SKAI

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SKAI
СКАЙ
SKAI band in 2016
SKAI band in 2016
Background information
OriginTernopil, Ukraine
GenresPop rock
Years active2001 – present
Labelswithout label (since 2016)
(till 2016)
Websiteskai.com.ua
MembersOleh Sobchuk
Oleksandr Hryshchuk
Olexandr Druker
Yuriy Mozil

SKAI (formerly named SKAY, Ukrainian: СКАЙ) is a Ukrainian pop-rock band. It was formed in 2001 in Ternopil, Ukraine.

History[]

Early years (2001-2005)[]

and Oleksandr Hryshchuk were students in the Ternopil Galician College and in 2001 founded the band. In the spring of 2001, the band had 4 musicians.[1]

After the band was formed in 2001, it started to give concerts and performed at several festivals, such as Perlyny Sezonu, Tavriyski Ihry, and Chervona Ruta. They became recognized by a broader audience after their appearance on the program Fresh Blood on the Ukrainian TV channel M1. The general director Eduard Klim from Lavina Music noticed them and signed them to his label.

In 2006, their first album, Te, shcho treba, was released. The band issued their second album, Planeta S.K.A.I., in 2007.

In October–November 2013, the group took part in agitational concerts "We are united" along with popular Ukrainian and Russian bands (Chaif, Bratya Karamazovy, etc.) After the concerts, some Ukrainian media wrote that the band supports pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk, who probably could be one of unofficial organizers of the tour. However, since other singers disclaimed their support to Putin's politics, Oleh Sobchuk and other members of the band canceled all cooperation with them and with any other events that could be related to politics. Later, on the official website, the musicians explained their negative position to any political forces. Besides, SKAI participates in numerous charity events and social initiatives.[2]

Collaboration with Lavina Music (2005-2016)[]

In 2005, the name of the band was updated to be written with dots ("S. K. A. I."). At the same time, the tracks that were later included in the album "It Can Kill You" ("Тебе це може вбити") were released on 25 Ukrainian radio stations.[3] Clips were shot for the song of the same name, as well as the songs "Remix" and "What is needed" ("Те, що треба"). Sobchuk describes the track as a "romantic ballad."[4]

SKAI in Washington, 2016

In 2006, Lavina Music released a debut album "What You Need" ("Те, що треба") with the song of the same name, which quickly gained popularity. The musicians started experimenting with music: the first album includes both dynamic lively songs and serious, lyrical tracks. Arthur Danielyan became the sound producer of the album. In 2007, clips for the tracks "What's My Name" ("Як мене звати") and "Best Friend" (stylized as "Best друг") were released. In the last clip, the viewer's attention is drawn to the problem of people living with HIV: in the clip, people who learn about the HIV-positive result of one of their friends leave him alone, only one friend is left with him, Oleh Sobchuk. There is no such message in the words of the song.

October 2007 - second album "Planet SKAI" released.[5]

Arthur Danielyan also became the sound producer of this album. 2008 - The band receives the NePopsa Award from Jam FM radio, Sobchuk wins "Best Vocalist" award, and Planet SKAI wins "Album of the Year".[6] In May 2008 he presented the composition "Give Me Light" ("Подаруй світло").

In 2010 the third album called "!" Was released ("Exclamation mark"), which includes tracks recorded by the duo with the Pikkardiyska Tertsiya and Green Gray. In May 2010, the band won the "Favorites of Success "award in the category "male band".

In February 2015, the band conducted a two-week charity tour of major Canadian cities: Winnipeg, Vancouver, Saskatoon, and Toronto. The musicians performed acoustic versions of their songs, and all the funds raised went to a charity fund for the victims of the Russian-Ukrainian war in eastern Ukraine.

Own label (since 2017)[]

SKAI performing in Barcelona, January 21, 2017

On September 1, 2016, the band officially changed its name from "S. K. A. I." on "SKAI", removing the dots from the old name.

American-Canadian Tour (2016)[]

November-December 2016 - as part of an international anniversary tour, the band visited 10 cities in the United States and Canada with a concert program "SKY - New Life 15".[7]

In addition to the main concert in Saskatoon on December 9, SKY gave free acoustic mini-performances for 3 days and brought the Ukrainian song to a place where it had not been heard for a long time or had not been heard at all. The band members met with high school students from local Ukrainian schools. The meetings were organized with the assistance of the Saskatoon branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.[8]

Participation in Eurovision-2017[]

Main article: Eurovision Song Contest 2017

The band was one of the contenders to represent Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest, which took place in Kyiv in May 2017. On January 27, 2017, the musicians presented the English-language song "All My Love For You", which took part in the voting, but did not make it to the semifinals. This is the English version of the single "I love you".[9][10]

Since 2018[]

In April 2018, the single "You Feel" was released, which became part of the album "Rare Birds". In April-May 2018, the band conducted the second major tour of the United States and Canada. In April 2019, a video for the song "I would give everything" from the album "Rare Birds" was released.[11]

In September 2019, Yevhen Kibelev left the band, and Artem Talanov took his place. In February 2020, the single "Take It" was released. On April 27, 2020, the band released the song "Do not retreat and do not give up", dedicated to the Ukrainian party member Danylo Didyk, a public activist who was a victim of a terrorist attack at the age of 15 during the March of Unity in Kharkiv in February 2015.[12]

Current members[]

  • Oleh Sobchuk — vocals, guitar
  • Oleksandr Hryshchuk — lead guitar
  • Alexander Drucker — bass guitar
  • Eugen Kebelew — drums
  • Yuriy Mozil — keyboards

Discography[]

  • 2006 — Te, shcho treba (Те, що треба)
  • 2007 — Planeta S.K.A.I. (Планета С.К.А.Й.)
  • 2010 — !
  • 2014 — Kray neba (Край неба)
  • 2016 — Нове життя (New Life)
  • 2018 — Рідкісні птахи (Rare Birds)

References[]

  1. ^ "С.К.А.Й. - пісні, біографія - Українські пісні". www.pisni.org.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2021-08-02.
  2. ^ https://skai.com.ua/2017/02/bio/
  3. ^ "Історія — С.К.А.Й." web.archive.org. 2016-04-24. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
  4. ^ "Радіо Африка". web.archive.org. 2016-03-12. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
  5. ^ "Історія — С.К.А.Й." web.archive.org. 2016-04-24. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
  6. ^ "Log In or Sign Up to View". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
  7. ^ "Поранений боєць АТО Олександр Дарморос потребує нашої допомоги". 5 канал (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2021-08-02.
  8. ^ "Гурт "СКАЙ" відзначив 15-річчя туром Америкою та Канадою. ФОТО". ТаблоID. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
  9. ^ "Євробачення-2017: коли виступатиме кожен учасник". 24 Канал (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2021-08-02.
  10. ^ "Євробачення 2017: результати жеребкування національного відбору | Євробачення 2021" (in Ukrainian). 2017-01-20. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
  11. ^ notatky.com.ua (2019-04-19). "СКАЙ – Я все б віддав (Кліп)". Нотатки про українську музику (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2021-08-02.
  12. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA1Jrflm1Iw

External links[]

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