- Real name – Mykola Mykolayovych Bortnyk
- Date of birth – March 8, 1990
- City – Kherson (Ukraine)
- Language – Ukrainian, English
- Activity – singer, songwriter
- Genre – pop
Max Barskykh is a Ukrainian singer and songwriter whose hits are known not only in Ukraine but also abroad. The artist is among the most popular stars of the Ukrainian pop scene.
History of the artist's development
Mykola Bortnyk (the musician's real name) was born in Kherson. His love for art appeared in his childhood. At first, the future singer was fascinated by drawing, but later music began to occupy an increasingly large place in his life. At about the age of ten, Mykola began to participate in various groups and perform at music festivals. Soon, creativity so captivated the boy that at the age of 12 he wrote his first song in English. It was then that he clearly realized that the stage would become his main calling.
During his school years, Mykola felt much more mature than his peers. A serious attitude to life, a deep perception of events and a desire for self-realization shaped his character even in adolescence. According to the performer himself, sometimes it seemed to him that he thought like a person who was already forty or even fifty years old.
After completing his studies at the Kherson Art School, the young man moved to Kyiv. It was there that he entered the Kyiv Municipal Academy of Variety and Circus Arts to professionally develop his talent, work on his own sound and build a career in the music industry.
Creative path
Max Barskih's real debut as a singer, songwriter and promising artist took place in 2008 during his participation in the television project "Star Factory 2". It was then that Mykola Bortnyk chose the stage name Max Barskih, creating a separate creative image, which later became known far beyond the borders of Ukraine.
The performances of the charismatic performer immediately attracted the attention of the audience thanks to his strong vocals, bright charisma and strong original compositions. After the completion of the project, the artist did not stop there. Over the next two years, he presented his debut album "1: Max Barskih" and released six video clips, which helped to strengthen his popularity among fans.
In early 2010, the singer became a participant in the project "Factory. Superfinal”, and in the same year received prestigious international recognition – Max Barsky was named the best Ukrainian artist according to the MTV Europe Music Awards. In May 2010, the singer discovered another direction of creativity and tried his hand at acting. He successfully passed the casting for the musical film “Mademoiselle Zhivago”, in which Lara Fabian participated.
An important role in the career of the performer was played by cooperation with director and producer Alan Badoev. Together they created a number of iconic video clips that have become an important part of modern Ukrainian pop culture. In 2011, Max and Alan filmed the hit Lost In Love in 3D format. For the Ukrainian scene, this was an innovative project that quickly attracted the attention of the audience and received high ratings.
Eurovision 2012
In 2012, the singer tried to represent the country at Eurovision with the song "Dance". Although the victory then went to another participant, this stage became another step towards international success. Subsequently, the artist actively performed in the UK, Germany, the USA and a number of other countries. English-language hits Silence and I Wanna Run, collaboration with European producers, large-scale concerts and festivals allowed Max Barsky to consolidate the status of a global star.
Creative development
In 2012, Max Barsky once again surprised the music industry by presenting the large-scale horror musical Z.Dance. The project consisted of three parts and at that time became the most expensive musical in Ukraine.
On February 14, 2014, the artist presented a new album, "According to Freud", which became an important release in his discography. In the same year, the Ukrainian-language composition "Lullaby" was also released, demonstrating new facets of the artist's creativity.
In 2015, the prestigious M1 Music Awards brought the singer another title - Max Barsky was named "Singer of the Year". In 2018, the artist went on his first large-scale tour of the United States with the album "Mist". The tour was a great success, and the concerts gathered numerous fans in different cities.
Style of compositions and atmosphere of live performances
Max Barsky's creativity is distinguished by a recognizable style, which organically combines pop music, electronic genre and romantic lyrics. Over the years of his career, the musician's work has undergone a noticeable transformation - from bold youthful outrageousness to deep and mature compositions. Along with driving dance tracks, emotional ballads and songs with a rich pop sound now occupy an important place in Max Barsky's repertoire. The central theme of many hits remains love - complex, dramatic and multifaceted.
After 2022, the artist's workhas acquired new meanings. His songs increasingly feature themes of support for Ukrainians, inner strength, unity, and concern for mental health. These compositions have become a kind of musical manifesto that resonates with a wide audience.
The singer's live performances deserve special attention. Max Barsky's concert is always a large-scale show with thoughtful choreography, spectacular staging, spectacular costumes, and powerful energy. In terms of organization, such events often resemble a large festival. At the same time, the artist manages to maintain a warm atmosphere of communication with fans. One of the features of the star's concerts is the joint performance of songs with children, which adds special emotionality to the performances.
Modern stage
A new stage of creative development came for the singer in 2023, when the completely Ukrainian-language album "Zorepad" was released. The following year, Max Barskih held a major tour of Ukrainian cities, as well as a successful international tour of Canada, the USA and other countries.
In the summer of 2026, the artist launched a new format of large-scale musical events - Max Barskih Open Air Fest. The project became further proof that Max remains one of the leaders of the modern Ukrainian scene and continues to set new standards for concert culture.
Civil position
After the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Max Barskih stopped any cooperation with the Russian market, terminated contracts with companies from the aggressor country and banned the use of his own music on its territory.
On April 2, 2022, the singer joined the reserve of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This step aroused considerable respect among fans, because at the time of this decision, he already had great popularity abroad and a wide audience in different countries. During this period, the performer released a number of compositions dedicated to the war, the resilience of Ukrainians and the consequences of Russian aggression. New songs became an important part of cultural resistance and support for society.
In December 2024, a charity concert "Christmas Starfall" was held. The purpose of the event was to raise funds to fulfill the dreams of children from temporarily occupied cities.
Discography:
- «1:Max Barskih» (2009);
- Z.Dance (2012);
- «Po Freudu» (2013);
- «Tumany» (2016);
- «7» (2019);
- «1990» (2020);
- «Zorepad» (2023);
- «Show Zorepad (Live Video Album)» (2024);
- «Misto doshchiv» (2025).
Modern hits:
- «Bude vesna»;
- «Chekai mene»;
- «Naznyti myself”;
- “Tumany (UA)”;
- Rich;
- “City of Rains”;
- “In Love” and others.
Awards and honors:
- MTV Europe Music Awards, “Best Ukrainian Performer” (2010);
- OE Video Music Awards (2011);
- TopHit Music Awards (2012);
- Top Hit Music Awards, “Video Clip of the Year (Male Vocal) YouTube Ukraine” (2019);
- Top Hit Music Awards, “Record-Breaking Song” (2019);
- Top Hit Music Awards, “Video Clip of the Year (Mixed Vocal) YouTube Ukraine” (2021);
- YUNA Music Award, "Song of Unbreakable Ukraine" (2023).
