Hütz's transition into a U.S. singer was a long journey through Poland, Hungary, Austria and Italy. Descendants of gypsies called the Servo Roma (a tribe known for its blacksmiths, horsetraders and musicians), Hütz and his family fled their hometown after hearing of the Chernobyl meltdown. They spent seven years trekking through Eastern European refugee camps before settling in the U.S. While living in Kyiv Hütz's parents hid their Roma ancestry, and it was only during this journey that Hütz was introduced to his roots. They visited the village his family came from and his relatives introduced him to the essential foods and music of their culture.