KADNAY

1. Year of foundation – 2012
2. Language – Ukrainian, English
3. Genre – indie pop

Lineup:

1. Dmytro Kadnay – vocals, guitar;
2. Pylyp Kolyadenko – vocals, backing vocals, guitar, keyboards;
3. Denis Korkin – bass guitar;
4. Vitaly Khodzinsky – drums.

Former members:

1. Oleg Datsenko – bass guitar;
2. Dima Synyuk – drums.

History of the band

KADNAY is a Ukrainian indie-pop band, founded in 2012 by Dmytro Kadnay and Pylyp Kolyadenko. The movement towards the music industry for each of the band members took place in their own way. Pylyp (Phil) grew up in a family where they were professionally engaged in creativity. So from early childhood he listened to high-quality dance music. The musical taste of the future star of the modern Ukrainian scene was formed by the groups and performers Jamiroquai, Michael Jackson, Sting. Later, Pylyp became interested in American R’n’B. In particular, the work of the Black Eyed Peas and N*E*R*D with Pharrell Williams.

Dmitry received a musical education, graduating from school in the piano class. Therefore, classical music culture occupied a significant place in the life of the band leader. In the family, musical preferences were determined by his father. The singer recalls how the tastes of the head of the family quite atypically combined such different genres as jazz and chanson. Eventually, Dima became interested in rock music, which became a new stage in the formation of his own style.

Creative path

Dmitry Kadnaya and Pylyp Kolyadenko met in Odessa. Dmitry said that he was introduced to Phil. And after several calls, the musicians decided to organize a rehearsal. Dima was already playing the guitar. Phil was also at the start of his career. As a result, the collaboration went uphill. The artists invited new musicians and even shot a video clip. The idea was to organize a live concert to the song “Zlitaem” (the track was also called The Time). They tried to make the performance as lively and energetic as possible. The clip was also a success. Later, the PR manager suggested that Dmitry and Pylyp create KADNAY as a separate project.

Gradually, new members were recruited, a team was formed, and they began working on music together. The artists quickly found a common language thanks to their similar musical tastes and desire to create their own compositions. According to Dmitry, the name of the group still remains a mystery. Already in 2012, the first single “Zlitaem” was released, created in collaboration with Dmitry Shurov. Two years later, the project made its discographic debut in Kyiv, presenting the studio album KADNAY. Soon the album became available to fans online. The album included such singles as I Don't Belong to You, "My Weakness" and "I Don't Need You Anymore".

The band's style and development

After the success of the album, the musicians went on a nationwide tour. During meetings with fans at their live shows, the artists felt real popularity. And the warm reaction of the fans testified to the recognition of the band's creativity by a wide audience. The musicians spent the summer months of 2015 in the studio, recording new material. In June 2016, the mini-album 23Floor was released, in which the sound changed significantly. The artists moved away from indie and preferred the electropop style. The album was accompanied by the singles Symphony Of Love, Hitchcock and You Know How I Roll.

At the end of January 2017, the band presented the single Freedom in My Mind. With this work, they participated in the national selection for Eurovision. KADNAY reached the semi-finals. The following year, at the invitation of the producers of the STB TV channel, the band again showed themselves in the national selection and presented the song Beat Of The Universe. The project's creativity was highly appreciated: the judges gave it 7 points, and the audience gave it 8. This allowed the musicians to reach the final, where the band took an honorable 3rd place. In 2019, KADNAY released the album "Captive".

Social activity

Throughout its creative history, the KADNAY project has not remained aloof from the problems of public life. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the band has actively supported volunteer initiatives and participated in charity concerts and events throughout Ukraine. As part of the performances, a

The artists raise funds to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine and charitable foundations. Among them is the foundation established in honor of the fallen Ukrainian defender Ilya Grabar.

Together with other stars of the music industry, KADNAY joined the large-scale TV marathon #SaveUkraine. The purpose of the event was to raise funds to solve humanitarian problems caused by Russia's war against Ukraine. In addition, the band has repeatedly performed at events in support of young patients of Okhmatdyt. KADNAY also joined the "Lunch without Trouble" campaign to provide food for the elderly.

The band's frontman, Dmytro Kadnay, actively participates in charity basketball tournaments. One of them is "Play for Victory". The funds from the event went to purchase a car for the 122nd TRO brigade. There was also a charity match in Estonia. There, they managed to raise 1 million hryvnias for the restoration of the Avangard sports complex, destroyed by enemy missiles. The artists also performed at the charity event "Save Childhood", and also held a solo concert in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The musicians took part in the "On the Jellyfish" festival in Lviv. The money raised was spent on the needs of the Defense Forces.

Recently, the band has presented new songs "Faith. Truth", "Let's Become Silence", "Let Go" and "To You". Three of the compositions were created during the war. The musicians also organized a charity concert for the soldiers of the separate brigade of the President of Ukraine and took part in the award ceremony for Ukrainian children at the Mariinsky Palace. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended the event. KADNAY also performed at the Viva Ukrainian Kids event in Chernivtsi, supporting children affected by enemy shelling.

Awards and honors

The KADNAY project won the following prestigious nominations:

1. «Golden Joke Bird» (Indie), 2018, 2019;
2. BEST MUSIC (Best Music Album), 2019;
3. "Music Platform" ("Best Song"), 2019.

Interesting facts about the band:

1. the project participants call their own live shows, where they can present their work to fans and feel live feedback, the "biggest thrill" for them;
2. after performing at the National Selection, KADNAY felt the overwhelming support of fans, who even created a petition to return the musicians to the final;
3. as the "chips" of their creativity, the band members define powerful energy, high-quality sound and professionalism of the musicians. The KADNAY project combines different styles, not limiting itself to one genre.