Potap


Oleksiy Andriyovich Potapenko, known professionally as Potap is a Ukrainian singer, rapper, songwriter, and producer. He has been involved as a performer and/or producer in Potap I Nastya, Vremya I Steklo, MOZGI, and many more, releasing over 300 songs.

Biography

Oleksiy Potapenko was born on 8 May 1981 in Kyiv. His father, Andriy Potapenko, served in the military. His mother, Lyudmila Potapenko is a world-fin swimming race champion. Oleksii has been practicing swimming and water polo, for which he received the title Master of Sports.
He has earned two degrees. The first one is as a PE instructor and water polo coach. The second one is a Master of Economics, Entrepreneurship, and Audit.

Music career

Between 2000 and 2006, Potapenko performed as a part of a rap band called "VuZV". Potap's song "Na Svoey Volne" became the official soundtrack to the movie "Odin za vseh". Another song co-written in collaboration with bands New'Z'Cool and XS became a main theme for an iconic horror movie produced in Ukraine, "Shtolna".
In 2006, he teamed up with NK to create the duo "Potap & Nastya" where Oleksii acted as a producer, performer, songwriter, composer, video director, and scriptwriter. The duo debuted with the song "Ne Para" which turned into an international hit. In 2008, the duo released their debut album with the same title.
The artists released their second album titled "Ne Lubi Mne Mozgii" that included songs "Na Rayone", "Novii God", "Chipsi, Chicksi, Lavandos".
The duo kept moving towards new accomplishments. A few years after its creation, the artist was already renowned with every award in post-Soviet territories including: "Zolotoi Gramophon", "Pesnya Goda", "RU.TV", "Premia Muz-TV", and many more. The songs "Esli Vdrug tebya ne stanet" and "Mi Otmenyaem Konets Sveta" played in the TV show "Dnevnik Doctora Zaytsevoy".
In 2013, Potap & Nastya produced their third album, "Vse Puchkom". The song with the same title received the "Gold Gramophone" award and remained for a while on top of the most highly rated charts across countries along with another track from the album "Chumachechaya Vesna".
The duo created by Oleksii and NK was officially the most popular touring duo in the country. The joint activity of the artists was followed by success and achievements. "Potap & Nastya" became awardees of various international music festivals, receiving over 50 rewards that include: "M1 Music Awards", "Song of the Year", "Gold Gramophone", "Muz TV Award", "Sharmanka" and "RU.TV". In 2017, the duo was recognized for its "Contribution to the development of the National Scene".
In 2014, Oleksii launched the band MOZGI, where he has acted as a producer, performer, songwriter, composer, director, and scriptwriter up to the current day. Between 2015 and 2018, MOZGI was 5 times nominated for the Yearly Ukrainian National Awards and 4 for M1 Music Awards, winning twice in the latter one.
In 2014, Potap and Kamenskih were criticized in Ukraine for continuing to attend award ceremonies in Russia, while many Ukrainians believed their country was a victim of Russian aggression. Regarding this, they responded: "It's a shame that we have to collect the journalists to tell them that we are from Ukraine and love our country!" In 2016, "Potap and Nastya" concerts were disrupted in Ukraine in protest of them continuing to tour in Russia.
In 2017, the duo announced the pause of their activity to start solo projects: PTP and NK respectively. The first solo album by PTP, "Spelie Slivi EP", was released on 3 November 2017. Oleksii and Nastya's collaborative work wasn't over. Potap kept on writing songs for NK. With support from his side, NK presented such hits as "#etomoyanoch", co-written Ukrainian song "Trimay", "Dai Mne", international hit in Spanish and English "Peligroso", LOMALA and "Popa Kak U Kim". "Hold it" has taken over national top charts, remaining on top for over the year and being recognized at the YUNA Awards 2019 as a Pop Hit of the Year, while Peligroso remained in Billboard top charts under the Tropical Songs ranking for 6 weeks.

Production

Today, Potap is the head of "MOZGI Entertainment" – the label he established that is responsible for managing bands MOZGI, Vremia I Steklo, and singers Michelle Andrade and Ingret.
In 2012, MOZGI Entertainment launched a new branch, MOZGI Production. The company gathered specialists who were previously involved in making videos for Potap's artists' development company. In 2019, a music video for the song "Polube" by MOZGI was nominated for the Berlin Music Video Awards.
In 2015, music projects managed under MOZGI Entertainment participated in the following nominations: "Hit of the Year" and Potap & Nastya – "Boomdiggibai", "Band of the Year", "Music Video of the Year". The awards were assigned the following way: "Hit of the Year" to Vremya I Steklo for "Name 505", while "Band of the Year" with top charts awards "Gold Gramophone" and M1 were given to Potap & Nastya. Moreover, that year Oleksii was renowned as the Best Producer of the Year. The same year, director Dimitri Archipovich, who worked цшер MOZGI Production at that time was announced as the Best Director of the Cut.

Soundtracks

In 2011, Oleksii Potapenko wrote the main theme song for the movie "Vikrutasi". The track performed by "Potap & Nastya" became the key element of the promo campaign for the movie.
In 2014, NK and Oleksii were featured in an animated movie "The Seventh Dwarf". They performed soundtracks to the movie as well. One of those, "Ver' v svoi sily", was greatly welcomed by the audience and gained radio airplay.
In 2018, the movie "Bezumnaya Svad'ba" was released. Upon its release, the movie set the record for box office sales among all Ukrainian premieres by collecting ₴50,664,000. Oleksii Potapenko not only featured in the movie but wrote and produced an original motion soundtrack album that included 2 songs nominated for M1 Music Awards. Those are "Naikrashii Den'", performed with Male Artist of the Year Oleg Vinnyk, and "Promin'", written and performed in collaboration with all MOZGI Production stars.

Personal life

On 23 May 2019, Potap and Nastya Kamenskih were married.

Television

TV carrier Oleksii Potapenko started with a show "Karaoke Against People" on the M1 Music Channel. For over ten years, Oleksii has actively participated in popular TV shows in Ukraine, including The Voice of Ukraine and the comedy show Laughter League on the biggest channel in Ukraine 1+1. At both shows, Potap is a judge and mentor who has helped a lot of emerging artists to unleash their potential.
The full list of shows Oleksii has been involved at:
  • "Karaoke protiv naroda" – TV host
  • Guten Morgen – TV host
  • Ya lublu Ukrainu – TV host
  •  Superzveda – a judge
  • Telezvezda – TV host
  • 15th Anniversary of 1+1 – TV host
  • "GPU" – TV host
  • Zvezda + Zvezda – a judge
  • The Voice. Kids – mentor
  • Liga Smeha – coach
  • The Voice – mentor

    Filmography

  • 2005 – Odin za vseh
  • 2008 – Krasnaya Shapochka – The Wolf
  • 2010 – Novogodnie Svaty – cameo
  • 2011 – Nebesnie rodstvenniki – cameo
  • 2012 – Rjevskii protiv Napaleona – mob
  • 2013 – 1+1 at home – cameo
  • 2013 – Zaycev +1 – TV Host
  •  2018 – Bezumnaya Svad'ba – The Reverend Evlampii

    Discography

  • 2004 – Potap – Na svoei volne ili ano kaneshno potomusho shojh
  • 2006 – Potap – Na drugoi volne ili ano kaneshno potomusho shojh
  • 2008 – Potap & Nastya – Nepara
  • 2009 – Potap & Nastya – Ne lubi mne mozgi
  • 2013 – Potap & Nastya – Vse Puchkom
  • 2015 – Potap & Nastya – Shchit I Myach
  • 2015 – Mozgi – Bikini Album
  • 2015 – Mozgi – Elektroshaurma
  • 2016 – Mozgi –Bar
  • 2017 – Mozgi – Na belom
  • 2017 – PTP – Spelie Slivi EP
  • 2018 – Mozgi – Vinos mozga

    Music videos

  • Potap -  Shivorot na vivorot
  • Potap – Na svoey Volne
  • Potap & Nastya – Bez Lubvi
  • Potap & Nastya – Nepara
  • Potap & Nastya – Krepkie Oreshki
  • Potap & Nastya – Vnature
  • Potap, dyadya Vadya, UGO – Natasha
  • Potap & Nastya – Razgulai
  • Potap & Nastya – Na rayone
  • Potap, dyadya Vadya, UGO – Ya pomnu
  • Potap & Nastya – Pochemu
  • Potap & Nastya – Ne lubi mne mozgi
  • Potap feat. New"Z"cool, dyadya Vadya, UGO – Kachaem
  • Potap & Nastya – Novii God
  • Potap & Nastya – Cry Me a River
  • Potap & Co – Leto
  • Potap & Co – More penitsa
  • Potap and Vera Brezhneva – Pronto
  • Potap & Nastya – Vikrutasi
  • Potap & Nastya – Chumachechaya Vesna
  • Potap & Nastya – Mi Otmenaem konets sveta
  • Potap & Nastya – Esli vdrug
  • Arkady Laikin – Laiki
  • Potap & Nastya – Priletelo
  • Potap & Nastya – Uletelo
  • Potap & Nastya – Awesome Summer
  • Potap & Nastya – Lubov' so skidkoi
  • Vremya I Steklo feat. Potap – Sleza
  • Arkady Laikin feat Pozitiff – Seksualnii
  • Arkady Laikin – Malimenya
  • Potap & Nastya – RuRuRu
  • Potap & Nastya – Vmeste
  • Potap & Nastya – Vse Puchkom
  • Potap & Nastya – Udi-udi
  • Mozgi – Ayabo
  • Mozgi – Hlam
  • Mozgi – Nozhompo
  • Potap & Nastya – Bumdigibai
  • Mozgi – Hit moego leta
  • Potap & Nastya feat. Bianka – Stil Sobachki
  • Mozgi – Vertolet
  • Potap & Nastya – U mami
  • Potap & Nastya – Ya…ya
  • Mozgi – Atyatya
  • PTP feat. PZT – Malibu
  • Mozgi – Ale Ale
  • Mozgi – Vlazhni Plyazhnii Dvij
  • Mozgi – Polube
  • NK – Popa Kak U Kim
  • Mozgi – Digitalization

    Director

  • Potap – Shivorot na vivorot
  • Potap – Na svoey Volne
  • David — Big Girl Now
  • Potap & Nastya – Bezz Lubvi
  • Potap & Nastya – Nepara
  • Queens & New'Z'Cool — Ozero Slyoz
  • Potap & Nastya – Krepkie Oreshki
  • Potap & Nastya – Vnature
  • Queens & New'Z'Cool — 5 element
  • Potap & Nastya – Razgulai
  • Queens& New'Z'Cool — Kto-to skazal mne
  • Potap & Nastya – Na rayone
  • Potap & Nastya – Pochemu
  • Potap & Nastya – Ne lubi mne mozgi
  • Potap feat. New"Z"cool, dyadya Vadya, UGO – Kachaem
  • Potap & Nastya – Novii God
  • Potap & Nastya – Cry Me a River
  • Potap & Co – Leto
  • Potap & Co – More penitsa
  • Potp & Nastya – "Chipsi, Chicksi, Lavandos"
  • Potap and Vera Brezhneva – Pronto
  • Vremya i Steklo – Tak Vipala Karta
  • Potap & Nastya – Vikrutasi
  • Potap & Nastya – Chumachechaya Vesna
  • Potap & Nastya – Mi Otmenaem konets sveta
  • Potap & Nastya – Esli vdrug
  • Vremya i Steklo – Lubvi tochka net
  • Vremya i Steklo – Serebryanoe More
  • Vremya i Steklo – Kafel'
  • Arkady Laikin – Laiki
  • Niko Neman – Uletayu
  • Vremya I Steklo feat. Potap – Sleza
  • Potap & Nastya – RuRuRu
  • Arkady Laikin feat Pozitiff – Seksualnii
  • Potap & Nastya – Vmeste
  • Vremya I Steklo - #kAroche
  • Aleksandr Kogan – Kto pridumal mir
  • Potap & Nastya – Udi-udi
  • Mozgi – Ayabo
  • Mozgi – Hlam
  • Zara – Schastie nad zemlei
  • Vremya I steklo – Imya 505
  • Vremya I steklo – Pesnya 404
  • Mozgi – Nozhompo
  • Potap & Nastya – Bumdigibai
  • Mozgi – Hit moego leta
  • Potap & Nastya feat. Bianka – Stil Sobachki
  • Mozgi – Vertolet
  • Vremya I Steklo – Naverno potomu chto
  • Potap & Nastya – U mami
  • Potap & Nastya – Ya…ya
  • Vremya I Steklo – Na stile
  • PTP feat. PZT – Malibu