In the third episode of the 14th season of the vocal show Holos Krayiny on the 1+1 channel, 19-year-old Maksym Kharchyshyn—the nephew of Druha Rika frontman Valeriy Kharchyshyn—took the stage. The young musician from Zhytomyr Oblast performed the song "Koko Shanel" by Okean Elzy and made all four coaches—Tina Karol, Natalia Mohylevska, MONATIK, and PIVOVAROV—turn their chairs. The performance took place during the blind auditions, which started on October 25, 2026, and are broadcast on the 1+1 Ukraine channel, as well as available to viewers in Ukraine via the Netflix platform with a subscription.
From construction to the big stage
Despite his famous last name, Maksym emphasizes that he strives to build his career and earn a living on his own. Before performing on the show, he shared that he worked part-time as a construction assistant: priming walls, cleaning up debris, and chipping off tiles. According to the young man, such work allowed him to combine earnings with creativity. He gained his first experience performing in front of an audience at a rural culture house, where the positive reaction of the viewers gave him confidence and the desire to develop in music. "Ever since childhood, I decided that I would perform on a big stage," Kharchyshyn noted.
Uncle’s video message and a gift of sun-dried tomatoes
Valeriy Kharchyshyn himself could not be present in the studio due to a tour schedule, but he recorded a video message for his nephew: "Unfortunately, I am on tour and cannot be present, cannot support Maksym. But I know that he is the best." In addition to the video greeting, the artist sent unusual gifts to the coaches—jars of sun-dried tomatoes that he grew with his own hands. Maksym said that he helped his uncle with canning, and at one point he was the one who inspired Valeriy Kharchyshyn to take up growing tomatoes. The musician's gardening hobby has turned into popular content on social media: videos by the leader of Druha Rika about growing tomatoes and cucumbers garner thousands of views on TikTok. Such a presentation caused smiles and jokes among the mentors.
Tina Karol’s reaction and team selection
The gift from Kharchyshyn sparked an unexpected conversation: Tina Karol confessed that she is also fond of gardening and grows tomatoes. The singer drew attention to Maksym's green trousers, which matched the color of her dress, and joked that this might be a sign. "I really like your performance, your vibe. It's such an alternative reproach," Karol noted, adding that she feels the potential of a great musician in Maksym. After four turned chairs, the young performer faced a difficult choice. Maksym confessed that he dislikes situations where he has to choose between multiple options, but after brief hesitation, he made his decision: "I probably want to be in Artem Pivovarov's team." Pivovarov congratulated Maksym and assured him that he already has ideas for their further work.
Solo project ODYN and musical background
During the conversation with the mentors, Maksym shared that he already has significant experience in music: he performs backing vocals in Valeriy Kharchyshyn's project with a symphony orchestra, writes his own songs, and recorded a joint track with his uncle. At the same time, the young man plans to develop his solo career under the stage name ODYN. Thus, his performance on Holos Krayiny became not just participation in a TV show, but a public statement about his own creative path, independent of a last name that has long become a brand of the Ukrainian rock scene.
