The Hardkiss
The HARDKISS is a Ukrainian progressive-pop band. They are known for their original sound and unique fashion style.The Hardkiss participated in the Ukrainian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with the song “Helpless”. The band placed 2nd in the national final.
The trio formed a record label called Hardkiss Music in San Francisco in 1991. Initially promoting underground raves and dance parties where they would DJ, with Hardkiss Music they began to produce and release a catalog of vinyl records which stirred international recognition and launched DJ and production careers. In September the band presented their debut video “Babylon”. They were the opening act for Hurts on October 20 and Solange Knowles on November 18 in Kyiv.
Members-
Julia Sanina – vocals (2011–present)
Valeriy “Val” Bebko – guitar (2011–present)
Kreechy – drums (2011–present)
Roman Skorobahatko – guitar (2013–present)
Klim Lysiuk – bass guitar (2016–present)
Scott Friedel worked under the pseudonym God Within and Gavin Hardkiss works under the pseudonym Hawke and Robbie Hardkiss has worked under the pseudonym Little Wing. Julia Sanina is one of four judges on the seventh series of The X Factor Ukraine. They also released music by a myriad of other artists including Rabbit in the Moon, Symbiosis and TTauri. Their music started as a mixture of acid house music, trance music, and breakbeat techno.Hardkiss Music became a blueprint for DJ owned boutique record labels.
Awards :
In 2012, The Hardkiss were nominated for the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Ukrainian Act. The band performed at MIDEM festival on January 29.In 2013, The Hardkiss won two awards – “Best New Act” and “Best Music Video” (to producer Valeriy Bebko for clip Make-Up) – of the national music award YUNA. On May 18 the band presented their first show in the Green Theatre in Kyiv. They opened the Muz-TV Music Awards on June 7. That year The Hardkiss became “voice and face” of the Pepsi in Ukraine. The band took part in a tour Pepsi Stars of Now (16 cities).In 2014 The Hardkiss performed at Park Live Festival, and shared the stage with The Prodigy, Deftones, and Skillet.
In 2015, the band was nominated for the music award YUNA again, having won in two nominations — “The best music album” (album Stones and Honey) and “The best song” (single Stones).
