SKAI

SKAI

Year of foundation – 2001

City – Ternopil (Ukraine)

Language – Ukrainian, English

Genre – alternative rock, pop, post-punk

Lineup:

• Oleg Sobchuk – vocals, guitar;
• Olexandr Hryshchuk – guitar, backing vocals;
• Olexandr Druker – bass;
• Yuriy Mozil – keyboards;
• Artem Talanov – drums.

Former members: Yevgeny Kibelev (drums).

History of the band

SKAI is a Ukrainian rock band, founded in 2001 by students of Ternopil Galician College Oleg Sobchuk and Oleksandr Hryshchuk. Sobchuk is still the unchanging leader and performer of the band's songs. The band's popularity began to grow rapidly at an early stage of its creative work. The band quickly gained favor and recognition among a wide audience in their native Ternopil. Later, the band's live shows began to take place throughout Western Ukraine.

SKAI's music could also be heard on the stages of influential festivals of the time. Among them were the legendary "Chervona Ruta", "Perlyny Sezonu", and "Tavriyski Igry". For young musicians with bright charisma and powerful energy, participation in popular festivals opened the way to great success.

The turning point in SKAI's career was 2005. The band appeared on the air of the music channel M1 in the TV project “Fresh Blood”. The format was created to search for new musical names. It was there that one of the judges, Eduard Klim, noticed and highly appreciated the SKY participants among other singers and groups. The band won the project. And the producer and founder of the influential Ukrainian label Lavina Music suggested cooperation with the studio. The name of the band began to be depicted with dots: S.K.A.I.

Creative Path

The first real breakthrough for SKY was the song “Tebe tse mozhe vbiti”. The single instantly became a hit. The composition not only touched the band’s fans with its deep meaning, but also conquered the music charts. A video clip was shot for the track, and the song itself quickly acquired cult status. The lyrics were known by heart and sung almost everywhere. Years have passed, and “Tebe tse mozhe vbit” still sounds on Ukrainian radio stations.

The success of the single laid the foundation for further achievements. The songs “Remix” and “Te, shto treba” followed. The works were included in the discographic debut – the album “Te, shto treba”. The record turned out to be quite colorful. The release contained both light ironic tracks and sensual, lyrical compositions. In 2007, SKAI again loudly reminded of itself. Video clips for the songs “Best drug” and “Yak mene zvati” were released. In the video works, the musicians touched on a serious topic – the life of HIV-positive people. In the same year, the band’s second studio album “Planeta S.K.A.Y.” was released. The release was recognized as the best rock album of 2007.

In May 2008, the band presented their fans with a new hit, "Give the Light." The song had two arrangements: lyrical and rock, with a more powerful sound. A concert and promotional tour was organized with the participation of SKY. In 2009, the band performed at a festival in Lublin, Poland. In the future, no major music event in Ukraine takes place without SKY.

Style and development of the band

SKAI does not stop there and continues its song and concert activities. The band's work combines fiery Ukrainian rock with deep, sensual lyrics. The band regularly presents new tracks and albums. There are constant experiments with sound.

In November 2014, the stars staged a large-scale concert show called "SKAI ALIVE" on the stage of the Kyiv Stereo Plaza. The live performance lasted two and a half hours and was distinguished by its unusual format. After all, the musicians performed accompanied by a chamber orchestra. Fans could see the concert not only in the hall, but also online thanks to the online broadcast.

On September 1, 2016, the band announced a change in the spelling of its name. S. K. A. Y. became SKAI, without dots. Oleg Sobchuk explained that this decision was due to the desire to start everything from scratch, both literally and figuratively. The band leader noted that the dots in the name significantly complicated the search for content on the Internet.

Social activity

The SKAI band effectively interacts with the UN Office in Ukraine, drawing attention to the problems of the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country and supporting HIV-positive people. In addition to participating in the initiatives of international organizations, the musicians independently organize charitable events. In particular, a number of concerts were held, the proceeds from which were used to purchase medical equipment for newborns, help orphans and other socially important needs.

SKAI is also known for its volunteer activities. Thanks to charity concerts both in Ukraine and abroad, the musicians managed to collect hundreds of thousands of hryvnias for the treatment of wounded soldiers. Since 2014, the band has consistently supported Ukrainian defenders and civilians who have been affected by Russian armed aggression. In particular, in February 2015, the musicians went on a two-week tour of Canada. During the performances, acoustic versions of the band's songs were played. And all theThe funds were donated to the needs of those affected by the war in eastern Ukraine.

After the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, SKAI did not stop its charitable mission. The artists performed for the Ukrainian military on the front lines. The group also organized a series of humanitarian concerts in the USA, Norway, the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany. At the end of the same year, the group presented the song "Naprolom", which it dedicated to the Ukrainian people and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Awards and distinctions:

• “Best vocalist” and “Best album of the year” (“Planeta SKY”) – “NePopsa” award from the radio station “Jem FM”, 2008;
• “Best clip of the year” (“Podaruj svyato”) – “NePopsa” award from the radio station “Jem FM”, 2009;
• “Best acoustic program” – “NePopsa” award, 2013;
• for “Contribution to the musical culture of Ukraine” (Yuna 2025).

Discography (studio albums):

• “Te, chto treba”;
• “Planeta S.K.A.Y.”;
• “!!” (Exclamation mark);
• “The Edge of the Sky”;
• “New Life”;
• “Rare Birds”;
• “TIME”.

The most famous hits:

• “This Might Kill You”;
• “Best Friend”;
• “Give the Light”;
• “Struna”;
• “Dangerous”;
• “Ukraine (Rock Version)”;
• “Melody of the Heart”;
• “I Would Give Everything”;
• “To the Heroes” (feat. Without Limits & Kozak System & Artur Danielyan) and others.

Interesting Facts about the band:

• Oleg Sobchuk's team applied to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017. The English-language song All My Love For You was presented. However, the group did not make it to the final;
• On August 23, 2021, the SKAI band joined a large-scale musical event in Severodonetsk - the "You Are the Only One in Me" festival. With their performance, the musicians supported the establishment of a national record for the most massive performance of Volodymyr Ivasyuk's legendary song "Chervona Ruta". More than 5,200 participants simultaneously sang the composition on the central square of the city;
• The group wrote the song "We are Dynamo, Dynamo is us". The composition became the unofficial anthem of the Dynamo-Kyiv football club;
• The band's frontman Oleg Sobchuk was included in the Ukrainian Book of Records. The singer became the first Ukrainian artist to travel the greatest distance from East to West by bicycle in the shortest time.