The Hardkiss

The Hardkiss (stylised as The HARDKISS) is a Ukrainian rock band formed in 2011, consisting of Julia Sanina (vocals), Valeriy Bebko (guitar), Klim Lysiuk (bass), and Yevhen Kibeliev (drums). They participated in the Ukrainian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with the song "Helpless", placing second in the final. To date, the Hardkiss has released four studio albums, one EP, one live album, and numerous singles.

History


The Hardkiss was formed in 2011 by husband-and-wife duo Julia Sanina (vocals) and Valeriy Bebko (guitar), initially under the name Val & Sanina. In September of that year, they released their debut video, "Babylon", and they opened for English synthpop duo Hurts in Kyiv on 20 October. On 18 November, they opened for American singer Solange Knowles, also in Kyiv.

In 2012, the Hardkiss were nominated for the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Ukrainian Act. The same year, the band performed at MIDEM festival on 29 January.

In 2013, the Hardkiss won two awards—Best New Act and Best Music Video (this went to producer Valeriy Bebko, for the video to "Make-Up")—at the Ukrainian national music award, YUNA. They also opened the Muz-TV Music Awards on 7 June. That year, the Hardkiss became "voice and face" of Pepsi in Ukraine. The band took part in a tour, Pepsi Stars of Now, covering sixteen cities.

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".

In 2016, they took part in the Ukrainian national selection for Eurovision Song Contest 2016.

In 2018, the band won two awards at YUNA: Best Rock Band and Best Song in Ukrainian, for "Zhuravli".

Band members
Current
 * Julia Sanina – vocals (2011–present)
 * Valeriy "Val" Bebko – guitar (2011–present)
 * Klim Lysiuk – bass guitar (2016–present)
 * Yevhen Kibeliev – drums (2019–present)

Past
 * Pol Solonar – keyboards (2011–2013)
 * Vitaliy Oniskevich – keyboards (2013–2016)
 * Roman Skorobahatko – guitar (2013–2018)
 * Kreechy (Dmytro Smotrov) – drums (2011–2019)

Discography
Studio albums
 * Stones and Honey (2014)
 * Perfection Is a Lie (2017)
 * Залізна ластівка (2018)
 * Zhyva i ne zalizna (2021)

EPs
 * Cold Altair (2015)

Live albums
 * Акустика. Live (2020)

Singles


 * "Babylon" (2011)
 * "Dance with Me" (2011)
 * "Make-Up" (2012)
 * "October" (2012)
 * "Part of Me" (2013)
 * "In Love" (2013)
 * "Under the Sun" (2013)
 * "Shadows of Time" (2013)
 * "Tell Me Brother" (2013)
 * "Hurricane" (2014)
 * "Stones" (2014)
 * "Strange Moves" feat. Kazaky (2014)
 * "PiBiP" (2015)
 * "Organ" (2015)
 * "Tony, Talk!" (2015)
 * "Helpless" (2016)
 * "Perfection!" (2016)
 * "Rain" (2016)
 * "Closer" (2016)
 * "Антарктида" (2017)


 * "Журавлi" (2017)
 * "Lovers" (2017)
 * "Кораблі" (2017)
 * "Мелодія" (2018)
 * "Free Me" (2018)
 * "Коханці" (2018)
 * "Серце" (2019)
 * "Хто, як не ти?" (2019)
 * "Жива" (2019)
 * "Косатка" (2020)
 * "Гора" (2020)
 * "Кобра" feat. MONATIK (2020)
 * "Все було так" (2020)
 * "Обійми" (2021)
 * "7 вітрів" (2021)
 * "Сестра" (2021)
 * "Як ти?" (2022)
 * "Маяк" (2022)
 * "Два вікна" (2023)
 * "Festival" (2023)