Ziferblat
Year of foundation – 2015
City – Kyiv
Language – Ukrainian, English
Genre – alternative rock
Composition:
- Daniil Leszczynskiy – vocals;
- Valentyn Leszczynskiy – guitar;
- Fedor Khodakov – drums.
Band history
Ziferblat is a Kyiv musical group founded in 2015 by twin brothers Danylo (soloist) and Valentyn (guitarist) Leshchynsky. Later, drummer Fedor Khodakov joined the group. However, music appeared in the brothers' lives long before that. At the age of six, the boys entered a music school. At first, they planned to learn to play the piano. However, due to the large number of applicants, the teachers suggested choosing another instrument. As a result, the brothers received a secondary musical education as cellists. Later, in their teens, they became interested in rock. Both young men became interested in the guitar, and Danylo began to master the keyboards. And over time, the brothers divided the musical roles between them.
Ziferblat drummer Fedor Khodakov has been involved in music since early childhood and was convinced that he would devote his life to creativity. A clear understanding that he wanted to perform on the big stage appeared at about the age of 13. And since then, the young man gradually began to realize his goal, immersing himself in musical culture.
The Leszczynski brothers created their first musical group with their classmates after finishing ninth grade. The group was called Runnin' Blue. It was an allusion to the hit of the same name by The Doors. Over time, the members grew up and consciously decided to write songs in Ukrainian. That's how the Ziferblat group was born.
Creative path
The first release of the Ziferblat band was released in 2017. The musicians made their discographic debut with a mini-album called "Kinoseans". Already in 2019, the musicians began work on creating a studio album "Pervertvodnenie", which was released in 2023. In 2019, the band took part in the show "X-Factor", presenting their own single "Vnochi". During the preparation period for the second release, they played two solo live shows and conquered the stages of several festivals.
In 2022, Ziferblat made their first attempt to reach the final of the national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. However, they only made it to the long list. Despite this, an important achievement for the band was the strong support of the audience after the release of the video clip for the song "Earth". It was then that "Ziferblat" began to be perceived as a group with an expressive style that is not subject to genre restrictions. The musicians emphasized the quality of the sound, the purity of the vocals, and visual elements.
National selection for Eurovision 2024
The Ziferblat band has been working hard to establish itself as one of the most promising young Ukrainian bands. The national selection for Eurovision 2024 was a real breakthrough for the team. The song Place I Call Home received the largest number of votes from the jury. According to the results of the audience vote, Ziferblat took fourth place. And in the overall rating, the musicians became second. So in 2024, the band's creative career took a big leap. The artists not only gained popularity and recognition among a wide audience, but also witnessed a new stage in the development of the Ukrainian music industry.
Triumph at the National Selection for Eurovision 2025
In a year, Ziferblat became participants in the competitive selection for participation in the Eurovision Song Contest for the third time. On February 8, 2025, the group won with the song Bird of Pray. The jury rated the performance of the group 9 points, and the viewers - 10. Previously, fans of Ziferblat's work called the composition gourmet. Fans emphasized that the track needs to be listened to several times to fully experience all its power and beauty.
The musicians themselves noted that Bird of Pray is a deep emotional reflection on the daily realities that surround every Ukrainian. The song intertwines longing for one's native home, pain from losses, prayer, and the search for inner reserves. All this forms a powerful message that resonates in people's hearts as a symbol of hope.
One of the jury members, Serhiy Tanchynets, compared the band's performance to the show of world star Freddie Mercury during the National Selection final, emphasizing the spectacularity of the act. And the leader of the Go-A band, Kateryna Pavlenko, noted the performance as the most striking in terms of stage production and execution.
The band's creative style
Although fans, journalists, critics, and producers try to categorize the band into various genres, the members of Ziferblat themselves do not identify with any particular style. The musicians do not seek to limit themselves to one musical direction.
The band pays great attention to the visual component of their work. They carefully work on video clips, stage images, and album designs. Despite the band members' reluctance to position themselves as musical conceptualists and intellectuals, this image is increasingly firmly entrenched in the artists.
Social activity
During their concert tours, the Ziferblat band actively draws the attention of the world community to both Ukrainian culture and the tragedy of our people associated with the full-scale Russian invasion. The musicians support the Ukrainian military by organizing fundraisers and holding charity concerts.
The band sees its performance at Eurovision 2025 as an opportunity not only to demonstrate its musical talent to the world, but also to remind us of the war in Ukraine. The artists are preparing a special social project. As the band leader notes, the initiative is aimed at drawing the attention of the international community to the tragic events in Ukraine. In addition, the musicians seek to show how music, together with international support, can help in difficult times.
Awards and honors
The group has repeatedly been nominated for prestigious music awards. It has won and received honorable mentions in the following categories:
- "Best Costumes" (Prague Music Video Awards 2022);
- "Best Rock Music Video" (Budapest Movie Awards 2022);
- "Best Rock Music Video" (Best Music Video Awards 2022);
- "New Connect – The Best New Names in Alternative Music" (Muzvar Awards 2023).
Interesting facts about the band:
- In the group, Daniil is mainly responsible for creating music, and Valentin writes the lyrics;
- Valentin studied at the Institute of International Relations. Fedir has a musical education. And Daniil graduated from the Faculty of History of Taras Shevchenko University;
- In their work, artists put creativity at the forefront. Musicians are sure: popularity is a relative thing; today it is there, tomorrow it is not;
- The band's fans call themselves "marshmallows." The name comes from the band's name.
