The Hardkiss Return With Their New Single "Crush" and Share Insight into Their Journey of Resilience
- STAFF
- Jul 12
- 7 min read
By: Staff
The Hardkiss delivers an electrifying anthem of strength and vulnerability with "Crush," a masterpiece that resonates deeply.
A Pulse of Defiance and Heartbreak – The Hardkiss Unveils New Single "Crush"
In a world where silence often speaks louder than words, one Ukrainian band rises from the ashes of adversity with a new release that promises to shake the very core of its listeners.
The Hardkiss, known for their haunting fusion of raw emotion and melodic intensity, returns with "Crush" – a track that cuts deep into the heart of conflict, love,
and the undeniable human spirit.
As the band continues to navigate the chaos surrounding them, "Crush" captures a tumultuous journey of transformation and resilience. With every note, the song channels both fragility and fury, drawing you into a world where music becomes not just an escape, but a powerful weapon.
We had the privilege of talking with the band to discuss the creation of the song, their ongoing mission, and what lies ahead in a world that has been forever changed.
Read on to find out what inspires The Hardkiss to keep pushing boundaries and how their music serves as a voice for those who cannot be silenced.
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview:
Hello, The Hardkiss, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more intrigued to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Q. For the fans meeting you for the first time, what inspired you to choose The Hardkiss for your band name?
A. We didn’t choose the name The Hardkiss by accident. Our music is a mix of heavy, high-energy arrangements and tender, emotional vocals. It’s always an explosive combination — a blend of genres, classical rock and electronic instruments. And somewhere in that intersection, the unique The Hardkiss sound and visual identity are born.
Plus… have you seen Val? He’s the co-founder of the band and, together, I think we perfectly embody the contrast of Hard and Kiss.
Q. What inspired the creation of your new single "Crush"?
A. The main theme of our single Crush is emotional burnout — a very loud and pressing issue in today’s world. We’ve faced challenges we were never mentally prepared for. And all around the globe, different events are taking place that lead to emotional exhaustion.
With this song, we also wanted to convey a sense of danger — like a fire that’s born from a tiny spark and then grows into something unstoppable.
Q. "Fall in love with this pain" is a powerful lyric. Can you tell us what this line means to you and how it fits into the overall theme of the song?
A. Pain has become an inseparable part of my life. Even though life goes on, it will never be the same again. It’s a very strange feeling — realizing how lucky people are who live in peaceful environments, and how little they value it.
Sometimes it feels like this pain will never leave me. That’s where the lyric was born — that all that’s left is to accept the fact that it’s now a part of me forever.
Q. The song touches on a deep sense of silence and realization. How does "Crush" reflect the emotional and psychological impact of the war on you personally?
A. This is exactly the feeling of danger I mentioned earlier. We all sensed it in the months leading up to the full-scale invasion — but we didn’t want to believe it. And that’s the very analogy of the spark: the one no one noticed, but it was already catching fire.
The issue of emotional burnout, of mental health, is more relevant than ever in Ukraine right now. Everyone feels the emotional pressure. People keep getting up in the morning after terrifying attacks, going to work, and continuing to live their lives. I’m constantly in awe of Ukrainians who prove time and again that nothing is impossible for human beings.
Q. In what ways has the band been involved in social and humanitarian projects since the war began? Can you share any specific initiatives that are particularly close to your hearts?
A. Today, every public figure in Ukraine — every musician — uses their platform to speak out, to support Ukraine, to raise funds and donations, because unfortunately, the needs are not decreasing; they are only growing.
I often talk to listeners around the world and I’m sometimes surprised that many of them think the war is already over, or that we’re close to victory. I always explain that this is far from the truth. There’s still a huge need for resources to protect our cities, to treat the wounded, to rebuild what’s been destroyed.
I remember a very emotional moment when we met a war veteran — he was wearing prosthetics, and it turned out those prosthetics had been purchased thanks to the funds raised at our charity concerts. That meeting and his words meant the world to me — I was moved to tears.
Q. You’ve said that "every Ukrainian act today carries more than just music." What does this mean, and how do you see your role as musicians in the global conversation about the war?
A. When the war began, we were abroad, but our loved ones — our parents — were in Ukraine. I woke up to a message from my mother saying that the war had started. We tried to help from a distance, coordinating everything we could to make sure our families were safe.
A week later, we realized we had no idea if we’d have anything left — any of our material possessions — so we bought a small travel guitar and a microphone, thinking at least we’d be able to make audio recordings on a laptop.
We didn’t know where we would live or how we would survive. A few weeks later, we began taking part in various charity concerts and events in support of Ukraine — speaking out to anyone who would listen, telling the world that Ukraine needed help.
Q. How has the war shaped your mission as a band?
A. It has always been very important for us to create music that could compete internationally, beyond the borders of Ukraine. And right now, it’s just as important for us to represent our country with dignity on global stages — to show that Ukraine not only has a rich, authentic traditional culture, but also a modern and high-quality music scene.
When we tour in Europe and the U.S., people often come up to us after shows, amazed and excited, saying they had no idea a Ukrainian band could sound like this.
Q. The Hardkiss was formed in 2011. How have you seen the band evolve since then, both musically and in terms of your personal growth?
A. Back in 2011, we started out as an English-language electronic band. A lot of people genuinely thought we were an American or British act!
Later, our sound evolved into something more rock-oriented, and we began focusing more on Ukrainian-language songs. In Ukraine, we reached the highest level of success we could have dreamed of — top awards, major honors, the biggest music stages and festivals.
I’ve already experienced every kind of TV show. I was a judge on X-Factor and The Voice, I danced on Dancing with the Stars, and I even hosted Eurovision.
All I want now is to release a strong alternative album and claim our place on the European scene.
Q. Your music fuses rage with fragility and melody. How would you describe the evolution of your sound, and what influences have shaped it over the years?
A. Val and I create the music together, and then we finalize the tracks with the rest of the band. Because we grew up on completely different kinds of music, our songs naturally have a wide range of influences and shades.
I grew up listening to jazz — Diana Krall, George Benson, Ray Charles. Val, on the other hand, was raised on rock and metal music. His favorite bands are Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, Slipknot, Placebo, Deftones. So you can imagine the kind of explosive mix that creates.
Also, I graduated from the Kyiv University of Philology, so I’ve always had a passion for playing with lyrics and words — making them feel meaningful and deep.
Q. What does it mean for you to produce your music entirely independently? What challenges and rewards come with maintaining creative control?
A. These days, being a musician, unfortunately, isn’t just about music. You have to dive into all kinds of processes. We shoot our own music videos, organize photoshoots, create content for social media, and plan out our PR strategies.
On the one hand, this approach allows us to present our music exactly the way we feel it — 100%. But on the other hand, it takes a lot of time away from actually making music.
I’m honestly glad we started our career almost 15 years ago, because now it feels like the chances of being noticed are incredibly small — there’s just so much music being released every second.
And with AI tools now accessible to everyone, there will be even more music out there. I don’t envy newcomers who are just starting out.
Q. If you could give a one-line message to the world about this conflict, what would you say?
A. If the civilized world had responded more firmly and decisively against Russian aggression, the war might have ended much earlier — and many more Ukrainian lives could have been saved. Now, the evil knows that it can stay unpunished.
Q. What does the future look like for you as a band, and how do you envision your journey moving forward?
A. The most fulfilling thing — and something I truly feel is a blessing — is performing live for people. That connection is what inspired us to start writing a new album. We often hear from our listeners that our music helps them get through difficult times and stay emotionally strong.
That’s why we feel we have no right to stop.
If we can keep playing concerts and meeting our audience in person, I’ll be the happiest person in the world.
The Hardkiss, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared The Hardkiss’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
Now, click the links below to experience their incredible work firsthand!
