April 26, 1986. At 01:23, two explosions echoed through the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. In the sky above Pripyat, a glow emanated from the burning reactor, releasing tons of radioactive isotopes into the atmosphere. The event forever changed the lives of ordinary people.

Maksym Merkulov, also known as Whaler, incorporates conceptual and, to some extent, cinematic elements in his work. With releases such as Mothership, which tells the story of an artificial intelligence wandering through space, and Noncommon Sense, which explores the journey of internal transformation, the artist returns to the narrative format to recount the event that left a profound impact on both him and the entire planet.

He sublimates his experiences of the disaster's consequences into a haunting soundscape filled with the hum of reactors, the crackling of dosimeters, and the chatter of internal communication systems.

In his compositions, Whaler places great emphasis on melody and atmosphere, drawing from his classical and jazz background. His diverse catalog features IDM-inspired tracks, pure ambient pieces without a single beat, and heavily rhythmic compositions with broken beat patterns, as showcased in his latest release, "Dome."

Mastered by Bogdan Zaiets
Designed by Anton Pcholkin

Buy all

26 04

Kyiv-based @gasolineradio is opening a music label with a first release on 26th of April. This first effort is from the Ukrainian musician from Kharkiv - Maksym Merkulov aka @thewhaler. It is dedicated to Memorial Day of the Chernobyl tragedy.

Pre-order

Premiere: Whaler — Зрада (feat Mykola Lebed)

First listen: @thewhaler - Мирний Атом (Gasoline Records)
Максим Меркулов aka Whaler: «Я написав цей реліз протягом кількох квітневих ночей, переглядаючи архівні відео Прип'яті перед катастрофою. Аварія на ЧАЕС стала моїм першим знайомством з методами тоталітарної машини, що перемелює людські життя, обмінюючи їх на час, репутацію, гроші чи політичні переваги. Я назавжди запам'ятав, наскільки безликим та жорстоким може бути символ, за яким йдуть люди. Через це їх смерті та скалічені життя стають ще більш трагічними – людей, які йшли на самопожертву, ліквідуючи аварію, чи просто тих, хто опинився поруч».

Mastered by Bogdan Zaiets
Desidgned by Anton Pcholkin

Pre-order gasolinerecords.bandcamp.com/album/26-04

Listen full album

First listen: Whaler - Мирний Атом (Gasoline Records)

Premiere of track by @thewhaler from EP "26 04" that will be released via @gasolineradio (Gasoline Records).
Pre-order link: https://gasolinerecords.bandcamp.com/album/26-04

Whaler: "I wrote this release over several nights in April, watching archival videos of Pripyat before the disaster. The accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant was my first introduction to the methods of a totalitarian machine that grinds people's lives, exchanging them for time, reputation, money or political favors. I will always remember how faceless and cruel a symbol can be that people follow. It makes their deaths and mutilated lives all the more tragic - the people who sacrificed themselves to clear the accident, or just bystanders".

Premiere: Whaler - Викид (Gasoline Records)

DC Promo Tracks #1148: "Спогад" by Whaler is part of the release "26 04" on Gasoline Records @gasolineradio  

Buy Now: https://gasolinerecords.bandcamp.com/album/26-04 

More Promo Tracks: https://www.dreamchimney.com/promo

DC Promo Tracks: Whaler "Спогад"

https://gasolinerecords.bandcamp.com/album/26-04

April 26, 1986. At 01:23, two explosions echoed through the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. In the sky above Pripyat, a glow emanated from the burning reactor, releasing tons of radioactive isotopes into the atmosphere. The event forever changed the lives of ordinary people.

Maksym Merkulov, also known as Whaler, incorporates conceptual and, to some extent, cinematic elements in his work. With releases such as Mothership, which tells the story of an artificial intelligence wandering through space, and Noncommon Sense, which explores the journey of internal transformation, the artist returns to the narrative format to recount the event that left a profound impact on both him and the entire planet.

He sublimates his experiences of the disaster's consequences into a haunting soundscape filled with the hum of reactors, the crackling of dosimeters, and the chatter of internal communication systems.

In his compositions, Whaler places great emphasis on melody and atmosphere, drawing from his classical and jazz background. His diverse catalog features IDM-inspired tracks, pure ambient pieces without a single beat, and heavily rhythmic compositions with broken beat patterns, as showcased in his latest release, "Dome."

Mastered by Bogdan Zaiets
Designed by Anton Pcholkin

contact: iamwhaler8@gmail.com
I experiment with contemporary music genres including ambient, breaks, garage, IDM and trip hop.