Boombox

• Year of foundation – 2004
• City – Kyiv (Ukraine)
• Language – Ukrainian, English
• Genre – rock, funk, reggae, hip-hop

Lineup:

• Andriy Khlyvnyuk – vocals, lyrics;
• Valentyn “Valik” Matiyuk – DJ, acoustic guitar;
• Olexandr Lyulyakin – drums;
• Inna Nevoyt – bass guitar;
• Dmytro Kuvalin – guitar;
• Pavlo Litvinenko – keyboards;
• Stanislav Gurenko – acoustic guitar, video director, cameraman.

The band's producer is Oleksiy Sogomonov.

History of the band

Boombox appeared in 2004 in Kyiv. Three friends – vocalist Andriy Khlyvnyuk, guitarist Andriy Samoilo (known as Mukha) and DJ Valentyn Matiyuk (Dj Valik) – simply got together to play music for their circle of friends. No plans for popularity and recognition, no loud ambitions – just a desire to create.

Although the band was born in the capital, the members came from different cities. Khlyvnyuk – from Cherkasy, Samoilo – from Lutsk, and Matiyuk – from Novovolynsk. The story quickly took a dramatic turn: Oleksandr Polozhynskyi, the leader of the band Tartak, learned that Samoilo and Matiyuk, in company with Khlyvnyuk, were secretly writing an album. For the artist, this was a betrayal, so he asked them to leave Tartak. The guys complied with the request and from then on fully focused on their own project.

Creative path

The musicians created their debut album "Melomania" in record time - in just 22 hours. It was a real creative experiment that turned out to be successful. Then - even louder: the album "Family Business" received "gold" status in Ukraine. After that, the musicians began to be actively invited to concerts. First to Western Ukraine - Lviv, Ternopil, Lutsk, and later the capital's clubs became cramped for the group.

In 2007, the composition "Vakhteram" was heard on leading radio stations. And soon the hit "Ta4to" burst onto the airwaves, thanks to which the group became famous even outside of Ukraine. In September of the same year, Moon Records released the single "Trymai". In 2009, a video clip for the song "Alone" appeared - a trailer for the Ukrainian film "Rejection" by Volodymyr Lert.

Recording tracks, new video clips, tours around the country - Boombox was confidently gaining momentum.

Creative collaboration and tours

From February 9 to 20, 2011, Boombox went on a tour of North America. The tour included 8 live performances by the band. In the spring of 2013, the band went to Europe with Dmitry Shurov. The musicians played concerts in the Czech Republic and Germany, presenting their music to the Ukrainian diaspora and foreign fans.

During the full-scale war, Boombox performed on the stages of Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Great Britain, Croatia and other European countries. Later, in 2025, Andriy Khlyvnyuk's band invited all fans to autumn concerts in the USA and Canada. At the same time, the musicians announced a large-scale Drone Tour of Europe.

Boombox has always been open to experiments and creative collaboration. The group's achievements include collaborations with many Ukrainian artists:

• “Bezodnya” – together with Tinya Karol;
• Hey, Hey, Rise Up – together with Pink Floyd (Andriy Khlyvnyuk's vocals were used);
• Wish You Were Here – performance with David Gilmour at the I’m with the Banned concert;
• “Trymay mene” – together with The Gitas;
• “Pravda” – together with Serhiy Zhadan;
• “Vechir v Pio” – together with O.Torvald and other collaborations.

Social activity and civic position

A boombox during a full-scale war has its own rhythm, its own formula of life. It is simple, but time-tested. The band spends two, three, or even four weeks on tour abroad, bringing Ukrainian music to the world. After returning home, each member takes on his or her important mission. Someone goes to the frontline with a unit, someone is involved in the affairs of the Andriy Khlyvnyuk charity fund, someone volunteers. A few months pass - and Boombox goes on tour again. Thus repeats the circle in which the stage, help and war are intertwined into one life.

Thanks to the support of listeners - donations, funds from ticket sales and merchandise - the band managed to do a lot of useful things. During this time, the musicians have purchased what helps our soldiers maintain defense: from pickup trucks and drones to communication equipment and ammunition. Every song, every concert, every hryvnia turns into concrete assistance for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Style and creative development

With each new year, the band expanded its horizons, while maintaining the main thing - sincerity and lively drive, which made Boombox the idols of millions. And today the band's music is not just a mix of styles, but a living energy born at the intersection of funk, hip-hop and rock. The band's work combines deep, sometimes confessional lyrics by Andriy Khlyvnyuk and multi-layered instrumental parts - from gentle keys to powerful guitars, bass andpercussion.

Tracks can be explosive, full of drive and light, or they can become quiet reflections on the meaning of life, love, loss and eternity. It is in this contrast that the magic of the band lies. Boombox creates music that resonates within, becomes a part of memory, recollections and feelings.

For many Ukrainians, the songs of Andriy Khlyvnyuk's team are the soundtrack of life. Melodies that sounded in the happiest moments and supported in the most difficult. Boombox is not just a band, but a phenomenon that changed the Ukrainian scene, proving that real music can unite people even in the darkest times.

Discography (studio albums):

• «Melomania» (2005);
• «Family Business» (2006);
• «III» (2008);
• «All Inclusive» (2010);
• «Middle Age» (2011);
• «Terminal B» (2013);
• «Secret Code: Rubicon. Part 1» (2019);
• «Secret Code: Rubicon. Part 2” (2019).

The band’s most famous hits:

• “To the Guards”;
• “Flowers”;
• “Child”
• “People”;
• “Alone”;
• “Yours 100%”;
• “Loved”;
• “Who Were We” and many others.

These and other tracks have repeatedly blown up the most prestigious music charts in Ukraine and abroad.

Awards and distinctions:

• YUNA 2013 “Best Band”;
• YUNA 2019 “For Special Achievements in Music”;
• place in the TOP-20 most significant songs of the 21st century – the song “To the Guards” (according to the decision of the YUNA award experts).

Interesting facts about the band:

• in 2014, the band refused to perform in Russia and put the “Golden Gramophone” award up for auction to support those affected by the ATO;
• despite expectations, the album “Family Business” remained out of the attention of Ukrainian radio stations for a long time. The band's producer Oleksiy Sogomonov recalled that at each of those stations that later called Boombox the "discovery of the year" and presented awards, there were several of the band's discs in the trash. The releases were simply thrown away without even listening to them. But it was the fans, not the radio experts, who were the first to appreciate the guys' music and give them real recognition;
• The printing and mastering of the albums "People" and "Naked King" were carried out in Italy. Photographer Sonya Plakydyuk and artist Evelina Yatselenko worked on the design of the album "People" and the visual concept of the tour of the same name;
• When asked by a journalist to describe the character of each band member, preferably with an emphasis on their shortcomings, the Boombox leader answered with his characteristic humor: "Andriy Khlyvnyuk is a bore, a romantic, a rock star. Andriy Mukha Samoilo is a cunning, a family man, a rock star. Valentyn Valik Matiyuk is a silent, nice guy, a rock star.”