This band is not without reason called one of the brightest musical phenomena in Ukrainian show business in recent times. Genre diversity, inimitable vocals of the lead singer, original stage costumes and images, incredibly spectacular shows accompanying the performances, creative video clips - all this strikingly distinguishes The Hardkiss from other bands, makes it easily recognizable and widely known. But the main thing is the songs themselves, which have a deep meaning, leaving no one indifferent.
History of the creation of the collective
The date of birth of the group is considered to be 2011. But the history of the creation of The Hardkiss began much earlier. The future frontwoman Yulia Sanina was only 18 years old at that time. The girl was fond of music since childhood, sang solo and in groups. She graduated from the school of jazz and pop art and even managed to work as a backing vocalist with the famous Ukrainian singer, composer and producer Ruslan Kvinta.
Journalism became another passion of the girl. While collecting material for writing an article, Yulia met Valeriy Val Bebko - a music producer of MTV channel. That's when the idea of creating a pop project Val & Sanina appeared. The young people together recorded the first tracks in Russian.
These songs were not very popular. Then the musicians decided to write in English, to change the style of pop to pop-rock and electro, and at the same time - and the name of the collective. From two variants - "Pony Planet" and The Hardkiss - the second one was chosen. Friends of the musicians, who were given the role of impartial experts, decided that it was more suitable for the genre of music.
Together not only on stage, but also in life
Speaking about the history of the creation of "Hardkiss" it is impossible not to mention another page in it, which concerns the relationship of Julia and Valery. Young people met during an interview and instead of the planned 60 minutes talked for 3 hours. The record of this meeting is now a family relic.
Communication continued. Soon after meeting Valery made Julia an offer, but they married only a year and a half later. All this time Sanina and Bebko hid their relationship from the ubiquitous press. The wedding was in authentic Ukrainian style. Four years later, the couple had a son Daniel. Currently, the star parents are raising their son together, continuing to perform on the same stage and supporting each other in all endeavors.
In 2020, the group presented to the general public the music video for the song "Everything was like this". It became a kind of screen adaptation of their love. In the video starred and the young son of the star couple, who himself wanted to participate in the work.
The current composition of the group
Julia and Valery Val are the permanent composition of the project team. Sanina - "generator of ideas", soloist of the band "Hardkiss", author of lyrics and music. Bebko is a creative producer, guitarist, creator of music videos. Other musicians became members of the collective only for a while. Now The Hardkiss, apart from the spouses, includes Klim Lysyuk (bass guitarist) and Evgeny Kibelev (drummer).
The road to success: The Hardkiss' prestigious nominations and hits
The band's ascent to the musical Olympus was rapid. In September 2011 Hardkiss presented their debut work - the video Babylon. A week later it was picked up by M1 music channel. And after the first concert in the club and two performances at the warm-up of famous bands in October-November, the Hardkiss band became the talk of the town. The musicians decided to consolidate the success and in December of the same year released a new video called Dance with me. The director, as in the first case, was Valery Val Bebko. Immediately after its release the clip was broadcasted on two major Russian music channels.
The year 2012 turned out to be no less eventful. Its main event can be considered the release of The Hardkiss' new video for the song Make-Up. Thanks to this work the band won the prestigious YUNA award in two nominations at once: "Discovery of the Year" and "Best Video Clip".
Then there was the first solo concert, which took place in Kiev, the release of the debut studio album Stones and Honey, recorded in English and timed to the third anniversary of the creative activity of the band. And also - touring in Ukraine, participation in the national selection for Eurovision. The guys even managed to make it to the final, but according to the results of the audience voting the victory had to be conceded to Jamala.
Today The Hardkiss has 6 albums in their creative bank, including:
- "Zalizna flipper";
- "Acoustic. Live";
- "Zhiva i ne zalizna".
The band recorded and presented to the public dozens of compositions, some of which became absolute hits. Among the best Hardkiss songs are:
- "Cranes";
- "Prirva";
- "Cobra";
- "Korabli";
- "Sister."
- "Embrace."
The band's creativity was repeatedly recognized by YUNA, M1 Music Awards, MTV EMA and "Golden Firebird" awards in different nominations. But the musicians continue to work, grow and please the public with new compositions.
The Hardkiss defines their music as "other pop" or progressive-pop with inclusions of various genres. It is this unusual style that attracts the audience. It does not remain indifferent to the strong, shivering voice of the lead singer, her endlessly changing stage outfits and images. Constant stylists help the singer to come up with them. Thanks to them and all the other members of the collective, every performance of the group turns into a real theatrical show, which takes your breath away.
Activity of the group now
Now "Hardkiss", like the whole Ukrainian show business, is not going through the best of times. First because of the quarantine, and then because of the full-scale invasion, the previously announced concerts had to be canceled. But the musicians are not going to give up their favorite business and continue to create in spite of everything. Not so long ago they released a new, incredibly emotional music video for the composition "Tilky there". The video was shot in the best traditions of The Hardkiss. The musicians hope that it will be to the audience's liking and will become another fierce page in the creative biography of The Hardkiss.
A little earlier, the band's frontwoman Julia Sanina announced a new European tour in 2024, and also hinted at the possible resumption of concerts in Ukraine, which will be held in a somewhat unusual format. Information about this appeared in the singer's blog in Instagram.
Interesting facts
- During its creative activity, the collective several times went on the same stage with famous performers in the genre of rock music. Among them are The Prodigy, Enigma, Marylin Manson and Deftones.
- The track Shadows Of Time was written especially for the movie "Shadows Of Forgotten Ancestors". The video for it was shot at night in Goloseevsky Park in Kiev.
- Stylish video clips, striking with riot of colors and plenty of special effects, were shot by Valeriy Bebko. He has a director's diploma, received before the band's creation.
- The most original of the former members of the band is Dmitry Smotrov, who hid under the pseudonym DJ Kreechy for 5 years. The drummer never took off his mask, which looked like a mummified face of a pirate from the movie "The Guest from the Future".
- The Hardkiss is the official representative of Pepsi in Ukraine.
- The Hardkiss began to reject the Russian language in public space and everyday life after 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and occupied part of Donetsk and Lugansk regions. Today, the band's songs are heard only in English and Ukrainian.
