Machukha (Ukrainian: “step-mother”) gained notable attention in the short time that they have been performing live for their visceral approach to music. The intention of their music is to guide the listener through an continuously unfolding process of very specific emotions, which is starting from the very first note. During the songwriting process and when performing on stage, Machukha is pushing the range of expression, which results in the band weaving elements of various genres into the musical arc. Natalya (vocalist) sings exclusively in her native Ukrainian language, and uses her voice as an outlet for genuine anguish. Machukha started performing live in late 2023. Since then, they have performed at Roadburn Festival (NL), Core The Festival in Scotland, Culthe Fest (DE), A Colossal Weekend (DK) and opened up the main stage at Complexity Fest (NL). Further festival bookings for 2026 include: Fekete Zaj (HU), Rockstadt Extreme Fest (RO) and Damnation Festival (UK). In 2025, Machukha was booked as the support act for Agriculture‘s three week UK and EU tour, for which they received a stipend from Musicboard. Since then, they have joined the roster of Atonal Music Agency (UK). For their debut album Mochari, Machukha worked with Jan Oberg from Hidden Planet Studio and Jack Shirley from The Atomic Garden Studios, which was released via Consouling Sounds on 7th June 2024. Cvlt Nation listed Mochari on rank five of the top black metal releases of that year. Following the success of this album, they have received a grant by Initiative Music for the production and marketing of their second album, for which they have worked with Boris Wilsdorf from Andere Baustellen Tonstudio and drummer Pierre-Hugues Hadacek. The new album is scheduled for release early 2027. Aside from their band roles, the members are working in several other projects connected to music and performing arts. Natalya organizes DIY underground music festival in Ukraine BACK TO YOUTH which is now suspended due to russian full-scale invasion. Bláthin (guitar) worked for LGBTQ+ icon Peaches during her 20th-anniversary tour of “The Teaches of Peaches” and recorded guitar on her newest album No Lube So Rude. Currently, Bláthin works as a performer and musician for award-winning choreographer Florentina Holzinger, who is representing Austria at the Venice Biennale 2026. Mykola Lebed (bass, saxophone) is an artist from Ukraine, working with music and sound art and is currently composing music for theatre productions and joined the group in late 2024. Leviana “Leva” Klette is a queer icon in the Berlin scene and has been drumming in many projects spanning various genres. She works as a session musician and is a fixed member of the group since 2026. Machukha has self-produced a total of six music videos, three for their debut Mochari and three for their sophomore album. Natalya designed and handmade costumes and props for each video, and Bláthin developed the script and directed, using her background knowledge of theatre and contemporary dance. The visual narrative of these music videos stands out for its complex, folklore-inspired language, weaving themes of resilience and existentialism into an intense visual work. They collaborated with The Ljilja and other performance artists, and the directors of photography Chase Morhardt, Zoe Bassi, Talin Seigmann and Gil Cojujeira. While Mochari is about processing pain by finally allowing yourself to feel the whole weight of it, with the second album, the question is no longer just what is felt in the body, but what must be done with it; cut out, reflected until it breaks, or carried until it burns. It tells the story of how an outer force that begins as external imposition becomes internalized action. The violence softens into inevitability. Machukha are:
Natalya: vocals
Bláthin: guitar
Leva: drums
Mykola: bass/saxophone Machukha online:
https://www.machukha.com
https://www.instagram.com/machukha.stepmother
https://machukha.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.youtube.com/@MACHUKHASTEPMOTHER
https://www.facebook.com/machukha.stepmother | 
