St John’s, NL. – When a nation is under attack, one might think that the only way to fight back is to fight tanks with tanks. For Brian Cherwick, leader and founder of the Kubasonics, a Ukrainian band based in St. John’s, his way of fighting the war is through creating lively, upbeat and fun music.
Brian and the Kubasonics’ lively Ukrainian music is their way to counter one of Russia’s excuses for starting the war – that Ukraine is not a real country and that its culture doesn’t exist. “I’m living proof that it exists,” said Cherwick. “By us continuing to play the music that we play, it shows that that (Russia’s excuse) is categorically false.”
Brian talked about how people get confused whenever they see news about Ukraine and along with tragedy, they see people enjoying coffee or just walking about. To people outside of the picture, it doesn’t look like the country is in a war. “The idea is If everybody hides in a hole then the aggressor wins,” says Cherwick.
Aside from fighting with guns on the front lines, Ukrainians also fight back by continuing their regular daily lives. Most importantly, continuing to make art. “Art isn’t just for entertainment, it’s a way for people to comment on what’s going on in their country,” said Cherwick. “Making sure that life doesn’t stop because of war is an important thing.”
After 2022, the war in Ukraine got buried by the news cycle. It’s become old news to people unaffected by the issue. The declining coverage of Russia’s cruelty to Ukrainians gave US politicians an excuse to turn their backs on the issue and stop sending aid.
Brian adds that these politicians think, “people are tired of helping Ukraine and that they don’t want to hear about it anymore.”
“Each time we perform, it gives me the chance to remind people of what’s still happening,”
The Kubasonics are typically invited to events to play songs that people can dance to; however, Brian still takes the chance to drop a reminder. He plays a song that is hundreds of years old about truth and falsehood.
“There are many other songs that talk about past battles, but this song has a universal message,” said Cherwick. In the song is a message that says, truth no longer exists because lies are now called the truth.
Brian relates this to how both Putin and Trump lie to the world about Ukraine not being a real country or how Ukraine started the war and doesn’t want it to end.
It’s a moving song that opens people’s eyes to the reality that people who are voted in power twist the truth in the faces of those who suffer from their lies.
The effects of the war
In the spring of 2022, the Kubasonics were set to release a new album. Months before the set date, the war broke out. It made it difficult for the band to decide whether they should release their hard-work or not.
After a lot of deliberation and asking around from friends and family in Canada and Ukraine, the band decided it wasn’t necessarily inappropriate to release a new record. A new record with the usual upbeat and lively Kubasonics sound.
Instead, it was going to prove that Ukrainians are strong, and their culture is a vibrant palette of sunshine and happiness. Their culture exists in the intricate weaves of sunset-coloured threads, and it exists in their music.
“Music is an important thing in Ukrainian culture,” said Cherwick. This drove Brian and the Kubasonics’ motivation even higher.
A Foundation
A foundation called Aid For Artists was formed to support artists in Ukraine. It was Developed from the drive to prove the existence of their culture, as now may be the most crucial time to take extra measures to preserve, protect and let it flourish Cherwick believes.
The Kubasonics show their support by funding this program through shows and tours.
The first show the band did after the war broke out was a hit. A sold-out show at the Arts and Culture Centre in St John’s raised $30,000.
They continue to fund and support the program together with other artists in Canada.
The Kubasonics
The band is known and loved for their lively fusion of Ukrainian folk music and different genres, creating a sound that is uniquely theirs.
The genius behind this idea is Brian himself. He makes music that everyone can enjoy but still be able to show his Ukrainian roots.
He’s an eccentric man. He makes sure that he shows that in every show he does and every song he writes.
“He’s one of the most versatile people I know,” said Maria Cherwick, Brian’s daughter who is also a member of the Kubasonics. He plays all sorts of instruments from a unique Ukrainian version of Hammer Dulcimer called Tsymbaly, to spatula shaped flutes.
“He’s so well known for all the obscure instruments that he plays,” said Jacob Cherwick, Brian’s son, also a member of the band. “A lot of people don’t realize that he also is a very skilled and classically trained musician in the traditional sense as well,” Jacob added.
His songs are fast-paced and fun – perfect for festivals. The nature of his music reflects Brian’s personality. It’s not just his music that’s fast paced and exciting. “I often find him hard to keep up with,” Maria laughed. She says her father’s waves of ideas keeps her on her toes.
The beginning of it all
Brian came from a family of musicians. His great grandfather, his grandfather and his father played in a band, and he grew up listening to them.
Eventually, he picked up an instrument himself. He just so happened to develop an interest in the Tsymbaly when he was a young boy, a traditional instrument that not everyone – especially little boys like Brian was at that time – can or would play.
Everyone wanted to hear more of the Cherwicks’ family band. Everyone wanted to see little Brian play such a unique instrument. And Brian’s music career grew from there.
It’s may have been difficult for a young boy who just picked up the sticks of his very first Tsymbaly to imagine that he’d be playing in sold-out shows and getting invites to play on various stages. But what may have been even harder for a young Brian Cherwick to imagine is that his music would go face to face with tanks to save his culture and his people in the years to come.
…enjoy this Kubasonics classic.
Originally published in Arts Newfoundland © 2025 Max Baco
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