RUNSTAR’s “T.K.O”: A Confident Return to Roots from Kyiv-Transplant Sonic Artist

With “T.K.O”, Kyiv-based producer RUNSTAR (Serhii Yermolaiev) heralds his return to partying, reclaiming some of his roots in a confident, solo electronic music release. An established artist known throughout Eastern Europe for creating hits from behind the scenes, T.K.O. is RUNSTAR’s first release in his own right in 15 years, and with the depth of experience, passion, and intention, anyone who can hear this release is in for a treat. 

As with the best of dance and deep house, and techno, "T.K.O" is both hypnotic and highly energetic. It pairs textured synth voices with a hard-edged pulsing groove, but what sets "T.K.O" apart is the rhythmic, African-inspired vocals that pulse with the future of sound under the surface, with interesting subtlety and soul that complements the sleek, electronic textures of the song. The way the structure evolves, the address by the vocal, imaginative build-ups, and unexpected twist endings all provide evidence of RUNSTAR's storytelling instincts, honed over ten years of creativity within the pop industry.

T.K.O. was recorded from his own Kyiv studio, a creative space for many of Ukraine’s biggest artists, and carries a lot of emotional weight. This song is not just a dancefloor-ready anthem; it is a declaration of identity and resilience written in the face of war as an act of preservation of culture and self.