Naviband(stylised asNAVIBAND,until late 2016 also calledNAVI) is an indie pop band from Belarus (Minsk) that has been Warsaw-based since 2020. The band was founded as a duo between singer/songwriter and guitar player Artsiom Lukyanenka and singer/songwriter Kseniya Zhuk (Lukyanenka), later also featured guitar player, producer Aliaksandr Tabolski, bass - Uladzislaŭ Čaščavik, drums - Uladzimir Beher, Yaroslav Tomilo as a sound engineer and manager.
Naviband | |
|---|---|
 Naviband (2024) | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | NAVI |
| Origin | Minsk,Belarus |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Members | Artsiom Lukyanenka Kseniya Zhuk Aliaksandr Tabolski Yaroslav Tomilo |
The band rose to fame with a primarilyBelarusian-language repertoire, but have also performed several songs in Ukrainian. Their first song "Abdymi myane" became a hit in their native Belarus. This was followed by their debut albumLovi,released in 2014. Afterwards, the band made multiple attempts to represent Belarus at the Eurovision Song Contest. Eventually, Naviband representedBelarus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017with the song "Historyja majho žyccia"finishing in 17th place, their country's fourth-best result.
NaviBand breaks down boundaries between indie, electronic and world music. Love, both human and divine, is examined in all its complexity and necessity in one of the Artist's most affecting works. Bright voices, pop melodies, folk motifs. From emotional vocal ambients to melodic pop tracks. NaviBand’s vintage warm atmosphere is good for listeners who are interested in the authentic original vision of indie music from Belarus.
History
edit2013-2014: "Abdymi miane", first albums and first Eurovision attempts
editNaviband was formed as a duo in 2013 in Minsk by journalism student Artsiom Lukyanienka and music student Kseniya Zhuk. Their first project was the song "Abdymi miane", which was released in the summer of 2013. The song immediately became a radio hit in Belarus leading to the beginning of the duo's career.[2]Artiom and Kseniya were married on the 5th of September 2014..[3]The duo did its first attempt to represent Belarus at the Eurovision Song Contest with its first and only song in English until 2021, but did not advance the audition rounds.
In early 2014, Naviband released their first albumLovi,containing songs in Belarusian and Russian.[4]Their first album and songs received positive responses from Russian, and Ukrainian popular musicians, includingDiana ArbeninaandSergei Babkin.[5]
The group's releases gained popularity, leading to their first concerts in Minsk,HrodnaandHomieland performed at a Christmas concert at theBolshoi TheaterinMoscow.[6]
The duet auditioned for theBelarusian selectionforEurovision 2015in December 2014. They presented the Belarusian-language song "Vyberu sam", but did not advance to the final of the selection. A few weeks later, the group released their second album,Soncam sahretyja,with songs solely in Belarusian.[7]
2015-2016: Becoming a band, "Heta zyamlya" and rise to popularity in Belarus
edit
In January 2015, NaviBand won the Belarusian music prizeLirafor "Best Song in Belarusian Language" for their single "Abdymi miane".[8]Not much later, Artsiom and Kseniya were joined by Aliaksandr Tabolski (producer, electric guitar player), Uladzislaŭ Čaščavik (bass), and Uladzimir Beher (drums), Yaroslav Tomilo (sound engineer)...and began turning the duet into a band.[9]
In recognition of their rising popularity, Naviband was invited as a participant at one of the concerts at theSlavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk.In addition to solo performances in Belarusian cities, the group also held solo concerts inPrague,Warsaw,Kiyevand performed at the Wild Mint Festival and Bardauskaja Vosień. In September 2015, the group won the competitive part of theBasowiszczafestival of Belarusian rock music.[10]
In November 2015, Naviband released the single "Heta Ziamlya" (This land), which went to the finals of thenational selectionfor theEurovision Song Contest-2016.[11]In February 2016, Naviband was announced as a participant in theBelarusian selectionwith the song "Heta Ziamlya". They eventually placed fourth in the national final.[12]
February 14, 2016, sold-out solo concert in Minsk club Re:Public. A recording of that concert was released as a live album later that year. In June, they met English singer and actressJoss Stonein Minsk, singing "Abdymi miane".[13]In July 2016, Naviband performed "Nash motiv" as a duet during the Slavianski Bazaar concertVitebsk gathers friends.
At the end of 2016, Naviband again declared their desire to represent Belarus at theEurovision Song Contest-2017.
2017-2018: Eurovision Song Contest 2017,IliuminacyjaandAdnoj darohaj
editOn 20 January 2017, Naviband again took part in the Belarusian Eurovision selection with the song "Historyja Majho žyccia" (The Story of My Life).[14]The same day the third album of the band was released, it was calledIliuminacyja.[15]
In the final of the national selection, Naviband won first place, earning the opportunity to represent Belarus at the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 in Kyiv in May 2017. They made history by being the first participants to perform in the Belarusian language.[16]
In February 2017, their Eurovision song was chosen as "Best Belarusian Song" at the secondLira Awards.Meanwhile, the group performed at "Vidbir", the Ukrainian national selection for Eurovision 2017. Their surprise Belarusian cover ofJamala's1944created a large public resonance in Ukraine and the group was told byKonstantin Meladzethat Ukraine would probably give Belarus the maximum result.[17]
After the draw, it became known that Naviband will perform in the second semifinal on 11 May. Based on the voting results on May 11, the group reached the final of the competition, where it performed third in the running order. In the final, Naviband scored 83 points, receiving a maximum of 24 points from Ukraine, finishing in 17th place.[18]Naviband's performance aroused great resonance and extremely positive public reaction in Belarus as the group managed to achieve the country's fourth-best result and the second-best points-wise in Belarusian history.[19]
On 3 June 2017, about ten thousand people came to the Naviband performance near the Minsk City Hall. A live performance on July 3, near Stella's "Minsk - Hero City", was broadcast byAll-National TV.[20]
On December 4, 2017, the song "A dzie žyvieš ty?" was released, accompanied by the announcement in the music video that Artsiom and Kseniya were expecting a baby.[21][22]Four days later, Naviband released their fourth albumAdnoj Darohaj.From the first day it took the first line of the charts of BelarusianiTunes[23]andGoogle Play Music.[24]All the songs on the album are written in Belarusian language.[25]
On February 16, 2018, they performed "Historyja Majho žyccia" and "A dzie žyvieš ty?" at theBelarusian selectionfor theEurovision Song Contest 2018. On March 1, 2018, Ksienija announced on her Instagram that they were expecting a son. Their son Matsei was born on 1 May 2018.[26]
In late 2018, the band performed their first Ukrainian-language track, "Sumne more" (Sad sea).[27]
2019-present:NaviBandand social activism
edit
NAVIBAND recorded their eponymous fifth album in Kyiv, Ukraine, with the help of crowdfunding.[28]NaviBandwas released on 5 December 2019.[29]From the album, two singles were released: "Galileo (Dva cheloveka)" and "Odin iz nas".[30]
In June 2020, the group released "Inshymi". During the2020 Belarusian protests,the song was frequently used and was named byMeduza.ioas one of the songs that described the protests.[31]The band also performed the song on the streets during one of the protests.[32]Subsequently, the group released "Devochka v belom" in September 2020, which was dedicated to female protesters.[33]The group continued their social activism with the song "Milliony bol'shikh serdets", which was also dedicated to the protest.
The group spoke out their support to remove Belarus from the Eurovision Song Contest 2021,[34]which eventually happened in March 2021.[35]In the follow-up of the protests, Naviband claimed that their songs were not allowed to be played anymore at student singing competitions.[36]
Since 2021, Naviband has been living in Europe and touring around. Starting in 2021, Artsiom and Kseniya have been performing as a trio with Aliaksandr Tabolski all over Europe. Their fifth album is set to be released in the fall of 2024.
Members
edit- Artsiom Lukyanenka – singer/songwriter, guitar – born13 August 1992inHlybokaye,Vitebsk Region.He is an adherent of the Catholic Church.[37]
- Kseniya Zhuk – singer/songwriter, keyboard – born21 December 1991in Minsk.
- Aliaksandr Tabolski – producer, electric guitar. During one of the protests of the2020-2021 Belarusian protests,Taboĺski was arrested and spent one night in prison.[38]
- Yaroslav Tomilo - sound engineer, manager
- Uladzislaŭ Čaščavik – bass
- Uladzimir Biehier – drums
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Lovi |
|
| Soncam sahretyja |
|
| Iliuminacyja |
|
| Adnoj darohaj |
|
| NaviBand |
|
Live albums
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Live from Minsk 14.02.2016 |
|
Singles
edit| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Abdymi myane" (Give Me a Hug) |
2013 | Non-album singles |
| "Heta ziamlia" (This land) |
2015 | |
| "Kolybelnaya" (Lullaby) |
2016 | |
| "Historyja majho žyccia" (Story of my life) |
2017 | Iliuminacyja |
| "Biažy" (Run) | ||
| "A dzie žyvieš ty?" (And where do you live?) |
Adnoj darohaj | |
| "Molodost' v karmane" (Youth in a pocket) |
2018 | Non-album singles |
| "Sumne more" (Sad sea) | ||
| "Galileo (Dva cheloveka)" (Galileo (Two people)) |
2019 | NaviBand |
| "Odin iz nas" (One of us) | ||
| "Inshymi" (Others) |
Non-album single | |
| "Kupalinka"[39] | 2023 | Non-album singles |
| "Prabach" (Forgive me) |
2024 | |
| "SOKAL" (FALCON) |
Television
edit| Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Itogi nedeli | 2017 | Reality series in the run-up toEurovision 2017 |
References
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- ^"Артем Лукьяненко из NaviBand: Предложение Ксюше сделал три года назад"[Artyom Lukyanenka from NaviBand: I proposed Kseniya three years ago].Komsomolskaya Pravda v Belarusi.15 May 2017.Retrieved8 April2018.
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- ^"Пять малоизвестных фактов о группе NaviBand".charter97.org.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-12-15.Retrieved2017-12-15.
- ^Brey, Marco (22 January 2016)."IVAN will represent Belarus!".eurovision.tv.European Broadcasting Union.Archivedfrom the original on 1 February 2016.Retrieved22 January2016.
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- ^Чернухо, Александр (20 January 2017).""Хочется, чтобы этот альбом стал знаковым для Беларуси!" Парень с девушкой, которые второй год пробуют попасть на "Евровидение", представляют "Иллюминацию" - Люди onliner.by ".Onliner.by(in Russian).Archivedfrom the original on 2017-12-15.Retrieved2017-12-15.
- ^"Belarus: Navi To Eurovision Song Contest 2017 - Eurovoix".Eurovoix.2017-01-20.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-12-15.Retrieved2017-12-15.
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