#7 Alt-Folk (US) • Top 15 Folk (US)
Summer 2025 — Roots Music Report
EPK
DEBUT ALBUM 2025
Photo: Greg Gorman | Design: Rick Allen ©2025
YEV’s self-titled debut blends cinematic folk rock, modern blues, vintage pop, and world music with the soulful essence of his Ukrainian heritage. Inspired by his immigrant journey and the resilience of Ukrainian refugees, the album explores hope, loss, and belonging through evocative melodies, heartfelt vocals, and rich instrumentation. Produced by Stephen Helvig with stunning visuals by Greg Gorman and Norway’s VJUS, it offers a deeply moving, culture-bridging experience.
BIOGRAPHY
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YEV is a Ukrainian American artist blending folk rock, modern blues, vintage pop, world music, and the soulful resonance of his heritage. His debut album draws inspiration from his immigrant journey and the resilience of Ukrainian refugees, weaving powerful stories of love, loss, and perseverance. Based in the Twin Cities, YEV’s evocative melodies and dynamic voice create a sound that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.
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YEV is a Ukrainian American singer-songwriter whose music bridges his Ukrainian roots with a captivating blend of folk rock, blues, world music, and vintage pop. Known for his evocative melodies and cinematic soundscapes, YEV crafts songs that explore themes of love, loss, and hope with raw emotional depth.
A 2023-2024 Cedar Commissions awardee, YEV’s work has been recognized for its powerful storytelling, drawing inspiration from the lives of Ukrainian refugees and war veterans. His debut self-titled album is a poignant exploration of his immigrant journey, brought to life through lush arrangements, soaring vocal harmonies, and striking visuals. With music videos filmed in Norway and cover art by legendary photographer Greg Gorman, YEV’s debut marks the emergence of a compelling new voice in the music world.
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YEV is a Ukrainian American artist whose music seamlessly blends the emotional depth of his heritage with the eclectic sounds of folk rock, modern blues, vintage pop, and world music. Based in the Twin Cities, YEV draws inspiration from his immigrant journey, channeling personal experiences and the resilience of others into powerful narratives of love, loss, and the search for belonging. His dynamic and soulful voice serves as the centerpiece of his music, delivering every note with authenticity and passion.
As a 2023-2024 Cedar Commissions awardee, YEV gained recognition for a project inspired by the stories of Ukrainian refugees and war veterans. This deeply personal work evolved into his debut self-titled album, a cinematic collection of songs featuring lush organ arrangements, haunting strings, bluesy guitar riffs, and soaring vocal harmonies. The album reflects a dual focus on personal reflection and broader cultural storytelling, creating an experience that is both intimate and grand in scale.
Complementing the music is a visual collaboration with world-renowned photographer Greg Gorman and Norway’s premier video production team, VJUS. These elements amplify YEV’s vision, presenting a project that bridges cultures, honors history, and invites listeners to connect through shared emotions.
With standout tracks like “Refugee,” “Tempest Lullaby,” and “Last Prayer,” YEV’s music speaks to the enduring human spirit and the transformative power of art. Whether performing in intimate settings or on larger stages, YEV captivates audiences with his ability to blend timeless melodies with contemporary themes, setting the stage for a career that promises to inspire and connect across borders.
ALBUM CONCEPT
About the Album
YEV’s self-titled debut album is a poignant and powerful introduction to the artist’s dynamic voice, blending cinematic folk rock, modern blues, vintage pop, and the soulful resonance of his Ukrainian heritage. Each song offers a captivating narrative that weaves haunting melodies and raw emotion into a tapestry of universal themes—hope, loss, resilience, and the search for belonging. YEV’s voice is best described as an amalgamation of Roy Orbison’s vintage vibrato, the blues folk stylings of Hozier, and Jeff Buckley’s soulful croon.
The album draws heavily from Yev’s own immigrant story, reflecting his navigation of cultural identity and the challenges of uprooting a life to start anew. Beyond the personal, it pays homage to the resilience of others, particularly Ukrainian refugees and war veterans whose stories inspired many of the songs. This dual focus on intimate reflection and broader cultural storytelling gives the album its cinematic, larger-than-life quality.
The audio production by Stephen Helvig (Helvig Productions, Minneapolis, MN) masterfully amplifies the emotional impact of Yev’s songwriting, incorporating cinematic strings, driving bass, bluesy guitar riffs, moody organs, and soaring vocal harmonies. These arrangements balance raw energy with moments of quiet introspection, inviting listeners into both the intimate and the epic. The visual half of this collaboration includes a world-class creative team, including legendary photographer, Greg Gorman (Los Angeles, CA) who photographed the album art, and the accompanying music videos produced by VJUS (Norway’s premiere video production company, Oslo, Norway).
In the tracks “Tempest Lullaby”, “Refugee,” and “Beze Mene”, Yev channels the quiet strength of those enduring unimaginable hardships. Songs like “Kozak’s Lament”, “Witness” and “Hunger” draw from both history and modern conflicts, embodying themes of sacrifice and perseverance. “Last Prayer” is a uniquely hopeful tune that envisions a more unified future, and “Oi Chi To Kin” and “Motherless Child” bridge cultural and historical divides, reimagining public domain classics in a way that feels both timeless and contemporary.
YEV’s debut album is a statement— an emotional convergence of storytelling and cultural heritage. Yev sets the stage for a career that promises to bridge divides, inspire connection, and stir the soul.
FFO: Roy Orbison, Chris Isaak, Jeff Buckley, Hozier, Lana Del Rey, Stephen Sanchez
Credits
YEV: Music performed by Yev Rosso, contributing lead vocals, harmonies, and guitars.
Arrangements and Production: Stephen Helvig
Recorded, Mixed & Mastered: Helvig Productions - Stephen Helvig & Max Greene
Cover Art Photo: Greg Gorman
Graphic Design: Rick Allen
Songwriting: All songs by Yev Rosso (ASCAP Eugine Rosso), except:
“Motherless Child” and “Oi Chi To Kin” - public domain
Publicist: Krista Vilinskis | Elephants & Flowers Media
Key Tracks
“Refugee” explores the weight of displacement and the search for belonging, blending soulful vocals and gritty instrumentation to tell a human story of survival and identity amidst the chaos of a war-torn land.
“Witness” is a high-energy rock anthem that honors sacrifice and celebrates resilience, blending powerful vocals and dynamic instrumentation into a cathartic call for unity and strength.
“Motherless Child” is YEV’s cinematic take of a classic spiritual that channels raw emotion and primal energy, blending blues, gospel, and folk to evoke the timeless ache of separation and longing.
PHOTOS
VIDEO
“Motherless Child” Music Video
YEV’s evocative rendition of the timeless spiritual “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” transforms the classic into a soul-stirring, cinematic experience. Filmed in collaboration with Norway’s acclaimed VJUS studio, the video combines haunting visuals and evocative storytelling to complement the raw emotion and primal energy of YEV’s performance.
The narrative delves into themes of separation, longing, and resilience, offering a powerful tribute to children orphaned and displaced by conflict and to anyone who has ever felt unmoored. With a dedicated and talented cast and crew, the project is a testament to the unyielding human spirit and the enduring search for connection and belonging.
“Witness” Music Video
A soaring, high-energy rock anthem that honors the fallen and calls on the living to remember. Set in a world of fire and shadows, YEV stands at the center, his voice raw and resolute as flames crackle and sparks rise into the night. A reckoning with loss, a demand for remembrance, and a testament to unbreakable spirit.
MUSIC
© 2026 All Rights Reserved YEV, LLC
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"Refugee" captures the weight of displacement and the search for home amidst chaos. With soulful vocals, world rhythms, and gritty instrumentation, the song tells a deeply human story of wandering through the ashes of a war-torn land while carrying the echoes of what was lost. It balances heartbreak with determination, offering listeners a powerful reflection on survival, identity, and the restless pursuit of belonging.
Step by step I wander
Out of the grave
Still wearing just the clothes they
Buried me in
And the scars upon my memory
Will never fade
Will never rest
I cry to the sky for rain to fall
To show me the way
how long will I be
A refugee?
The whispers in the night
Of those left behind
Followed by their shadows
heavy weight on my back
And the road that leads me forward
Will never end
I’ll never rest
I howl to the moon to shine on meTo show me the way
how long will I be…
How long is this road? How long is this road?
How long? How long must I be a refugee?
Refugee
Refugee
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A soaring, high-energy rock anthem, "Witness" is a call to honor those who have fallen and to celebrate the unshakable strength of the human spirit. Driven by powerful vocals, dynamic instrumentation, and an undeniable sense of urgency, the song builds like a storm—moving between moments of reflection and explosive catharsis. "Witness" resonates as both a tribute and a rallying cry, inviting listeners to bear witness to sacrifice, resilience, and the collective power of standing together in the face of adversity.
Witness through the veil of our despair
Witness our voices arise
Witness, witness our song
In the ruin’s dark embraceOur hearts, they bear the scar forged in fire
Witnessed through the smoky haze
Every single drop of blood
Unyielding and defiant we bear
Witness the raw power of our souls
Witness our tale in shattered stone
Witness, witness our strength
Hope can blossom from the mud
Sunflowers mark the graves
And the wheat grows higher
Echoed through the hills and fields
Can you hear the church bells ring?
Witness as we bear
Witness as we dance around the flames
Witness our will stay alive
Witness, witness, witness
The dead speak through our lips as we sing out
Forever haunting harmony of cries
Witness. Witness. Witness. Witness. Witness. Witness.
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YEV’s evocative rendition of the timeless spiritual “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” transforms the classic into a soul-stirring, cinematic experience. With primal energy and raw emotion, the song captures the profound ache of separation and longing. YEV’s haunting vocal delivery and the atmospheric arrangement evoke a deep sense of distance—both physical and emotional—resonating universally with anyone who has ever felt unmoored. Rooted in a rich blend of blues, gospel, and folk traditions, “Motherless Child” offers a modern interpretation that feels both reverent and deeply personal, bridging the timeless legacy of the original with YEV’s own narrative voice.
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
Sometimes I feel
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
A long ways from home
A long ways from home
Sometimes I feel like I’m almost goneYeah, sometimes I feel I’m almost gone
I feel I’m almost gone
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
Long ways from home
Long ways from home all alone
I’m a long ways from home
Long ways from home
Long…long…long… long ways from homeI’m a long ways from home
Long ways from home
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
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“Hunger” mourns the devastating Holodomor genocide of 1932–1933, which claimed millions of Ukrainian lives, while drawing poignant parallels to the atrocities faced by Ukraine today. Through haunting imagery and evocative lyrics, the song captures the brutal toll of inhumanity, serving as both a solemn tribute to the lost and a reminder of the enduring strength that persists in their memory.
Hunger, hunger
Eating the flesh… seeping into the soil
Hunger
Watered with blood - this harvest of souls
Lying on the streetsBodies skin and bone
Hungry mouths, hungry eyes, hungry souls…
Hunger.Sunken eyes and ribs exposed to the brutal cold.
Hunger
Sowing the seeds of sorrow
Lying on the streetsBodies skin and bone
Hungry mouths, hungry eyes, hungry souls…
Hungry mouths, hungry eyes…Hungry souls
Hunger…
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"Last Prayer" is a powerful call for unity and healing, reflecting on humanity's enduring cycles of destruction and the urgent need to break free from them. The song envisions a world where the scars of war fade, and the path forward is illuminated by collective hope and shared purpose. With poetic lyrics and anthemic melodies, Last Prayer captures the solemn yet uplifting moment of a universal realization: the only way to truly move forward is through togetherness. Evoking both reflection and resolve, this track is a spiritual reckoning and a hymn for a brighter, united future.
When there’s no more drones to send
Smoke clears blue skies
When craters are overgrown with trees
And nature shares fruit with us again
We will gather and prayFor the living and dead
On the morn’ that it is doneCan we start anew with pieces lost?
United by sacred hymns of hope
The last human prayer
We will gather and pray for the living and the deadwash the sorrow away for our children
Lifting our Last prayer
Last prayer
After all that we have facedThere’s only one path left ahead
To shed our scarred skin
and pray
We will gather and pray for the living, the livingwash the sorrow away for our children
Lifting our Last prayer
Last prayer. Last prayer
Last prayer. Last prayer
Last prayer. Last prayer
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An otherworldly reinterpretation of a classic Ukrainian folk song, "Oi Chi To Kin" merges tradition with modern soundscapes to create something entirely new. Anchored by a moody organ and layered with ethereal cinematics, YEV breathes fresh life into this timeless melody while honoring its roots. The track carries a sense of longing and spirituality, drawing listeners into a dreamlike atmosphere that feels both ancient and immediate. It’s a bridge between past and present, where echoes of heritage meet the pulse of contemporary artistry.
Oi chi to kin stoit. Sho siva hrivonka
Spodobolac meni, spodobolac
Taia devchinonka
Ne tak ta divchyna. Yak bile lichenkoPodai zhe divchino, podai zhe harnaia
Na konia rychenky
Divchino pidishla. Rychenky podalaBodai zhe ya byla, bodai zhe ya byla
Kohania ne znala
Bodai zhe ya byla
Kohania ne znala
Kohania, kohania. Zvechora do raniaYak sonechko zide, yak sonechko zide
Kohania videide
Yak sonechko zide, yak sonechko zide
Kohania videide
Oi chi to kin stoit. Sho siva hrivonkaSpodobolac meni, spodobolac
Taia devchinonka. Taia devchinonka. Taia devchinonka
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"Tempest Lullaby" is a haunting and tender ode to finding comfort in the face of unimaginable fear and loss. Inspired by the true story of a Ukrainian refugee whose children struggled to find sleep after experiencing the horrors of war, the song captures the quiet strength of mothers soothing their children during a violent storm—both literal and emotional. As the lullaby unfolds, it transcends the boundaries of the living, echoing as a whispered comfort from those who have passed on, offering solace to their loved ones left behind. With its raw, soulful delivery and evocative imagery, "Tempest Lullaby" transforms personal tragedy into a universal prayer, reminding us that love and hope can carry us through even the darkest of nights.
In my arms sleep my precious child
With my hands covering your eyes
All through the night
I will hold you tight
Sleep my darling sleepSleep my darling sleep
Fear not the storm as it rattles our bonesFear not the bright lights that whistle above
I’ll shield you from all harm
Darling, feel for my heartbeat that’s steady and true
Feel my embrace and my love for you
Sleep my darling sleepSleep my darling sleep
By your side with this melodyI’ll be whispering to you tenderly
Feel all of the love surrounding you
Rest now my darling. Rest now my little oneHush now…
Sleep my darling sleepSleep my darling sleep
Ooooh… ooooh
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“Kozak’s Lament” draws parallels to the historic Ukrainian Kozaks, embodying the resilient warrior spirit of those who fight to protect their homeland. Inspired by the story of a Ukrainian war veteran who survived a landmine explosion, the song captures a poignant conversation with the divine through its prayer-like refrain, “Lord don’t take me with you.” This intimate plea reflects a soldier’s yearning to give more to the world before being taken from it. With classic instrumentation and heartfelt delivery, Kozak’s Lament serves as a powerful meditation and acknowledgment of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.
In a field soaked with his blood
A Kozak lays to rest
Pressing down on his open wound
Gazing up above
He’d always known his day would come
But it’s come way too soon
Lord don’t take me just yetI’ve so much left to give
My brothers need me with them
My courage and my sword
Sky grows dark and stars appearFor the Kozak bleeding out
Echoes of friends who have crossed on
Call to him to join them
As every breath gets harder
He sees visions of home
All Kozaks know this day can come
But it’s always too soon
Oh Lord don’t take me with youI’ve so much left to give
My motherland still needs me
Let me take one last stand
A gentle wind blows and his eyes begin to closeAnd he dreams. Of how he rode through open plains
An old spirit roaming free
Oh Lord don’t take me with youI’ve so much left to give
One more sunrise and sunset
Is all I’m asking for
Lord don’t take me with youLord don’t take me with you
Lord don’t take me with you
I’ve so much left to give
So much left to give
So much left to give
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“Bez Mene” (translated as "Without Me") is sung from the perspective of someone who has passed on, offering a heartfelt message of comfort and strength to those left behind. With its poignant lyrics and ethereal tones, the song is both a farewell and a rallying cry, encouraging the living to carry on, find love, and embrace life in their absence. This deeply emotional track weaves poignant melodies with an uplifting resolve, serving as a spiritual reminder of the enduring connection between those who have gone and those who remain. It is a tender prayer for healing, resilience, and rediscovered joy.
Without me
I wish you safety and happiness
Without me, may the sun rise again
Bez Mene, oooh
Stay strong, raise your head up highFind the strength to fight and carry on
Stay strong for me, Stay strong
Learn to live in love
Bez MeneBez Mene
Without meMay you be sheltered in windy storms
Without me
May your spirit transcend
Bez mene find joy and smile again
Stay strong, raise your head up highFind the strength to fight and carry on
Stay strong my love, hold on to these tears
Stay strong for me, raise your head up high
Bez meneBez mene
Learn to live in love
Bez mene
Song Descriptions & Lyrics
PRESS
“Equal parts ethereal and epic, every track on “YEV” — including “Hunger,” “Oi Ci To Kin,” “Kozak’s Lament,” and “Last Prayer” — is lyrically infused with the singer’s dual identities as American and Ukrainian citizen.”
“My role became translation, not escape: carrying grief, resilience, and memory into songs people can hold…”
Yev’s songs generally adopt earnest and often tragic themes, many inspired by the resilience of modern Ukrainian refugees, something close to his own cultural heart, stories of the displaced, the dispossessed, and the disenfranchised; they are heartfelt, thought-provoking, and tell timely and timeless tales.
Yev Rosso, aka YEV, is a Ukrainian-American artist who now lives in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. His debut album pays homage to the resilience of Ukrainian refugees and war veterans. YEV’s voice (reminiscent of Roy Orbison and Jeff Buckley) is the focal point of the powerful song “Witness”.
“Your debut album, YEV, is a powerful depiction of life as an immigrant and refugee resilience. The music is polished like a Broadway musical, which I think makes it easier for an audience that may not have the same lived experience to process the stories…”
And so it is with “Hunger,” a song whose keening vocals and drifting sonics are filled with the melancholy of those who have been displaced and forgotten, targetted and tormented, those whose hunger is not just physical, but a hunger for peace and safety, tolerance and empathy, love, and humanity! “Hunger” is more than just a song; it is a plea and prayer for peace!
Music doesn’t always exist to lift our spirits; sometimes its purpose is to walk us straight into the fog, hand in hand with the ghosts that still shape us. This album does exactly that. It asks us to sit with sorrow, to acknowledge histories we’d rather avert our eyes from, and to feel the ache of voices that refuse to be forgotten. Yet in that immersion there’s a quiet, redemptive power: by allowing the past to sing through these songs, we’re reminded of our own resilience and of the fragile but enduring thread that binds grief to hope.
“A strong debut album… haunting moments, sublime balladry, and busier bouts of folk-rock that touch on the human experience.”
“YEV’s debut album is a statement—an emotional convergence of storytelling and cultural heritage. Yev sets the stage for a career that promises to bridge divides, inspire connection, and stir the soul…”
“With “Refugee,” YEV cuts to the chase, ignores the political minefield and social posturing, and puts himself in the shoes of the refugee fleeing a war; it could be a Ukrainian mother, A Syrian child, a family from Myanmar or people from a hundred other locations fleeing war or disaster or the effects of climate change or political oppression…”
WFNU Frogtown Radio - 9:45 Show Interview (Spotify Podcast link)
TESTIMONIALS
Greg Gorman | Gorman Photography, Los Angeles, CA
“True and on point, Yev delivers his message with the same stunning vocals and lyrics reminiscent of Chris Isaak.”
Anders Overgaard | VJUS AS, Oslo, Norway
“Your music is so powerful. When combined with video, I think we created some really awesome results.”
Stephen Helvig | Helvig Productions, Minneapolis, MN
“Yev’s music is a reflection of his heart and heritage, woven together with an honesty that invites listeners into his world. Every song on this album feels intentional, carrying a depth of meaning that’s both deeply personal and universally relatable. It’s been a privilege to help bring such an authentic and powerful vision to life”
Awards & Recognitions
CEDAR COMMISSIONS AWARD
A 2023 - 2024 Cedar Commissions award recipient, YEV’s project reflected on Ukraine's current events, history, and resilient culture. YEV's voice and songs authentically echo raw emotions, transforming pain into hope.