A superstar and an inspirational figure in her homeland of Ukraine, Olya Polyakova is now making waves internationally – especially in the UK, where a fresh burst of attention earlier this year was led by a Sunday Times profile telling her story, “Life as a pop star in a war zone.” Now her flourishing global recognition continues as she shares the new video for her current single ‘My Future Ex’.
The video takes the song’s story of the conflict of an ill-fated relationship into the boxing arena – showing Olya’s talents as a world class performer with attitude and punch. When Olya decided it was time to get in the ring, there could only be one destination: the historic Repton Boxing Club in Bethnal Green, London. Said to be the oldest established boxing gym in the country, it’s a destination for seriously competitive amateur boxers. And that history drips from its wall, having helped Olympic Gold medal winner Audley Harrisonplus countless other renowned fighters like John H. Stracey MBE and Maurice Hope GCH OBE learn their craft.
The club’s influence spreads into broader culture too. The notorious Kray Twins regularly trained there, and its stuck-in-time film noir decor has seen it feature in the Guy Ritchie films ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’ and ‘The Gentleman’.
The video was directed by James Slater (Sam Fender, CMAT). Olya wrote the song alongside its producers, Red Triangle (Sabrina Carpenter, Halsey, David Guetta), with mixing provided by the Grammy-winning Guy Massey (The Beatles, Kylie Minogue).
Olya says, “It was an amazing experience to shoot the video at the Repton Boxing Club, where the Kray Twins trained. To be able to work with some of the most amazing London talent on this video was very special – I am so grateful for the welcome and acceptance I found. It was a crazy day, and the creativity and energy in the boxing ring blasts out of the video. To everyone on set and behind the scenes, thank you and I love you all!”
Olya Polyakova has found herself as an unlikely wartime singer – after initially fleeing following the invasion and assuming her career was over, Olya felt compelled to return to her homeland. She has performed for multiple Ukrainian troop brigades and daring to play huge shows in cities still plagued by attacks. And people needed the escape – often in tears as her storytelling songs told of their struggles, but later with everyone up on their feet as larger-than-life pop pounded into the night.
Yet her support has been immensely practical, too. When a Russian shelling destroyed a school in Shybene, Olya made a significant donation to help finance the reconstruction of the building and attended its reopening. She also collaborated extensively to support the Childhood Without War project, helping to provide thousands of Ukrainian children with safe accommodation, education, and medical support. She has also performed the Ukrainian national anthemic before FC Shakhtar football games across Europe, including at Tottenham Hotspur. All proceeds from the Shakhtar Global Tour for Peace matches were directed toward humanitarian aid for Ukrainians affected by the war.
Now she is working on her first English-language album, with collaborators including producers Red Triangle (Sabrina Carpenter,Halsey, David Guetta) and mixing courtesy of the Grammy-winning Guy Massey (The Beatles, Kylie Minogue).