After achieving international recognition with Go_A and their song “SHUM,” Kate Pavlenko is exploring a different musical identity through Monokate. Her latest release, Live in Kyiv, is a six-track live EP that reveals a darker, more melancholic side of the artist, moving closer to alternative rock.
Released on October 1, 2026, the project steps away from the folk-rave sound that defined Go_A, embracing indie pop, trip-hop and darkwave instead. Recorded with a full band, the session pushes these influences into more guitar-driven territory, with stronger dynamics, heavier arrangements and a performance that reveals another side of a voice recognised by millions through Eurovision.
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Monokate
Monokate
Live in Kyiv features three reworked songs from her debut solo EP, Polovyna mene (Half of Me), released in 2025, alongside three previously unreleased tracks that explore alternative rock more deeply. Together, they show how her compositions take on a different dimension when performed with a full band, shifting away from electronic atmospheres and giving greater prominence to guitars and a more direct, intense energy.
The story behind the recording also reflects the circumstances in Ukraine today. The session was independently funded and recorded in Kyiv during power cuts. Without sponsors or external producers, Pavlenko took control of the entire project, overseeing the video edit, colour grading and final sound. The complete filmed performance is also available on YouTube.
Before Monokate, Kate Pavlenko gained international attention as the frontwoman of Go_A, a Ukrainian band known for combining traditional folk vocals with electronic dance music. In 2021, they represented Ukraine at Eurovision with “SHUM,” finishing fifth overall and second in the public vote. The song continued to gain momentum after the competition, reaching the top of Spotify's Global Viral 50 and No. 34 on the Shazam Global Chart.
Her electronic journey also includes collaborations such as “Vorozhyla,” alongside Korolova, Rokston and Go_A featuring Monokate, released through Tomorrowland Music in September 2024. However, her solo project is moving in another direction. With Polovyna mene and now Live in Kyiv, Pavlenko has begun building a more intimate musical universe, where melancholy and experimentation take centre stage.
Monokate is more than a change of name or musical style. It gives Pavlenko the freedom to explore new artistic possibilities beyond the expectations attached to one of Ukraine's most internationally recognised musical acts. With Live in Kyiv, Kate Pavlenko presents a rawer, guitar-driven version of her project, proving that a voice familiar to audiences around the world can still find entirely new paths.
Live in Kyiv features three reworked songs from her debut solo EP, Polovyna mene (Half of Me), released in 2025, alongside three previously unreleased tracks that explore alternative rock more deeply. Together, they show how her compositions take on a different dimension when performed with a full band, shifting away from electronic atmospheres and giving greater prominence to guitars and a more direct, intense energy.
The story behind the recording also reflects the circumstances in Ukraine today. The session was independently funded and recorded in Kyiv during power cuts. Without sponsors or external producers, Pavlenko took control of the entire project, overseeing the video edit, colour grading and final sound. The complete filmed performance is also available on YouTube.
Before Monokate, Kate Pavlenko gained international attention as the frontwoman of Go_A, a Ukrainian band known for combining traditional folk vocals with electronic dance music. In 2021, they represented Ukraine at Eurovision with “SHUM,” finishing fifth overall and second in the public vote. The song continued to gain momentum after the competition, reaching the top of Spotify's Global Viral 50 and No. 34 on the Shazam Global Chart.
Her electronic journey also includes collaborations such as “Vorozhyla,” alongside Korolova, Rokston and Go_A featuring Monokate, released through Tomorrowland Music in September 2024. However, her solo project is moving in another direction. With Polovyna mene and now Live in Kyiv, Pavlenko has begun building a more intimate musical universe, where melancholy and experimentation take centre stage.
Monokate is more than a change of name or musical style. It gives Pavlenko the freedom to explore new artistic possibilities beyond the expectations attached to one of Ukraine's most internationally recognised musical acts. With Live in Kyiv, Kate Pavlenko presents a rawer, guitar-driven version of her project, proving that a voice familiar to audiences around the world can still find entirely new paths.