Biography » Vlad Darwin

Русская версия [/ru/bio] BIO Media Photo Video Audio FOR DJS Events News Announcements Social Projects Social Networks CONTACTS BIO Media Photo Video Audio FOR DJS Events News Announcements Social Projects Social Networks CONTACTS Menu Biography Vlad Darwin is a songwriter and producer. The songs written by Vlad Darwin were included in the repertoire of Tina Karol, Ani Lorak, Natalya Mogilevskaya, Alyosha, Vitaliy Kozlovskyi, Max Barskih and other famous ukrainian artists. The song of Vlad Darwin "Mosty nad Dniprom" ("Bridges over the Dnipro river") was sung by the TOP Ukraine performers as Iryna Bilyk, Potap i Nastya, NeAngely, Aviator, Vremya i Steklo etc. Date of Birth: July 19, 1986 City: Kyiv Education: Institute of International Relations, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv 2008 – he became a finalist of the famous TV show “The Star Factory 2” 2009 – he presented his first concert program, first singles and a debut music video “Zelena Feia” (“The Green Fairy”); cooperation with Natalia Mogilevskaya 2010 – he released his debut album “Put Otkryt” (“The Way is Open”); the all-Ukrainian concert tour was launched 2011 – he recorded a duet song “Ty naikrashcha” (“You Are the Best”) (in Russian version - “Smysl Zhyzni” (“Sense of Life”)) performed with ukrainian singer Alyosha. The song brought its author the following awards: “Composer of the Year”, “Radio-hit of the Year” (“Crystal Microphone”). Besides, the song topped the national airplay chart of the year and hit the all-Ukrainian record in terms of the number of downloads from the Internet and audio plays online. 2012 – Vlad Darwin was nominated in four categories at once at the First Music Awarding Ceremony YUNA: “Best Composer”, “Best Lyricist”, “Duet of the Year” (featuring Alyosha) and “Singer of the Year.” He picked up his award in the category “Duet of the Year”. The artist has presented his new concert program “Sense of Life” and released a self-titled album. Ambassador of UN Red Ribbon Team. 2013 – Two music videos - “Tri Sestry” (“Three Sisters”) and “Vіtryla” (“Unbroken”) (feat. Dara) - have been produced; cooperation with Tina Karol (song "Zhyzn Prodoljaetsa" ("Life goes on")); nominated by YUNA Awards as “Best Composer”, “Best Lyricist”, "Best Male Performer" 2014 – finilazing cooperation with UNAIDS Red Ribbon Team; Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Mr. Michel Sidibé signed certificate of appreciation for Vlad Darwin; Vlad terminated solo career and started producing new girl-band 18PLS with MOON RECORDS company (Andriy Pasichnyk) 2015 – releasing of new songs written by Vlad Darwin: Mosty nad Dniprom (Bridges over the Dnipro river) performed by the most popular singers of Ukraine (Iryna Bilyk, Natalia Mogilevskaya, Potap i Nastya, Vremia i Steklo, Alyosha, Vitalii Kozlovskii), Ya ili Ona (Me or Her) for Lavika & Tiana (Tatiana Reshetnyak), Troyandy (Roses) featuring Alyosha. 2016 – creating and founding new production company ARTERIA. Childhood Vlad picked up the tunes of his favourite songs in the age of 5 years. Vlad’s parents noticed their son’s interest and entrusted Vlad’s talent to professionals by putting him into a music school. Right from the first composition classes, a teacher noticed the boy among other children. The teaching staff decided that Vlad needed a special curriculum - composition lessons. Vlad’s songs became hits of school concerts, district festivals and young talent competitions. V.D.: "I was very lucky with the teachers, who taught me not only to respect, but to have passion for knowledge and culture. These were my teenage years, when music was like a flowing river, and no one tried to put limits on my creativity. On the contrary, I even received support. One day, Viktor Yushchenko (the ex-President of Ukraine) praised me after hearing the song “Podol” which I wrote. I was pleasantly surprised, because at the time I considered music merely a hobby." Adolescence There were two certificates: the first one was from a reputable high school, with honours, the second one was from a music school. Vlad faced a difficult choice: What path in life should he pursue? Taking his senior friends’ strong advice, Vlad decided to give up art in favour of foreign languages and diplomacy. He soon finished his studies to join a “serious” profession, but he kept writing some “drawer” music. Six years in the university helped Vlad to become a true expert in the field of international information. V.D.: "My life was too smooth and predictable for far too long. I liked to study diplomacy, but I was surrounded by people who were completely different. It was pure loneliness, where music was my only escape. I would still drift, if not for one fateful meeting..." Vlad got acquainted with Natalya Mogilevskaya Vlad was already getting ready to embark upon a career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when he by chance got acquainted with the idol of his early years - Natalya Mogilevskaya. Summer 2008 marked a turning point in the life of an ordinary student. Thanks to Natalya Vlad remembered that he could write music and lyrics; as a result, he wrote the whole cycle of songs just within a month. Natalya liked some of the songs and she brought them into her repertoire, but she continuously insisted that the young composer should get to know the music scene personally if he wants to become a producer. V.D.: “I used to tell loudly and clearly to my friends that I took a liking to Natalya Mogilevskaya. Everyone in school and at the institute knew that I am a big fan of this famous singer. Well, it's a small world – at one point Natalya got to hear about me and so we got acquainted. This wonderful and magical acquaintance made me cardinally change my views of the world and influenced Natalya’s life. I am very grateful to her for all the faith, support and inspiration she gave to me.” The Star Factory 2 A popular singer and producer Natalya Mogilevskaya invited Vlad to take a crack at the audition of the second season of the Ukrainian version of the world-famous TV show “The Star Factory”. To his own surprise, Vlad becomes a participant in this ambitious reality show! Thus, this time he appears before hundreds of thousands of spectators as a singer and songwriter under the stage name Vlad Darwin. V.D.: “The Star Factory” is a school of hard knocks. You have to live in the fast lane for three months in a small space in front of dozens of cameras, with no fresh air and sunshine. During “The Star Factory” I got to know the seamy side of the music industry of Ukraine and realized that I want to dedicate my life to creative work and show business against all the odds.” Vlad Darwin took such a pseudonym for several reasons: firstly, the word “Darwin” is energetically strong, secondly, it takes on new meanings in different languages​​, and thirdly, it was born in close vicinity to Darwin street in Kyiv – so why not? Vlad's songs engaged fan and colleague’s hearts at once. Many singles of his authorship were performed by the participants of “The Star Factory” during the project: “Amsterdam”, “Real O”, “Vselennaya”, “Stereoden”, “DVD”, “3:25”, “Armani”, “Unit 1”, “Dai 5”, “Dzheneley”, “Radiobrachialis”. Vlad Darwin becomes a finalist of the show “The Star Factory 2”, at the same time this young singer and songwriter gains his first audience. 2009 Vlad has dropped out of sight of the media after the completion of the project: he was working on Natalya Mogilevskaya’s album. During all this time Vlad was getting letters from his fans who were thanking him for his songs; thus, having realized his inextricable connection to live music, he decided to stage a comeback in autumn of 2009 after all. On October 12, 2009, Vlad Darwin presented his new singles that resulted in his first concert program “Music of elements”. In the same year, Vlad's debut music video for the song “Zelena Feia” (“The Green Fairy”) appeared on television and became a hit soon afterwards. V.D.: “It seemed to me that the first clip is the most crucial point in the life of the singer. I studied directing and video editing, with the help of professionals, of course. I was very inspired by the production process. It was the first time when I had my eye on the role of producer.” 2010 The fantasy video “Zelena Feia” (“The Green Fairy”) was followed by another romantic video “Goa”. Due to the large number of club remixes the single “Goa” gained wide popularity not only in Ukraine, but also abroad, particularly in the CIS. Another work “Yoga ili spirt” (“Yoga or alcohol”) became the soundtrack to the first 3D movie made in Ukraine “Lyubov i tochka” (“Love. Period.”) At the end of 2010, Vlad Darwin's debut album “Put Otkryt” (“The Way is Open”) was offered for sale, which includes not only songs, but also the stories about happiness in the lives of Vlad's fans. The Album received positive critical reviews and became one of the best online sales. V.D.: “The first album embodies the first 24 years of my life in a one-hour concentration. I tried to imbue it with all my love, travelling adventures, discoveries, a bit of infinite joy and a bit of intolerable pain.” 2011 “Khaynorіlei, ty naikrashcha z liudei” (“Haynorіlei, you are the best of all the people”) was Vlad Darwin's motto throughout 2011. Hundreds of thousands of people across the CIS sing this line along with the singer. In a short period of time the song “Ty naikrashcha” (“You Are the Best”) (in Russian version - “Smysl Zhyzni” (“Sense of Life”)), which Vlad wrote and performed with singer Alyosha, became a hit! The Internet was overflowing with thousands of videos of the first wedding dance to this song, hundreds of cover versions, while the number of views of the music video “Ty naikrashcha” (“You Are the Best”) on Youtube quickly exceeded 2 million! This song brought Vlad Darwin a number of awards, in particular: “Composer of the Year”, “Radio-hit of the year” (“Crystal Microphone”), top position in the national airplay chart - the song was taking the top position of the chart for 25 weeks in a row! “Ty naikrashcha” (“You Are the Best”) hits the all-Ukrainian record in terms of the number of downloads from the Internet as well as audio plays online! The success of the first duet song performed by Darwin and Alyosha was supported by another jointly performed hit single “Bolshe Chem Lyubov” (“More Than Love”). V.D.: “Creative cooperation with Alyosha and her team marked a new phase in my life. I became closer to the people; I learned to perceive their sadness and joy. There were a lot of concerts throughout the country during which I realized that people are attached to performers not for their vocal skills, not for the music they write, but for their empathy and heartiness.” 2012 Soon a new colourful music video from Vlad Darwin “Passazhir Dozhdia” (“The Rain Passenger”) which was filmed in Nepal was presented on TV. At the same time the list of nominees for the main Ukrainian music award YUNA was announced, setting the tone for the upcoming fruitful year – Vlad Darwin became one of the record-breaking nominees! The name of performer and songwriter Vlad Darwin appeared in four categories at once: “Best Composer”, “Best Lyricist”, “Duet of the Year” (featuring Alyosha) and “Singer of the Year.” The artist was awarded the winged figurine YUNA for the “Duet of the Year” with Alyosha. Soon afterwards Vlad Darwin presented his new concert program “Sense of Life”. In this program the artist presented exclusively his original songs performed live, including hits and first performances of new singles. A novelty for the music gourmets – the second studio album of the artist “Sense of Life” – was also presented then. V.D.: “I ​​wanted to make everyone who visited the concert “Sense of Life” ask themselves what is the most important thing in their lives? As the years go by, many people do not feel the beauty around them anymore, do not fall in love and discover new dimensions inside them. “Sense of Life” signifies the Love in its broad sense for me; it’s the audience, it’s the family, it’s God.” Concurrently with his active creative life, Vlad manages to be involved in social projects – by taking part in benefit concerts, by supporting topical events and activities. The International Organization UNAIDS chose the performing artist to be the delegate of the “Red Ribbon” project of the UN in Ukraine. Within the scope of his social activities, Vlad Darwin performed onstage at the main fan zone of Ukraine during the football championship “Euro 2012” where he presented his new song “Sokhranyu Lyubov” (“Save love”) dedicated to people living with HIV. V.D.: “Why HIV/AIDS? Because nowadays this issue is severe in our society more than ever. The first thing is to promote simple safety rules: it is important to lead a healthy life, avoid promiscuous sexual relations and use personal protection. The second thing is that everyone should tolerate people who for some reason became HIV positive, because they feel some kind of rejection by the society.” The artist is actively engaged in the activities of the international “Red Ribbon” team of the UN in the CIS. This project got Vlad acquainted with a young singer DARA who is gaining wide popularity in Moldova and Romania. 2013 In cooperation with the well-known Estonian director Hindrek Maasik, Vlad Darwin releases a new music video called “Tri Sestry” (“Three Sisters”) in which he deserted from his familiar image of musical philosopher onstage and projected himself into a romantic gardener. The acquaintance with the singer DARA resulted in a close friendship and further cooperation. The artists presented their duet single, “Vіtryla” (“Sails”) written by Vlad. Together with DARA Vlad Darwin went to the International Student Games in Kazan as the delegate of the “Red Ribbon” project of the UN. In Kazan the artists performed duo in another social single “Zhyt Vybiraem” (“We Choose to Live”). 2014-2016 Creating new production agency and studio ARTERIA. Currently, Vlad Darwin is actively working in the studio, writing songs not only for himself but also for his colleagues onstage; he is engaged in sound producing, he supervises arrangers, sound engineers and musicians; he checks and edits the voice-part recordings; he privately consults young artists. © 2017 Vlad Darwin Created by LelikBolik Creative Factory