Patsyki z Franek
Year of foundation – 2008
City – Ivano-Frankivsk (Ukraine)
Language – Ukrainian
Genre – hip-hop, folktronics, electronic music
Lineup:
- Nazar Khudyn;
- Lyudina-kit (Chornyi);
- Lola.
History of the group
Patsyki z Franek is a Ukrainian musical group whose work combines ethnic motifs and modern styles of music. The group Patsyki z Franek was created thanks to Nazar Khudyn (the leader of the team) and his friends – Vova and Romy. It all started as a humorous hobby: guys from Ivano-Frankivsk were composing rap songs for friends on birthdays. The idea of creating a band came after a performance at a corporate party, when they recited a rap for the company's CEO. That's when the band's name was born. It was the artists who were jokingly called "Franek's Rats" by their colleagues.
Later, the guys began to create custom tracks for famous people. Cherny, also known as Mista Frokk, joined the band. Together, they recorded their first hits "You Need Someone Like Me" and "Vasya OMG." These masterpieces are still favorites among the band's fans. These tracks really started their active movement towards recognition and popularity.
Nowadays, the band is no longer just about men (the charming Lola is in the band). And not all the artists are originally from Ivano-Frankivsk. But they don't plan to change the name. Because Patsyki z Franek is a name with charisma that sounds recognizable and stylish. It should be noted that Lola's participation adds a special charm to the group. Female vocals organically complement male voices, creating a fresh and interesting dynamic for the listener.
Creative path
In 2016, Patsyki z Franek won the first season of the project "Hit Conveyor" on the M2 TV channel with the song "Vasya OMG". The following year, they went to the casting for the eighth season of the show "X-Factor" with this track.
It is interesting that at first the group did not even make it to the semi-finals of "Hit Conveyor", taking only 52nd place. However, due to the fact that two teams (among them - the group "Odin v Kanoe") refused to participate, Patsyki did go further. At that time, music producers looked at them with skepticism and openly mocked them for their confidence in victory. But in the end, the Patsyks from Franek made a real breakthrough in the Ukrainian music industry.
Before participating in the "Hit Conveyor", the band was known only in limited circles of show business. And after the broadcast, the video clip hit the charts and was in rotation on national TV channels. The audience of Patsyks from Franek fans grew significantly. The band leader recalls how once, despite bad weather, dozens of loyal fans were patiently waiting for the stars under the stage of the "Republic" festival in Kamianets-Podilskyi. That incident proved that the band had gone beyond the boundaries of a narrow culture.
Style and development of the band
The band Patsyki from Franek describes its musical style as “Ukrainian garage” – a bright combination of electronics, hip-hop and folk authenticity. The participants are not afraid of experiments with sound, they are open to new forms and sounds within the framework of popular music.
The permanent lineup includes three artists. Other musicians are involved only when necessary. For example, for live shows, when the format requires an expansion of the sound.
In 2021, the group became the musical ambassador of the Ukrainian national football team for Euro 2020, recording a special song “Yellow-Blue”. And the following year, the musicians presented the mini-album “Rebellious Songs”. The release contains folk compositions that date back to 1914. Future plans include the release of new singles and concerts on the stages of Ukrainian cities.
The most famous hits:
- “Marichka”;
- “Namalovana”;
- “Vasya OMG”;
- “Music Play!”;
- “You Like Me”;
- “You Are Mine” and others.
Social Activity
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the band members have been participating in various initiatives in support of Ukrainians and the Defense Forces. In May 2022, Patsyki and Franek went on a charity THANK YOU music tour through European cities. The tour was supported by the European Parliament and aimed to raise funds and popularize Ukrainian culture abroad. Through music, the band thanked Europeans for their solidarity and support for Ukraine. In addition, the musicians actively hold charity concerts in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Interesting facts about the band:
- At the beginning of their musical journey, Patsyki from Franek rapped for politicians, musicians, and athletes. Among them are the Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada Andriy Shevchenko and Arseniy Yatsenyuk;
- Chernyi (Cat Man) always performs and appears in public wearing a mask, which has become an integral element of the artist's image;
- The band is considered to be from Ivano-Frankivsk, but the members of the group live and work in Kyiv;
- The band's leader, Nazar, comes from a singing family. The musician's mother is a pianist. The artist himself sang in the church choir as a child. Nazar always dreamed of being on stage. At the same time, he has an education in linguistics (translator and teacher of Arabic).
