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The Hardkiss (stylised as The HARDKISS) is a Ukrainian rock band formed in 2011, consisting of Julia Sanina (vocals), Valeriy Bebko (guitar), Klym Lysiuk (bass), and Yevhen Kibeliev (drums).[1] They participated in the Ukrainian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with the song "Helpless", placing second in the final.[2][3][4] To date, the Hardkiss has released four studio albums, one EP, one live album, and numerous singles.
At the age of 18, Julia Sanina interviewed the MTV Ukraine broadcast producer Valeriy Bebko for an article she was writing as an aspiring student journalist.[5] The two became friends (and later married) and began to write music together as Val & Sanina, with Sanina as the vocalist and Bebko playing bass; they released a music video and a number of songs in Russian.[6][5] Producers Volodymyr Syvokon and Stas Tiunov of the Firework Sound record label suggested that they sing in English instead and build up an audience in the West.[5] With the help of friends, Sanina and Bebko selected the name the Hardkiss for their band.[5]
2011–present
In September 2011, the Hardkiss released their first video, "Babylon", while their lineup had expanded to include Max and Kreechy.[7] They opened for the English synthpop duo Hurts in Kyiv on 20 October.[8][6] On 18 November, they opened for American singer Solange Knowles, also in Kyiv.[9]
In December 2011, the band released a music video for "Dance with Me", directed by Bebko, with Yurii Korol as the camera operator. It appeared on MTV Russia and Muz-TV, before airing globally on MTV.[10][11][12] The online magazine DosugUA ranked the video second on its list of the most stylish music videos of 2011.[13]
In 2013, the Hardkiss won two awards at the Ukrainian national music award, YUNA—one for Best New Act and the other for Best Music Video for "Make Up", which was awarded to Bebko.[17] The band played their first solo live performance that year, with all tickets sold out one week in advance.[18] They also opened the Muz-TV Music Awards in Moscow, became the "voice and face" of Pepsi in Ukraine, and took part in a Pepsi Stars of Now tour covering sixteen cities.[19][20]
In 2015, the Hardkiss was nominated for the YUNA music award again and won in two categories: Best Music Album, for Stones and Honey, and Best Song, for "Stones".[21]
In 2018, the band won two awards at YUNA: Best Rock Band and Best Song in Ukrainian, for "Zhuravli".[23] Later that year, guitarist Roman Skorobahatko left the band but was set to continue performing with them as a live session musician.[24]
In November 2019, the band's masked drummer, Kreechy, revealed his idendity as Dmytro Smotrov and announced his departure after five years with the group. He was replaced by Yevhen Kibeliev of SKAI.[25]
In the aftermath of the invasion, the Hardkiss released the song "Як ти?", together with a music video, whose proceeds were to be donated to humanitarian aid.[27] The war generated increased international interest in the band, who then embarked on charity tours in support of the armed forces of Ukraine and Ukrainian children.[28][29]
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