The Hardkiss — Music Videos

Powerful vocals and dramatic rock arrangements

The Hardkiss is a Ukrainian rock group formed around singer Julia Sanina and musician and creative collaborator Valeriy Bebko. From the beginning, its identity connected music with a carefully considered visual world. Sanina’s voice can move from a close, controlled phrase to a forceful chorus, while the arrangements bring together distorted guitars, electronic detail, and firm rhythmic foundations. The group has recorded in both English and Ukrainian, giving different parts of its catalogue their own vocal character and emotional emphasis.

Two sides of the catalogue

“Make-Up,” released in 2012, presents an early version of the group’s combination of sleek production and theatrical impact. The 2017 song “Журавлі” shows how a more reflective melodic approach can carry equal weight. Across these recordings, changes in intensity matter as much as sheer volume. Quieter sections create room for the voice, making the return of the full arrangement feel larger and more purposeful.

A sound made for close attention

The Hardkiss works well as an introduction to the meeting point of Ukrainian alternative rock and contemporary pop production. Its songs often have immediately graspable hooks, yet their atmosphere depends on specific instrumental colours and carefully paced transitions. Listening beyond the main chorus reveals the details that give each track its own dramatic shape.