Ziferblat Interview: “We are a perfect example of how Ukrainian traditions and Western musical styles can blend together.”

It’s been nearly two months since Ziferblat won Vidbir, and in another two months the band will represent Ukraine at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Bird of Pray.” 

Vidbir 2025 was Ziferblat’s second attempt at Ukraine’s national selection for Eurovision – the band placed second in 2024 with the English-language song “Place I Call Home.” “Bird of Pray,” which combines Ukrainian and English lyrics, uses the metaphor of a bird to represent freedom, movement, and the passing of time, paying tribute to the resilience of the Ukrainian people and their hope for a better tomorrow.

Ziferblat – made up of twin brothers Daniel (lead vocals) and Valentyn (guitar) Leshchynskyi, and Fedir Khodakov (drums) – formed in 2015, and released an album, “Peretvorennya” (“Transformation”), in 2023. Fans, media, and the band members themselves have used various terms to describe Ziferblat’s sound: “prog,” “art rock,” and even “mustache funk” (“вусатий фанк”), a genre formed in the 1960s and 1970s that blends western rock and traditional Ukrainian elements. Daniel, however, pushes back on the notion that the band’s music can be summed up so neatly: “Our song incorporates some elements of [mustache funk], but no artist likes to define their music by a single genre. Of course, Ukrainian culture has had a strong influence on our song, and that’s something I’m truly proud of. I hope European audiences will appreciate it as well.” 

Recently, the band unveiled a revamped version of “Bird of Pray,” featuring additional orchestral elements and other production changes, which Valentyn (who wrote the song) calls a “cosmetic renovation.” With three wins and a 100% qualification record – the only participating country besides Luxembourg to hold this status – Ukraine has earned a reputation as something of a Eurovision powerhouse. To maintain the level of quality fans have come to expect from Ukraine, the band selected producer Anton Chilibi for on his work on some of Ukraine’s most successful recent Eurovision entries: “Teresa & Maria” by Jerry Heil and Alyona Alyona, which placed third in the 2024 contest, and the winning song from 2022, Kalush Orchestra’s “Stefania.” 

With weeks to go until Eurovision 2025, we caught up with the band to learn more about how they’re preparing for the contest in Basel.

Hello and congratulations, Ziferblat! What have you been up to since Vidbir, and how are you doing now?

Daniel: Thank you for the congratulations! From the very first day after the Ukrainian national selection, we started preparing for our trip to Basel. Time is short, and there is a lot to do.

Fedir: Hi! Thank you – we’re thrilled to see what happens next. Right now, we’re working hard on our performance and on new music – stay tuned!

Walk us through the moment you won Vidbir. Some eagle-eyed viewers seemed to notice you mentally calculating the points as they were being announced. What was actually going through your heads?

Daniel: Yes, the whole world saw that we had some trouble with math! Seriously, I was just thinking about the other contestants, especially KHAYAT. The audience gave him so few points – it felt unfair.

Fedir: To be honest, when we won, everything was a blur. It wasn’t until the next day that I fully realized what had happened. It’s such an honor for us to represent Ukraine, and we feel truly blessed.

Can you talk a bit about the decision to revamp “Bird of Pray?”

Daniel: This was our personal decision. We had very little time to work on the studio version of the song during the selection process. So when we won, we finally had the opportunity to refine some parts of the song and make it more delicate. 

Valentyn: We slightly simplified the chorus, as the original version was overloaded with vocal parts. This adjustment made Danya’s voice sound more distinct, while we made the backing vocals less prominent to give the track more depth and dynamics.

Fedir: I really like this updated version. For me, it sounds deeper and more melodic. I hope everyone enjoys it too.

Can you talk a bit about the songwriting process?

Valentyn: I wrote the music first. I always write the music first, and then, depending on the mood, I add the lyrics. This time was no exception. I was just sitting at home – it must have been May or June – playing my acoustic guitar, and all kinds of interesting musical ideas started coming into my head. I then combined them and showed it to the boys. We made the full arrangement together, and later, I wrote the lyrics. 

This song reflects the events that have been unfolding in Ukraine for the past three years – and, to be honest, for more than a decade. It is a song of hope – a hope for a bright future. I used the bird as a symbol of freedom and emancipation. It becomes a harbinger of spring and a symbol of life’s cyclical nature, instilling confidence in the future. I wrote it in one evening on an acoustic guitar, which might seem surprising since many find it complex and layered, but in reality, it’s quite easy to play and sing on any instrument.

What does it mean to you, both personally and professionally, to represent Ukraine at Eurovision?

Daniel: It means about the same to me as representing their country at the European Championship does to a footballer. It’s a huge responsibility, but it’s also a childhood dream come true.

Fedir: I agree – it’s a huge responsibility and such an honor to have the chance to share Ukrainian culture in a new and unique way.

Competing at Eurovision is a balancing act between representing your own country and appealing to a large international audience. How do you plan to tackle this challenge?

Daniel: We are a perfect example of how Ukrainian traditions and Western musical styles can blend together. I see no problem in bringing both sides together through our creativity!

Can you each share a fun fact about yourself that fans might not know?

Daniel: I can’t think of anything more interesting than our music, but…I did work as a football referee for a while.

Valentyn: When we were kids, my brother and I appeared in a mayonnaise commercial. You can even find the video on YouTube – it’s pretty funny!

Fedir: Maybe a bit too random – I love making breakfast and exploring new flavors! And my guilty pleasure? Watching girly TV series’ or romantic comedies from the 90s.

Last year, we asked Fedir what it was like sharing a band with twins Daniel and Valentyn. This time, I want to ask the brothers: what’s it like working together? Has being in a band together influenced your relationship, or vice versa?

Daniel: Playing in a band with my brother actually strengthens our relationship. We’re both adults, and if it weren’t for the band, we might not communicate as often or share so many experiences and dreams.

Finally: when you spoke to us last year, you said you were still working office jobs in addition to being musicians. Now that you’ve won Vidbir and are on your way to Eurovision, I have to ask: have you quit your day jobs?

Daniel: Actually, I left my office job last year when we started our tour across Ukraine. I’m proud that I was able to escape from that life – not many musicians get the chance to do so. I’m truly grateful that God gave me this opportunity.

Valentyn: I’m stuck at my desk and still working at the office!

Fedir: I was the only one in the band who had never worked in an office. So for now, not much has changed in my life – except for all the preparations to make our dream come true.

To follow Ziferblat on their Eurovision journey, and for more music, fans can find the band on social media and streaming services:

TikTok
Instagram/Threads
Spotify
YouTube
Facebook

Are #YOU excited to see Ziferblat represent Ukraine at Eurovision 2025? Let us know on social media (@escunited), Discord, or at our forum.