Oleksandr Yurchenko (Ukrainian: Олександр Юрченко; May 27, 1966 – April 27, 2020)[1] was a Ukrainian avant-garde musician, illustrator and instrument creator.
Yurchenko was closely tied to the 1990s Ukrainian underground called "Novaya Scena."[2] He played in several groups, including Yarn (where Serhiy Fomenko of Mandry sung for a time), Merta Zara, Elektryky, Kvitchala v Serpni, Radiodello, Suphina Dentata, Suphina's Little Beasts and Blemish. He was known for using instruments of his own invention; some of these instruments appear on his collaborations with Svitlana Nianio like Znayesh yak? Rozkazhy.[3] [4]
Yurchenko became ill after a stroke. His health continued to decline afterwards, causing him to give up music in favor of illustrating. In early 2020, the Ukrainian label Delta Shock released a previously unreleased composition of Yurchenko's from 1994 called Lichy do sta: Symphony №1 to help fund his treatments near the end of his life.[5] [6] He died on April 27 of that year; further proceeds from Lichy do sta went to his widow.