian Film Academies and creating music for numerous films, including “Best Weekend,” “Pulse,” “The Devoted,” and “Long Day.”
The prolonged creation of the album was shaped by historical circumstances, including the pandemic and the full-scale invasion. It began before the pandemic and encompasses several periods: a time of peaceful life, global calm, and happiness; the pandemic era; and the period marked by the ongoing full-scale invasion. All these stages of its creation can be traced within this incredible musical material.
The period of peaceful life is reflected in the album’s overall funky, fun sound—cheerful, entertaining, and joyful—serving as a reminder of what war has stolen from us; a memory, a fantasy, an illusion.
The pandemic introduced a new recording principle to the world—“record it yourself at home, however you can, with whatever you have.” This period is captured in tracks where some parts were performed by musicians via Zoom and recorded directly at their homes.
The full-scale invasion brought a global rethinking of what had already been done, infusing the album with a new meaning and purpose—to bring listeners joy and hope for its return, to offer a chance to feel alive, and to nurture the dream of peaceful times restored.
With this album, Eugene reimagines his entire creative journey (the last album was released 8 years ago), blending various musical styles he has previously offered as a performer, composer, and arranger, as well as mixing personal experiences, knowledge, and meanings he has lived through as an individual. Ultimately, he returns to himself — to his life-affirming sound, genuine joy, and music of carefree spirit, yet simultaneously to a sound infused with his personality, his rethinking of himself, and countless other musicians.
This album is a creative, conceptual, multi-layered, and multi-sensory achievement—not only of Eugene Filatov but also of a large group of like-minded musicians who share the idea of “unity despite everything” and the joy found in that unity. Over 50 musicians contributed to its creation. Each track features its own part, its own melody, played by different musicians on various instruments. Vocal parts are performed by Eugene as well as other vocalists, while some tracks are entirely instrumental. Among the musicians who worked on the album are Gregory Boyd, Nathan Daisy, and Sirko.
Each track is a story woven from a multitude of personal experiences, meanings, knowledge, and visions. The entire album is a story of stories, meticulously directed by Eugene-the-composer, with numerous details noticeable only to audiophiles and professionals. In total, the album includes 13 compositions, with 7 more to be released later as singles.
This album is about lost life, lost happiness, lost fun—but also about lightness and joy “just because” and “despite everything.”
“This album is about me. It’s deeply honest; it doesn’t correlate with time, context, trends, or demands. I believe that after years of work, I’ve earned the right to record the music that lives inside me,” shares Eugene.
The band The Maneken, founded by composer and sound producer Eugene Filatov, releases a new track “В Моїм Серці” (“In My Heart") – a fusion of hip-hop, urban culture, and a deep belief in a better future for Ukraine. The inspiration for the song came from the iconic composition “Квітка” ("Flower") by the Ukrainian band "Okean Elzy". It was a fragment of this track, accidentally heard by Eugene in an Instagram feed, that formed the basis of the new single.
"I made a screen recording, added a beat, and we immediately tried to negotiate with 'Okean Elzy' about using the sample," says Eugene Filatov. "Sviatoslav Vakarchuk personally sang this sample exclusively for me in the studio. We coordinated everything with the band, and they blessed this track."
The lyrics for the song were written by Alyona Alyona (Aliona Savranenko), based on Eugene’s ideas. “В моїм серці” ("In My Heart") is a poignant reflection on what’s happening around us, and at the same time, an ode to strength, hope, and growth.
"It’s about how I believe in our country, see its potential – like a flower breaking through the earth toward the sun," underlines Eugene Filatov.
The track combines a powerful beat, urban vibe, and a lyrical story about resilience and the light that lives in the heart.
"No matter how much time it takes
To climb from the bottom up to the sun
I believe you’ll see the light
In my heart
You are a flower,"
— rings out in the chorus, conveying the song’s main message.
This track is a bold step for The Maneken in exploring hip-hop culture, amplified by the soulful lines of Alyona Alyona and a nostalgic sample from “Okean Elzy” that resonates in the heart of every Ukrainian. Together, they lend the sound a special depth and character.
“В Моїм Серці” ("In My Heart") is the second single from the upcoming album Nova Era, set for release on May 23, 2025. It will be The Maneken’s fifth album – the first after an eight-year hiatus. According to Eugene, Nova Era is a story about lost life, lost happiness, lost fun, but also about lightness and joy "just because" and "despite everything."
After an eight-year hiatus, Ukrainian band The Maneken founded by composer and sound producer Eugene Filatov returns with a new single, "One-Night Stand." Created in collaboration with French artist dOP (Nathan Daisy), this track is a candid story of failed relationships, gaining exceptional depth and expressiveness thanks to the unique timbre and emotional delivery of the French performer.
"One-Night Stand" is a musical experiment: its rhythmic structure creates an illusion of being simultaneously fast and slowed down, prompting listeners to rethink their perception and even leaving professional musicians puzzled by the rhythm.
Born in 2020, the track found its visual embodiment in 2021 in a music video directed by Eugene Filatov himself. “The video became an organic extension of the music, visualizing the artistic images that emerged in my mind during the writing process,” shares Eugene.
"One-Night Stand" marks a new chapter in The Maneken’s creative journey, serving as the first single from their highly anticipated fifth album, Nova Era, set for release on May 23, 2025. According to Eugene Filatov, Nova Era is a sensitive reflection on themes of loss and disappointment, yet also a hymn to the lightness of being and the ability to find joy in simple things, "just because" and "despite everything."
