Gorim!

Year of foundation – 2016
City – Kharkiv (Ukraine)
Language – Ukrainian
Genre – pop, neo-soul, R&B

GORIM! is a popular music project of Ukrainian singer-songwriter and sound producer Viktor Nikiforov. The artist gained widespread recognition through his participation in the television show «The Voice of the Country» and was included in the longlist of the Eurovision 2022 National Selection. Today, Nikiforov runs his own record label and describes himself as an audiophile, considering listening to music a special form of leisure.

The Origins of the Project

The GORIM! project was founded in Kharkiv. It was created by two friends – sound engineer Pavlo Zelenov and vocalist, songwriter and musician Viktor Nikiforov. Later, as Viktor himself explained, Pavlo gradually stepped away from the project, and today GORIM! is essentially Viktor's solo creative endeavor.

Viktor became known to a wide audience through his participation in the popular television show «The Voice of the Country». The artist appeared on the project's stage twice: in the seventh season, he joined Serhii Babkin's team, and in the eleventh season, he worked under the mentorship of Tina Karol. Although he did not make it to the finals, the experience only strengthened his desire to develop his own music and create songs with a distinctive style and recognizable sound.

Even before gaining television recognition, GORIM! had already established itself in Ukraine's independent music scene. The project was featured in the second edition of the Raw compilation series by the «Maisternia» label and also performed at the showcase organized by the «Bahato Vody» PR agency and at Impulse Fest 2018. It was during this period that the future artist began building an audience that appreciated his unique sound and original approach to music.

Creative Journey

In 2019, GORIM! released the debut EP «Storm», which became an important milestone in the project's career. The record included five tracks that organically blended electronic music, soul and contemporary pop. Each composition showcased different facets of Viktor Nikiforov's vocals, while the carefully crafted arrangements highlighted the creators' high level of musical culture and artistic sophistication. Commenting on the release, Nikiforov noted that this was exactly the kind of music he had long dreamed of hearing in the Ukrainian music scene. Thus, «Storm» became a creative manifesto for the musician.

The following year, GORIM! released the single «Magic», followed in early spring by the music video «Run». The video conveyed the atmosphere of modern life through symbolic imagery and visual metaphors, perfectly complementing the musical composition.

In June 2021, fans heard another new release – the track «Euphoria». According to the performer, the song came together rather quickly. It combined characteristic elements of 1980s and 1990s music with a modern electronic sound, not as a stylistic imitation but as a subtle borrowing of the atmosphere of that era.

Eurovision 2022 National Selection

In 2022, GORIM! became one of the artists included in the longlist of the Eurovision National Selection with the song «Magic». Although the track did not make it into the final eight, this stage became an important step in the project's development and helped expand its popularity.

Speaking about the possibility of participating in the selection again, Viktor emphasized that the defining factor for him is always the song itself. In his opinion, a competition of such a scale requires the highest level of responsibility, so an application should only be submitted when there is a composition with equally strong music and meaningful lyrics. The artist has repeatedly stressed that he listens to high-quality music and strives to create the same kind of product for his audience.

Creative Style and Song Themes

GORIM!'s music is difficult to fit into a single genre. The project's musical universe is shaped by electronic music, neo-soul, R&B and pop rock, with Viktor Nikiforov moving effortlessly between them to create his own recognizable style. Critics and listeners often draw comparisons with British artist James Blake, noting a similar atmosphere and depth of sound.

GORIM!'s signature sound combines contemporary production with emotional delivery. Soft, expressive vocals characteristic of neo-soul blend harmoniously with electronic textures, rhythmic beats and a melancholic mood.

The foundation of the artist's lyrics is human emotion. In his songs, he reflects on the attraction between people, love, passion, the loss of intimacy and complicated relationships. Equally important themes include self-reflection, growing up, searching for one's place in the world and the inner transformations that everyone experiences. Despite the melancholic nature of many compositions, they often combine emotional depth with danceable energy, making them equally compelling both in live performances and through headphones.

Collaborations with Other Artists

An important direction of GORIM!'s work is collaboration with other Ukrainian performers. The project actively creates joint releases with both emerging pop artists and representatives of the electronic music scene.

Together with singer KRYLATA, Viktor recorded the atmospheric single «Meteor Shower», while his collaboration with Scoof resulted in the conceptual composition «Sad New Year». Particularly successful was his partnership with musician Yuzvik. This creative collaboration produced the rhythmic tracks «Cats in the Sun» and «Rosé», both of which found their audience and further strengthened the project's popularity.

These collaborations allow the artist to combine his signature neo-soul vocals with contemporary dance beats, electronic soundscapes and the rap influences of other performers, revealing new musical dimensions to his audience with every release.

Social Activity

An active civic position is an important part of GORIM!'s work. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the artist has regularly participated in charity concerts, festivals and other cultural events, where, together with other Ukrainian performers, he raises funds to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including the purchase of drones and other essential equipment for defenders.

At the same time, the musician consistently promotes Ukrainian culture through his own work. For GORIM!, music is not only an art form but also a way to preserve national identity, promote the Ukrainian language and bring it to an ever-growing audience both in Ukraine and abroad. One example of this approach is the release «Radiance», created using the poetry of Vasyl Stus.