Phil it

Year of foundation – 2022
City – Kyiv (Ukraine)
Language – Ukrainian
Genre – alternative indie pop

The main line-up of the project:

Pylyp Kolyadenko;
Marie Pogrebynska;
Emma Shepel.

History of the group

Phil It is a creative project, the leader and founder of which is Pylyp Kolyadenko – a Ukrainian musician, composer, sound producer, pianist and one of the members of the KADNAY group. Dmytro’s path along the music industry track was determined by his family environment. The artist’s father is Dmytro Kolyadenko, a well-known choreographer, star of the domestic stage. Back in the early 1990s, Pylyp's parents created the pop dance ensemble "Art-Classic Ballet", which worked with leading pop artists. Pylyp literally grew up on tour.

In the mid-2000s, Olena and Dmytro Kolyadenka became choreographers of the TV project "Chance". And since then, the family has received wide recognition and found themselves in a whirlpool of popularity in the field of television and culture.

The idea of a solo project appeared in the musician long before its implementation. Kolyadenko had been nurturing the idea of Phil It for more than five years, even writing several songs. However, he constantly postponed the start - waiting for the "right time". The COVID-19 pandemic postponed plans even more. And when the full-scale invasion began, the feeling of the fragility of life changed Pylyp's inner mood. The musician had a strong desire to “give it all” and do something he could be proud of. This was the impetus to “jump into the unknown” and finally launch Phil It.

The project became for Kolyadenko not only a new stage in his career, but also a way to loudly declare himself in his own unique sound. The basis of the project is formed by independent artists - musicians, vocalists and dancers, who through art try to build a sincere dialogue with the audience. This is more of a creative community of like-minded people than a classical musical group.

Creative path

The process of forming the collective was undulating. Pylyp worked on a unique sound. The discographic debut took place - the album “Prologue”. The tracks of the release embodied Pylyp’s personal attitude to the war. The compositions also reflected the loss of a loved one. According to Kolyadenko, the album reflects the suffering, uncertainty and endless searches that the musician experienced repeatedly in solitude. Kolyadenko created all the parts and lyrics himself, working at home, putting his own experiences into each line.

Then pianist Emma Shepel, Pylyp's longtime friend, joined, with whom he had long dreamed of collaborating. When they started preparing the first concert, Mari Pogrebynska joined the team as a director and assistant. Performance after performance, the project developed. New vocalists, musicians and dancers joined. Everyone brought something of their own. The lineup changed, acoustic and full-sound live shows were held. For Pylyp, Phil It became a kind of experimentarium.

The first Phil It performance for fans took place in front of St. Andrew's Church in the rain. And today Pylyp Kolyadenko does not dream of a Palace of Sports full of fans at all. The author and performer appreciates the closeness of the audience – when no emotion, no feeling slips by.

Style and development of the band

Minor compositions prevail in Phil It's repertoire. This mood of the tracks was determined by Pylyp Kolyadenko. After all, sadness is an emotion that most often overwhelms an artist. At the same time, sadness can be bright and filled with warmth – as in Portuguese saudade, when nostalgia arises for something close that has been lost.

Pylyp characterizes the records and singles of his project as lyrical works created to heal emotional wounds or revive valuable memories. Phil It's creativity is not limited to specific forms. Each composition is a manifestation of complete freedom, an opportunity to talk about what hurts and worries. Everyone experiences the therapeutic effect of music in their own way: someone finds an outlet for their emotions. And someone captures the most important things in their memory.

A special feature of Phil It's songs is intimacy. One of the most famous hits, "Father", from the second album, is a dedication to Pylyp's grandfather, who died in 2022 and was a close person to him.