The upbeat pop duo Artik & Asti combine electronic beats, hip hop elements, and lively vocals. Popular in Russia and Ukraine, they are also known throughout Eastern Europe. While both band members are Ukrainian, their music is exclusively sung in Russian.
Artik & Asti comprises two band members: Artyom Umrikhin (stage name Artik) and Anna Dziuba (a.k.a. Asti). Umrikhin was born in 1985 in the city of Zaporozhye, located in southern Ukraine. Umrikhin fell in love with hip hop at the age of eleven after he was gifted a cassette of the group Мальчишник. He began recording music in his early teenage years and eventually formed Karat, a band, in 2003. Soon after, he moved to Kyiv, where he performed in local clubs. Over the next decade, Umrhikin created music in a variety of collaborations with artists and groups.
In 2010, Umrhikin wanted to settle down and create a more permanent band, so he scoured the internet in search of someone with an original voice and who could dance. He found that person in Anna Dziuba. Dziuba, also Ukrainian, published songs on the Internet in the hopes of being discovered. Similar to Umrikhin, she nurtured a love of music since childhood. As a young adult, she created and uploaded music as a hobby while working as a lawyer’s assistant. Her hopes paid off when Umrikhin discovered her and brought her on as a partner. The two rapidly became close friends – Dziuba recently became the godmother of Umrikhin’s child.
In 2012, the duo released their first song as the newly incarnated Artik & Asti, featuring Dziuba as the soloist and Umrikhin rapping and providing backup vocals. That song, “Антистресс” (“Antistress”) gained some traction on YouTube but failed to achieve widespread popularity. The next year, Artik & Asti released their debut album #РайОдинНаДвоих (#OneParadiseForTwo). Their second single, “Моя последняя надежда” (“My Last Hope”) became their breakout hit with over 1.5 million views on YouTube. Afterwards, the two began to be recognized on the street and asked for autographs. This initial burst of success allowed Artik & Asti to hit the road, performing tours in Russia and Europe.
Artik & Asti were able to follow up their initial success with other popular and critically acclaimed albums. Their second album Здесь и сейчас (Here and Now) topped Russian-language charts for much of 2015 and racked up honors including the Golden Gramophone Award and a nomination for Best Promotion. Their third studio album was similarly lauded, including with a nomination for the Best Duet award. Artik & Asti encountered minor controversy when they collaborated with Stas Mykhailov on the song “Возьми мою руку” (“Take My Hand”). Mykhailov had been banned in Ukraine for visiting Crimea without the permission of Ukrainian authorities. However, the controversy died away quickly, allowing the group to continue their trajectory unimpeded.
The group’s next spurt of popularity occurred in 2018 with the release of the song “Неделимы” (“Indivisible”). Неделимы was an instant hit, reaching over 30 million YouTube plays. The group’s latest two-part album, 7, has enjoyed widespread popularity on the Russian airwaves.
A playlist of Artik & Asti’s biggest hits and newest collaborations can be found here. Tune in to Artik & Asti’s music on YouTube, iTunes, Amazon Music, or Spotify.
Lyrics to Неделимы
Давай забудем всё и убежим от всех,
И пусть целый мир подождёт нас,
Мы пропали до завтра.
Только в твоих я руках,
Будто бы таю как снег,
Ты для меня моя крепость,
Моя вера и правда.
Я за тебя своё сердце,
Я свою жизнь, свою душу,
Только один мне так нужен,
Мой самый лучший.
Снова в мурашках все плечи,
Просто целуй меня нежно,
Держи меня крепче, всё безупречно.
Глаза в глаза, ладонь в ладонь и это навечно.
Спасибо, что делаешь счастливой.
Между нами космос и бесконечность,
Мы одно целое, мы неделимы.
Глаза в глаза, ладонь в ладонь и это навечно.
Спасибо, что делаешь счастливой.
Между нами космос и бесконечность,
Мы одно целое, мы неделимы.
Мы неделимы с тобой, с тобой, с тобой.
Мы неделимы с тобой, с тобой, с тобой.
Что-то так тянет к тебе,
Будто бы сердце магнит.
Я губами касаюсь, и всё вокруг нас горит.
Стираем все грани, тону в твоём океане.
То, что сейчас между нами – ураган и цунами.
Мне так мало тебя сейчас,
Подари мне ещё один вдох.
Научи меня вновь летать высоко.
Будь со мной как в последний раз,
Чтобы снова по телу ток, Я хочу тебя ощущать так легко.
Глаза в глаза, ладонь в ладонь и это навечно.
Спасибо, что делаешь счастливой.
Между нами космос и бесконечность,
Мы одно целое, мы неделимы.
Глаза в глаза (глаза в глаза),
Ладонь в ладонь И это навечно (ладонь в ладонь)
Спасибо, что делаешь счастливой.
Между нами космос и бесконечность,
Мы одно целое, мы неделимы.
Мы неделимы, мы неделимы… Мы одно целое, мы неделимы.
Мы неделимы, мы неделимы, Мы неделимы…
Translated Lyrics
Let’s forget everything and run away from everyone,
And let the whole world wait for us,
We’re gone until tomorrow.
Only in your hands
Do I melt like snow,
You are my fortress,
My faith, and my truth.
I’ll give my heart for you,
I’ll give my life and my soul,
I only need you,
You’re the best thing in my life.
I feel goosebumps on my skin again,
Just kiss me gently,
Hold me tighter, everything’s perfect.
We’re looking into each other’s eyes, holding each other’s hands, and that’s forever.
Thank you for making me happy.
Space and eternity are between us,
And we’re one whole, we’re inseparable.
We’re looking into each other’s eyes, holding each other’s hands, and that’s forever.
Thank you for making me happy.
Space and eternity are between us,
And we’re one whole, we’re inseparable.
We’re inseparable, you and I, you and I, you and I.
We’re inseparable, you and I, you and I, you and I.
Something pulls me to you,
As if our hearts are two magnets.
I kiss you, and everything goes up in flames.
We’re erasing all the edges, and I’m drowning in you like in the ocean.
What we’ve made is a hurricane and a tsunami.
I can’t get enough of you,
Give me one more breath.
Teach me how to fly up above.
Be with me as if for the last time,
Making electricity rush through my veins, I want to be able to feel you so easily.
We’re looking into each other’s eyes, holding each other’s hands, and that’s forever.
Thank you for making me happy.
Space and eternity are between us,
And we’re one whole, we’re inseparable.
We’re looking into each other’s eyes (each other’s eyes),
Holding each other’s hands And that’s forever (each other’s hands)
Thank you for making me happy.
Space and eternity are between us,
And we’re one whole, we’re inseparable.
We’re inseparable, we’re inseparable… We’re one whole, we’re inseparable.
We’re inseparable, we’re inseparable, We’re inseparable…
