Jazz-Pop Collective (2017-present)

SOYUZ (СОЮЗ) is a creative collective from Minsk, Belarus, founded in 2017 by multi-instrumentalists Alex Chumak and Mikita Arlou. Their debut Это всё совсем не то was released in 2018. II was recorded in 2019 at Studio 42, Minsk, with drummer Stanislav Murashko, remastered and released by Mr Bongo in 2024. The album drew from MPB, Ethiopian jazz, and Italian library soundtracks, featuring tributes to Arthur Verocai. In early 2022, Chumak, Arlou, and drummer Anton Nemahai relocated to Warsaw due to political unrest in Belarus. Force of the Wind (Сила ветра) was released in October 2022 via Mr Bongo.

Polish musicians Albert Karch on drums and Igor Wiśniewski on guitar joined the band following Force of the Wind's success. In late 2024, Chumak and Karch travelled to São Paulo to record KROK at Sessa's studio. Sessions featured Brazilian musicians and guest vocals by Tim Bernardes. KROK was released on 24 October 2025 via Mr Bongo, the first SOYUZ album written primarily in Belarusian rather than Russian, blending Eastern European roots with jazz, folk, and global influences.