Every year, YUNA music awards bring together some of Ukraine’s most popular musicians and throw a grand show celebrating the industry. But this year is like no other.
Because of the quarantine restrictions, the ceremony, which had been scheduled for March, was at first postponed, only to be replaced by an online announcement later. The winners of the ninth YUNA awards were named on July 9 through streaming online.
They unraveled that pop singer Monatik stole this year’s show collecting six out of 17 prizes including Best Male Artist.
Monatik, who is also a dancer that mixes funky motives in his music is often called Ukrainian Justin Timberlake.
The singer split the Best Album award for his “Love It Rhythm” record with rapper Alyona Alyona’s breakthrough “Pushka” (Gun).
Monatik also won the Best Concert Show prize for his performance in support of the latest album at Ukraine’s biggest venue, Olimiyskyi Stadium. Monatik became the first Ukrainian solo artist to gather Olimpiyskyi. His two-hour choreographed show was largely praised in Ukraine.
Apart from that, Monatik received awards in three more categories: Best Song in Foreign Language, Best Music Video and Best Artist Management.
Aside from the Best Album, Alyona Alyona won two more prizes, Best Hip-hop Hit and Best Duo, along with fellow rapper Alina Pash for their hit “Padlo” (Bastard).
Pop singer NK, earlier known as Nastya Kamenskikh, won the Best Female Artist prize.
The Antytila group took home the Best Rock Band award, while pop duo Vremia i Steklo collected the Best Band prize.
Vremia i Steklo also won in the Best Song category for their “Dym” (Smoke) hit.
Meanwhile, Best Pop Hit went to Olya Polyakova’s “Lubovnitsa” (Lover).
One of Ukraine’s most-known bands worldwide, DakhaBrakha, received an award in the Best Soundtrack category for their “Plyve Choven” (The boat is sailing). The song served as a soundtrack to the Ukrainian 2018 drama “Volcano.”
Pop singer Jerry Heil, who made a breakthrough in 2019 with several funny catchy songs that went viral in Ukraine, was named the Discovery of the Year.
The Other Format prize went to solo female singer Luna, who merges electronic beats and pop vocals.
Another electro-pop solo artist Maruv won the Best Electronic Hit award for her “Siren Song.” The track along with Maruv’s performance won her the national selection for Eurovision in 2019. Ukraine, however, withdrew Maruv’s participation from the song contest amid a controversial scandal following her victory.
The official ceremony celebrating 2019 winners will take place in March 2021, a day before YUNA will hold the next, 10th awards show.
