O.Torvald will represent Ukraine at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest.
Dmitry Kommissarenko
In the final part of our participant feature series, we get to know the band O.Torvald, representing Ukraine in the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Time'.
O.Torvald was established in Poltava, Ukraine in 2005. In 2006 the band moved to Kyiv where they began performing live. Zhenia Halych is the band's front man and and to date, the group have released five albums. The band also have a large audience of fans. In 2015 they toured Ukraine and Europe and last year released their latest album; #OurPeopleAreEverywhere which was produced by Kyrylo Matiushenko from Belarus.
In late 2016, O.Torvald toured extensively throughout Ukraine and performed one of their biggest concerts to date in the Stereo Plaza in Kyiv. In February 2017 they won the Ukrainian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest and will represent the country in Kyiv in May.
The song Time is the first English-language track of the group. Initially another track was written for the contest, but at the last moment a decision was made in favour of Time. The band are honoured to be representing Ukraine on home ground in 2017. "In the contest we will represent not only Ukraine but also rock music", said lead singer Zhenia Halych. Ukraine is automatically qualified to the Grand Final and O.Torvald will perform 22nd in the running order.
