Defending champion Ukraine will be represented at the 67th Song Contest by the electro pop duo Tvorchi. The formation around producer Andrew Hutsuliak and singer Jeffery Augustus Kenny from Ternopil in western Ukraine prevailed against nine competitors in the audience vote last night with the English-language song “Heart of Steel”, reports the Ukrinform news agency. The national preselection was held in an air raid shelter.
Tvorchi was founded five years ago after a chance acquaintance. Hutsuliak had approached Nigerian Kenny on the street in Ternopil to improve his English. This developed into a musical collaboration between the two pharmacy students at the time.
In 2020 they reached fourth place in the Ukrainian song contest preselection, their discography already includes four studio albums.
37 countries in Liverpool
Under the impression of Russian aggression, the Ukrainian Kalush Orchestra won the 66th Song Contest in May with the song “Stefania”. Because an end to the war is not in sight, the Siegerland cannot take on the role of host as usual.
The 67th Song Contest will therefore take place in May 2023 in Liverpool, England. A total of 37 countries will take part in the Song Contest, with all but Ukraine and the “Big Five” (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Great Britain) first having to go through one of the two semi-finals in the Song Contest week.