Who is Julia Sanina? The Ukranian Eurovision 2023 host joining Hannah Waddingham and Alesha Dixon

The first semi-finals are in the books and I apologise to Ireland for another year not making it through to the grand finals of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. Instead, among the ten names that have made it through, are bookies favourites Sweden and Finland, who will join the “big five” on Saturday evening in Liverpool alongside presenters Graham Norton, Hannah Waddingham, Alesha Dixon and… wait… who?

That was the question on some lips yesterday evening when one of the other hosts of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, Julia Sanina, performed during the intermission in Liverpool on Tuesday evening; by no means a household name in the United Kingdom, she is more than just a Ukrainian presenter representing the country that, in fairness, should have been hosting the event had it not been for a conflict in the country. 

However in her native Ukraine, the artist born Yuliia Oleksandrivna Bebko is a regular feature of the country’s music scene as the front person for rock band The Hardkiss alongside her own successful solo career. Given the veracity of her performance last night, perhaps Eurovision could become an international platform for Sanina as it has been for bands of yesteryear.

Born in Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv on November 22 1990, Sanina was always destined to have an interest in music, even if it was just in passing; her father was a saxophonist while her mother was a pianist, informing her interest in singing at a young age. She performed on the stage for the first time when she was three years old; her singing was then accompanied by an ensemble that her father directed. Eventually, she started to perform as a solo vocalist, as well as one of the members of children's band and jazz big band.

Having attended the Music School of Jazz and Variety art, she later entered the Institute of Philology of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and obtained her master's degree in folklore studies in 2013, while also maintaining somewhat of a musical career as lead singer of Sister Siren between 2006 and 2008.

But it would be her work alongside producer and future husband Valeriy Bebko where Sanina earned her success; originally an experimental pop group called Val & Sanina, that progressed into the band The Hardkiss in 2011. The band quickly gained popularity in Ukraine with their unique sound and theatrical live performances. They released their debut album, "Stones and Honey," in 2014, which was a critical and commercial success. The album featured hit singles such as "Make-Up" and "Under the Sun."

The Hardkiss went on to release two more albums, "Perfection Is a Lie" (2017) and "Zalizna Sotnya" (2019), both of which were also well-received by critics and audiences alike. Sanina's powerful vocals and stage presence became a signature of the band's performances - and led her to becoming one of the judges on the Ukrainian version of The X Factor in 2018.

In addition to her work with The Hardkiss, Sanina has also pursued a solo career. In 2018, she released her debut solo single, "Nebesa / Zemlya," which showcased a different side of her artistry and a departure from the rock sound of her band. The song received positive reviews from critics and was a commercial success.

Since then, Sanina has released several more solo singles, including "Ty Meni Pokynula" and "Prosto Tanciui," both of which have been well-received by audiences.