Eugene Hütz (of Gogol Bordello) on championing Ukraine and immigrant punk

The New Exchange with Ken Grand-Pierre

One of the most perplexing things on earth is how immigrants perpetually deal with unfair treatment throughout many corners of the world. The hard work, expressions of passion, and technicolor of culture are often ignored for fear-drenched sensationalism in the news. It’s in understanding that, where the vitality of a band like Gogol Bordello continues to be evident. Primarily based in New York City, Gogol Bordello is a motley crew of immigrants who perform ‘gypsy punk’ music. Their leader, Eugene Hütz, is famous for wearing the band's ethos of unity, diversity, and inclusion like a badge of honor. When Eugene sings, hell, when he speaks, and when he partakes in activism; those words of unity, diversity, and inclusion begin to feel tangible. The way Gogol Bordello has toured the world has only solidified those principles and seemingly there’s no end in sight for them. I recently caught up with Eugene to explore the importance of those principles and the outbreak of war in his home country of Ukraine. We also talk in-depth about the documentary made about the band, Scream of My Blood: A Gogol Bordello Story.

After hearing the episode, be sure to visit recoveryua.org, a non-profit that’s doing incredible work in helping wounded Ukrainian soldiers.