Korolova is a Ukrainian talent who has exploded onto the melodic house and techno scene at impressive speed. In just one year, she played 60 shows in 20 countries, picked up 4.6 million Spotify streams, 30 million views on YouTube, and released tracks on influential labels such as AFTR:HRS, Get Physical Music, and Armada. Her slick and stylish productions – whether solo or with the likes of Jan Blomqvist, Spada or Tube & Berger – combine rolling drums with delicate keys, evocative vocals, and spine-tingling chord progressions.
Now, Korolova is behind Zatar Music’s first release ever as she takes on Phonique’s ‘Feel What You Want’, building on the progressive elements inherent in the original, combining billowing pads and sidewinding synth lines alongside an epic break: a true masterclass in building both tension and atmosphere.
EG caught up with Korolova to learn more about her remix for Phonique’s ‘Feel What You Want’, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, her plans for the future, and more.
EG: Hello Olga! Welcome to EG. It’s an absolute pleasure to have you here with us today. Where are you based right now? How have you been?
Korolova: Hello! Thank you so much for your invitation guys, it’s a huge pleasure. I am currently living in Lisbon, Portugal. It is an amazing city and country, but I do miss my Ukraine and can’t wait to be back.
EG: First of all, we want to extend our condolences and support to your country and its people. We’d also like to salute you for your continued efforts to help those in aid. Could you shed some light on what the situation looks like at the moment? What are the best ways to help out?
Korolova: I want to say a big thank you to everyone around the world who has supported our country and helped our people. For now, the situation is still very hard in our country as the war has not ended yet. A lot of people have lost their homes and jobs and some do not even have money for food but everyone continues fighting for our freedom. The army is on the battlefield and volunteers are helping people in every city.
Thank God I can continue working and I can send the biggest part of my fee to helping people and animals in Ukraine. The best way to help is to continue donating to the organizations that are helping the people of Ukraine, but I will also be very thankful if people can support the organizations who help animals in Ukraine, as they really need your help too. For example, you can find Tvaryny Viyny on Instagram. Thank you, one more time.
EG: You’ve even gone as far as reporting daily on the invasion, turning your Instagram page into a news update. How hard is it to have to report on something that is tearing your homeland apart on a daily basis? Where do you find the strength to keep informing?
Korolova: It is very hard. In the beginning, Instagram was blocking my posts, so I stopped posting as I did not want to lose my page, but I continued to post stories about the situation in my country as the war has not yet ended, and I wanted people to know that Russia is still in our country and they continue to kill civilians.
EG: What has music done for you? We know some of the first shows since the breakout of the invasion have been hard. Has your relationship with music changed or evolved in any way?
Korolova: Music helps me a lot in the daily stress of it all. During my gig, on the second day of the war, I couldn’t play properly. I was crying and said to my manager and husband Andrii that we needed to cancel, but they said “you must be strong and do the best that you can do in this situation, which was to continue working and help our country”. I played the gig, and it was one of the hardest sets of my life. I played music only from Ukrainian producers, and after every track I cried, but the crowd at the show in Warsaw, Poland was fantastic support. It was a very emotional performance. I now play every gig around the world with our Ukrainian flag, so part of my country is always with me.
“I am a big fan of the original track and I am friends with Michael (Phonique). I asked him for the remix and he sent me the stems. I was super happy to make a new version”
EG: Speaking about music, congratulations on your brand new remix of Phonique’s breakout hit ‘Feel What You Want’! What has the initial reception been like?
Korolova: The original track from Phonique is one of my favorite tracks. We had a release together on a compilation from Bar25. I texted Michael (Phonique) just to congratulate him on the awesome release and we became friends. I asked him for a chance to remix this track and he sent me the track for the remix, I was so happy. I went directly to the studio and started to create my remix. After 2 days, I sent the remix and he loved it , so I was in seventh heaven.
EG: Not only that, but this also signals the first-ever for Phonique’s new Zatar imprint. How did this opportunity come about?
Korolova: I am a big fan of the original track and I am friends with Phonique. I asked him for the remix and he sent me the stems. I was super happy to make a new version.
EG: Due to it being such a well-known classic, did you know what you wanted to do before receiving the stems? What’s the concept behind this take?
Korolova: I had an idea in my mind to make a fresh new sound with it. I am so happy that Phonique liked it! It’s out now!
EG: These past few years gave us all a chance to slow down and reassess. What would you like to see more and less of in our scene?
Korolova: It was particularly hard for our industry during the pandemic. I think the parties are now crazier than ever because people missed them so much. I love that a lot of new DJs and producers have risen to stardom after the pandemic.
“I now play every gig around the world with our Ukrainian flag, so part of my country is always with me”
EG: What else can we expect from Korolova in the next few months? What new milestones are you looking forward to?
Korolova: I am fully focused on making new music, a lot of remixes and original tracks are coming soon. I want to continue releasing more and more music.
EG: Thank you for your time Olga! We wish you all the best!
Korolova: Thank you so much for this interview guys, I am happy to speak with you and hope to see you on a dancefloor somewhere around the world soon!
‘Phonique – Feel What You Want (Korolova Remix)’ is out now via Zatar Music. Purchase your copy here.
Follow Korolova: YouTube I SoundCloud | Instagram | Facebook | Spotify
