Artbat

Artbat Biography

Artbat, the powerhouse Ukrainian DJ and production duo comprised of Artur (Artur Kryvenko) and Batish (Batish Lamarenko), has redefined melodic techno and progressive house on the global stage. Renowned for their hypnotic tracks like "Mandrake," "Upperground," and "Return to Oz," they blend emotive melodies with driving rhythms, captivating festival crowds at Tomorrowland, Coachella, and Awakenings while dominating Beatport charts and earning acclaim from legends like Richie Hawtin and Solomun.

Childhood

Both Artur and Batish were born in Kyiv, Ukraine, during the vibrant post-Soviet era of the early 1990s, growing up amid the nation's cultural renaissance. Coming from middle-class families passionate about music—Artur's father a local sound engineer and Batish's mother a pianist—they spent childhoods immersed in underground tapes of techno and house imported from Western Europe, fostering early dreams of electronic artistry in Kyiv's evolving club scene.

Education

Self-taught virtuosos, Artur and Batish bypassed formal conservatories, instead apprenticing in Kyiv's nascent rave culture through trial-and-error production on borrowed gear. They refined skills via online tutorials, peer workshops, and relentless studio nights, mastering Ableton Live and analog synths while gigging locally, transforming raw talent into polished sound design without traditional academic paths.

Career

Formed in 2014 after meeting in a Kyiv club, Artbat exploded with their 2015 debut "Mandrake" on Definition:Music, championed by Richie Hawtin. Releases on Diynamic (Solomun's label), Afterlife, and their own Upperground followed, including chart-toppers "Taboo" (11 weeks #1 on Beatport deep house) and collabs with CamelPhat, David Guetta, and WhoMadeWho. Their 2023 BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix and 2024 Santiago Bernabéu stadium show mark a trajectory from underground to arena-headlining status.

Family Life

Artbat prioritizes privacy, with Artur married to a fellow producer since 2018 and welcoming a daughter in 2021, while Batish shares a long-term partnership with a visual artist supporting their travels. Amid Ukraine's challenges, they draw strength from tight-knit families in Kyiv, occasionally posting heartfelt tributes that reveal grounded lives balancing global tours with parental duties and cultural roots.

Achievements

Named Mixmag Stars of the Year and Beatport's #1 Best-Selling Artist in 2019, Artbat clinched DJ Awards Breakthrough Artist honors that year. Tracks amassed 200+ million TikTok views ("Horizon") and 60+ million YouTube plays ("Return to Oz" remix), with sold-out Upperground events, remix for The Chemical Brothers, and festival triumphs at EDC, Timewarp, Creamfields solidifying their elite status in melodic techno.

Controversies

Artbat navigated subtle tensions in 2022 over continuing international gigs amid Ukraine's invasion, facing online criticism for not halting tours; they responded by donating proceeds to aid efforts and hosting refugee-support events. A minor 2020 sampling dispute with an indie label resolved amicably, reinforcing their reputation for integrity while focusing energy on music over drama.

Artbat Summary

From Kyiv's underground heartbeat to conquering the world's biggest stages, Artbat embodies resilience, innovation, and melodic mastery in electronic music. Artur and Batish's journey—from club meetings to Beatport dominance and historic stadium shows—continues inspiring a generation, with Upperground label and fresh collabs promising deeper immersion into their euphoric sound universe.