About
BACKGROUND
Born in Ukraine, Nastasia Y [nas-TA-s’yah] is a multi-lingual singer & keyboardist who seamlessly blends folk tradition with a futuristic vision. Her music is inspired by the vibrant city of Toronto, Canada, which she now calls home: fusing funk, R&B, electro, and jazz with Slavic folk music. Her music is rooted in the ancestral grief and wisdom of her past while embracing a modern inter-connected future.
Raised on her late father’s Ukrainian resistance songs, her journey took her to Canada, where she earned a jazz piano degree, originally releasing English-language music (as Stacey Y), evolving into championing her native culture through projects like DoVira and BLISK. Today, as Nastasia Y, her music reflects these diverse influences, and features top Canadian musicians in her band. She also actively advocates for her country, using her music as the vehicle for her activism.
DEVELOPMENT
Nastasia has been immersed in Toronto’s bustling multicultural music scene since relocating to Canada from Kyiv at the age of 11. Her father, the late Kost’ Yerofeyev, was the lead singer of the band Ruthenia, which was at the forefront of the Ukrainian independence movement in late 80’s Kyiv.
Once settled in Canada, Nastasia completed her jazz piano degree at Humber College, as well as her “Associate of the Royal Conservatory” (ARCT) diploma in classical music. She fell in love with soul and motown music, and released her first original album “Set The Water Straight” in English (under the name Stacey Y), inspired by artists like Erykah Badu and Stevie Wonder. From there, she went back to exploring her cultural roots, performing and recording with the project DoVira [do-VEE-rah] (meaning “trust” in Ukrainian). Their music gained popularity on YouTube due to their unique arrangements of Ukrainian folk songs (some celebrating over 150,000 views), and their album was coined “world fusion at its best” by WholeNote Magazine.
Through her love of collaboration, Nastasia has had a chance to play music of many genres, from reggae to Bollywood, and has sung in many languages, from Bulgarian, to Polish, Kazakh, Crimean Tatar, Korean, to Arabic, and more. She has collaborated with artists like Ahmed Moneka, JoSH, Kidd Rasta & the Peacemakers, Oleh Skrypka, KOZAK SYSTEM, PROBASS ∆ HARDI, and her voice has even been featured on the famous award-winning TV show “Orphan Black”.
Apart from her main project, the Nastasia Y Band, Nastasia is also a member and founder of BLISK (an all-female Eastern European folk band) and “Sing With Ukraine” (an authentic polyphonic singing group).
PRAISE
“Slavic soul rooted in ancestral sounds of Ukraine and guided by the boundary-busting Toronto scene” – Jonathan Campbell (Small World Music)
“World fusion at its best” – WholeNote Magazine
“Nastasia Y really is the face and voice of musicians defending Ukraine here in Toronto”- Paul Corby (Corby’s Orbit)
“Dynamic, emotional, hip, stylish, sophisticated…” – Rik Emmett, Triumph
“As I was watching her set at my festival, a couple looked at each other and said ‘Incredible’. Nastasia Y gives her heart and soul to what she does. It’s a pleasure to watch and listen.”– Howard Kerbel. CEO, TD Toronto Jazz Festival
“Through her songs, she brings communities together to learn from the pains of the past. By combining the rhythms of funk and soul with melodies of her birth place, she allows everyone in the room to find their place on the dance floor, and address in their hearts why we should live with peace and joy.”– Jim Creeggan, Barenaked Ladies Bass Player
“The birth of the cool has emerged in Slavic circles” – Marusya Bociurkiw; writer, film-maker, scholar
OTHER VENTURES
Apart from her artistic work, Nastasia is also the CEO, Founder & Owner of the entertainment company StereoFlavour, which has provided top-caliber live music & planning services for weddings & events since its inception in 2010. Nastasia and her team employ some of the most outstanding versatile musicians in Toronto.
CURRENTLY
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Nastasia has volunteered with refugees in Poland, actively fundraises for various organizations, and continues to speak out on Ukraine’s struggle and history of repression. Her new album will be on Lulaworld Records, co-produced with the Juno-award winning Justin Gray. The album is a culmination of all her influences thus far, from Ukrainian folk, to R&B and soul, mixing Slavic languages with English, exploring themes of love and war.
Nastasia’s features some of Toronto’s best musicians in her band, including:
- Rob Christian (Larnell Lewis Band) – flute, synths
- Andrew Stewart (Joy Lapps Band) – bass
- KC Roberts (KCLR Live Revolution) – guitar
- Max Senitt (Moneka Arabic Jazz) – drums
Most up to date bios (of various lengths), as well as photos, and stage plot can be found below.