SKAI (formerly named SKAY, ) is a Ukrainian pop rock band. It was formed in 2001 in Ternopil, Ukraine.
SKAI was formed in 2001 when Oleh Sobchuk and Oleksandr Hryshchuk were students in the Ternopil Galician College. Yuri Rudnytsky (bass guitar) and Serhiy Nedashkovsky (drums) became the other two members of the band. Yuriy Mozil (keyboards) became a participant in 2005.
After the band was formed, it started to give concerts and performed at several festivals, such as Perlyny Sezonu, Tavriyski Ihry, and Chervona Ruta. They became recognized by a broader audience after their appearance on the program Fresh Blood on the Ukrainian TV channel M1. The general director Eduard Klim from Lavina Music noticed them and signed them to his label.
In 2005, the name of the band was updated to be written with dots (S.K.A.I., Ukrainian: á. ÃÂ. ÃÂ. ÃÂ.). At the same time, the tracks that were later included in the album ëIt Can Kill Youû (ëâõñõ ÃÂõ üþöõ òñøÃÂøû) were released on 25 Ukrainian radio stations. Clips were shot for the song of the same name, as well as the songs ëRemixû and ëWhat is neededû (ëâõ, ÃÂþ ÃÂÃÂõñðû). Sobchuk describes the track as a ëromantic ballad.û
In 2006, Lavina Music released a debut album ëWhat You Needû (ëâõ, ÃÂþ ÃÂÃÂõñðû). The tracks, that were later included in the album, were released on 25 Ukrainian radio stations. ëIt can kill youû (ëâõñõ ÃÂõ üþöõ òñøÃÂøû) from this album became the visit card of the band and made it famous all over Ukraine. Soon the band released a music video for this song and other â ëRemixû and ëWhat you needû (âõ, ÃÂþ ÃÂÃÂõñð) Oleh Sobchuk describes the last one as a romantic ballad.
The frontman Oleh Sobchuk in 2008 was awarded the medal of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) "1020 Years of Baptism of Rus" for his participation in the rock-tour with the same name.
In 2010 the third album called ë!û (ëExclamation markû) was released which includes tracks recorded by the duo with the Pikkardiyska Tertsiya and Green Gray. ÃÂðùñÃÂûÃÂàÿþÿÃÂûÃÂÃÂýàÿÃÂÃÂýàâ ëÃÂðü'ÃÂÃÂðù (Remember)û, ëÃÂÃÂñþòû (Love), ëáòÃÂÃÂûþû (Light) and title ë!û (Exclamation mark). Arthur Danielyan became sound producer of the three first albums.
In 2011, the anniversary album ë10û was released 2011. It was dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the band. The album includes the most famous tracks in group history. LP ëÃÂÃÂðù ÃÂõñðû (ëEdge of Heavenû) was released in 2014. Most famous songs â ëáÃÂÃÂÃÂýðû (ëStringû), ëI liked youû (ëâø ÃÂÿþôþñðûðÃÂàüõýÃÂû).
In OctoberâÂÂNovember 2013 the group took part in agitational concerts "We are united", which were organized by pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk in Ukrainian cities.
Album ëNew Lifeû (ëÃÂþòõ öøÃÂÃÂÃÂû) released in 2016. Song ëMelody of the Heartû (ëÃÂõûþôÃÂàÃÂõÃÂÃÂÃÂû) became the main soundtrack to the famous TV series in Ukraine Destiny Routes (ëÃÂðÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂø ÃÂþûÃÂû). Song ëWantedû became the soundtrack to the award-winning short film Wonderwall. The English version of the song is also called ëWonderwallû.
In February 2015, the band conducted a charity tour of major Canadian cities: Winnipeg, Vancouver, Saskatoon, and Toronto. The musicians performed acoustic versions of their songs, and all the funds raised went to a charity fund for the victims of the Russian-Ukrainian war in eastern Ukraine.
November-December 2016 â as part of an international anniversary tour, the band visited 10 cities in the United States and Canada with a concert program ëSKAI â New Life 15û.
In addition to the main concert in Saskatoon on December 9, SKAI gave free acoustic mini-performances for 3 days and brought the Ukrainian song to a place where it had not been heard for a long time or had not been heard at all. The band members met with high school students from local Ukrainian schools. The meetings were organized with the assistance of the Saskatoon branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
February 2018 â concerts in Paris, London, and Dublin. November-December 2016 â as part of an international anniversary tour, the band visited 10 cities in the United States and Canada with a concert program ëSKAI â New Life 15û.
In 2017 band created its own label, and officially changed its name from ëS. K. A. I.û to ëSKAIû, removing the dots from the old name. In 2018, the album ëRare Birdsû (ëàÃÂôúÃÂÃÂýàÿÃÂðàøû) was released. The music video for the song ëLet's Run Awayû was filmed in Los Angeles.
Also, In April 2018, was released the single ëYou Feelû, which became part of the album ëRare Birdsû.
SKAI performed another US tour in 2018. In addition to the largest cities on the West Coast, SKAI has also given concerts in Portland, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
The band was one of the contenders to represent Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest, which took place in Kyiv in May 2017. On January 27, 2017, the musicians presented the English-language song ëAll My Love For Youû, which took part in the voting, but did not make it to the semifinals. This is the English version of the single ëI love youû.
In April 2018, the single ëYou Feelû was released, which became part of the album ëRare Birdsû. In April-May 2018, the band conducted the second major tour of the United States and Canada. In April 2019, a video for the song ëI would give everythingû from the album ëRare Birdsû was released.
In September 2019, Yevhen Kibelev left the band, and Artem Talanov took his place. In February 2020, the single ëTake Itû was released. On April 27, 2020, the band released the song ëDo not retreat and do not give upû, dedicated to Danylo Didyk, a public activist who was a victim of a terrorist attack at the age of 15 during the March of Unity in Kharkiv in February 2015.
ëSkai 20û, a compilation album was presented in early 2021. It includes the best songs for 20-year history of a band. The band took part in a concert in the largest Ukrainian stadium, the concert was dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Ukrainian independence held on August 24. SKAI performed ëIt can kill youû (ëâõñõ ÃÂõ üþöõ òñøÃÂøû)
The single "Wings" (ëÃÂÃÂøûðû) released in autumn 2021 in collaboration with a symphonic orchestra. Also, a big SKAI concert took place in Kyiv dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the band in autumn 2021. The musicians performed 15 of their best known tracks accompanied by a symphonic orchestra and choir.
SKAI is known for its charitable events and initiatives. The income of many concerts was donated to sick children and war victims in eastern Ukraine. The band's frontman Oleh Sobchuk is also the founder of the ëÃÂþôðÃÂÃÂù áòÃÂÃÂûþû (ëGive Lightû) Charitable Foundation, which helps raise funds for medical equipment for sick children.