- Real name – Oleg Romanovich Shumei
- Date of birth – February 9, 2002
- City – Dolyna (Ukraine)
- Language – Ukrainian
- Activity – singer, musician
- Genre – pop music
History of the artist's development
SHUMEI (real name – Oleg Shumei) is a Ukrainian singer and musician from Dolyna, Ivano-Frankivsk region. The boy was surrounded by creativity from childhood. Oleg was born in a family where his father and grandfather were musicians. His father – the first mentor of the future artist – showed him how to hold the flute, how to produce melodies and taught him to put his soul into every sound of music. That is why the boy almost never had a question about choosing a profession. Oleg simply knew that he would be a musician.
From an early age, Shumei performed on stage. His talent, charisma, and ability to confidently hold himself in front of an audience repeatedly brought him victories at international competitions. But, in addition to performing, the young man was attracted to creating music. Oleg began writing his own songs early, confidently following a creative path.
After completing the 7th grade at school in his hometown, the young performer went to Lviv to study at the Solomiya Krushelnytska Specialized Music Boarding School. Here he perfectly mastered the transverse flute and pan flute - instruments that would later become the hallmark of SHUMEI's work. The next stage of professional development was studying at the Mykola Lysenko Lviv National Academy of Music. Oleg continued to improve his flutist skills.
Today, the artist's repertoire is not limited to vocals or flute. Oleg feels at ease at the piano, confidently plays the guitar. Thus, he harmoniously and quickly merges into the musical life of the country. And the artist's work becomes part of the national culture.
Creative path
Real popularity and recognition in the creative industry came to SHUMEI with the release of the author's track "Alarm" and the video clip for the song. The singer's bright debut took place at the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. The producer of the release was Ukrainian actor, director and screenwriter Gerald Estrada.
The artist won the hearts of new fans with the release of a cover of the song "By the Poplar" by the Enej group. The song not only entered the top 100 of Apple Music Ukraine, but also rapidly rose in YouTube trends. In three years, the hit has gained over 28 million views. For this work, the artist was awarded the YUNA award. The cover was included in the list of the five strongest songs about the war with Russia, which, according to UNIAN, every Ukrainian should hear. The video clip gained the status of one of the 200 most popular Ukrainian-language clips in history.
Another resonant work by SHUMEI, which has conquered millions of fans, is the video clip for the song "Forgive". The track also collected millions of views and occupied high places in the music charts.
Style and creative development of the performer
SHUMEI stands out among modern Ukrainian performers with his recognizable musical style. The artist skillfully combines the soft sound of pop music with deep lyricism. His penetrating and surprisingly sincere voice immediately captivates the listener. In his songs, the artist touches on personal themes: love, family ties, spiritual experiences and the search for himself.
SHUMEI's special talent is in the ability to convey real emotions without hiding behind masks or loud effects. He creates music that resonates with the views of different generations, while remaining modern and profound at the same time. The artist is not afraid to experiment. And it is this frank creative freedom that allows his compositions to sound organically both on large concert venues and in personal playlists.
SHUMEI actively gives concerts as part of his tours of Ukraine, gathering full halls in cities such as Ternopil, Lviv, Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi, Rivne and many others. The artist's live performances are accompanied by a group of professional musicians. Therefore, the singer's performances are always a penetrating sound and a real emotional journey, where each listener finds something of their own.
Collaboration with other stars of the scene
On October 21, 2022, a collaboration between Artem Pyvovarov and SHUMEI - the song "Oh on the Mountain" - was released on YouTube. In the first 24 hours, the clip collected over a million views, and in less than six months, the figure exceeded 8 million. The composition quickly won the audience's favor and became a vivid example of a modern rethinking of Ukrainian folklore.
SHUMEI has developed a special creative relationship with Tina Karol. The artists have repeatedly performed together, presented the joint track "Sterva" and shot a video clip for it. In addition, the Ukrainian pop star transferred to Shumei the rights to perform the Ukrainian-language version of her song "Vyshche hram".
Among other high-profile collaborations is a duet with Zlata Ognevich in the song "Bureviyami". The hit has gained over 20 million views in just six months. The singer also participated in the performance of the song "That Day" by the Okean Elzy band together with the band's leader Svyatoslav Vakarchuk and such popular young performers as KOLA, YAKTAK, and Jerry Heil. Successful joint projectsand not only emphasize the high level of vocal skills of SHUMEI, but also strengthen his position in the Ukrainian music industry.
Social activity
SHUMEI is actively involved in charitable initiatives. Especially those aimed at supporting Ukrainian defenders. Through his music and performances, the artist has repeatedly expressed his civic position and proved that creativity can be a powerful form of support. Oleg Shumey has already taken part in numerous charity concerts and events throughout the country. And the singer's emotional performances inspired listeners to join the fundraising. Thanks to this, it was possible to raise considerable sums for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Artist's discography
In 2023, SHUMEI released his first studio album "Comet" with 9 tracks. The release was also released in vinyl format.
Singles of the singer:
- “She was like this”;
- “Alarm”;
- “By the Poplar” (cover of a song by the Enej band);
- “Forgive”;
- “Storms” (with Zlata Ognevich);
- “Bells” (with Tina Karol) and others.
Awards and distinctions:
- Grand Prix of the VIII International Festival of Ukrainian Pop Art “West – XXI Century” (2008);
- Distinction of the All-Ukrainian Competition “New Names of Ukraine” (2011);
- First Prize of the I All-Ukrainian (IX Regional) Competition of Performers on Wind and Percussion Instruments "Concertino-2015";
- Grand Prix in the regional competition "Singing Family" (2015);
- YUNA award in the nomination "Song of Unbreakable Ukraine" (for a cover of the song "By the Poplar").
Interesting facts about the performer:
- In the fall of 2022, the "TET" TV channel released an episode of the "ZhVL" program ("Life of Famous People", dedicated to Oleg Shumei;
- Popular blogger Sasha Bo starred in two video clips for the performer's songs;
- In 2022, Oleg Shumei appeared on the stage of the "Voice of the Country" show. However, not as a participant, but as an honored guest of the superfinal.
