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Artik & Asti is a pop music project created in 2010 by Ukrainian producer, songwriter and performer Artem Umrikhin (Artik). The group's first vocalist was Anna Dzyuba (Asti), with whom Artik & Asti recorded «Moya poslednyaya nadezhda», «Polovina», «Nedelimy», «Grustnyy dens», «Devochka, tantsuy», «Isterichka» and many of the best-known songs from the project's first era. After Dzyuba left in 2021, the project retained the name Artik & Asti, while Seville Velieva (SEVILLE) became its new lead singer.
The music of Artik & Asti is built primarily around a combination of pop, R&B and contemporary club-oriented electronic music. A defining feature of the project is female vocals over dance-oriented arrangements, paired with lyrics about breakups, jealousy, painful relationships and attempts to start over. The first lineup reached its biggest commercial peak in the late 2010s and early 2020s, when «Grustnyy dens», «Pod gipnozom», «Devochka, tantsuy» and «Isterichka» occupied leading positions on Russian streaming and radio charts.
Artem Umrikhin and the Creation of Artik & Asti
Artem Igorevich Umrikhin was born on December 9, 1985, in Zaporizhzhia. He became interested in music as a teenager, beginning with hip-hop. In 2003, he moved to Kyiv, where he performed under the name Artik and worked with the group «Karaty».
At the same time, Umrikhin worked as a producer and songwriter for other artists. Over the years, he collaborated with Dzhigan, Ivan Dorn, Quest Pistols, Anna Sedokova, DJ Smash and others. This experience preceded the creation of his own pop project.
In 2010, Artik came across an online recording by aspiring singer Anna Dzyuba from Cherkasy. He felt that her voice would suit a new group and invited her to collaborate. That was how Artik & Asti was formed.
The name combined Artik's stage name with the pseudonym Asti, which became associated with Anna Dzyuba. In the original lineup, Artem was primarily responsible for the music, production and development of the project, while the female vocal became its most recognizable element.
Anna Dzyuba and the First Songs
Anna Anatolyevna Dzyuba was born on June 24, 1990, in Cherkasy. Before meeting Umrikhin, she had no professional fame, although she had already been writing her own songs before Artik & Asti was formed.
One of their first recordings together was «Antistress». It was followed by «Moya poslednyaya nadezhda», released in 2011. This was the track that first brought the duo wider attention. Early songs such as «Oblaka», «Odin na million» and others followed.
The formula that would later become a recurring part of their sound was already evident on the earliest recordings: Artik's verses and rap-style delivery, Asti's high female vocal, minor-key pop melodies and an electronic rhythmic foundation.
#RayOdinNaDvoikh
In 2013, Artik & Asti released their debut album #RayOdinNaDvoikh. It included early songs by the project, among them «Moya poslednyaya nadezhda», «Oblaka» and «Antistress».
The album still differed noticeably from the group's later sound. It featured elements of pop-R&B, Europop, club electronics and hip-hop. The emotional themes, however, were already familiar: relationships, breakups and dramatic exchanges between a man and a woman.
After the first album, the project became increasingly active on the Russian music market. Its concert audience grew gradually, but several more years would pass before the mass popularity of the second half of the decade.
«Zdes i seychas» and Growing Popularity
The second album, «Zdes i seychas», was released in 2015. This period significantly expanded the audience of Artik & Asti.
The album included «Polovina», «Nikomu ne otdam», «Kto ya tebe?!», «Ochen ochen», «Tebe vsyo mozhno» and other songs. The arrangements became denser and more radio-friendly, while Asti firmly established herself as the central voice of the group.
The most successful songs were those that combined a dance-oriented foundation with lyrics about failed relationships. The formula itself was not new to pop music, but Artik & Asti made it the central direction of their repertoire.
Nomer 1
On April 21, 2017, the album «Nomer 1» was released. Its key tracks included «Nedelimy», «Nomer 1», «Tebe odnomu», «Angel» and «Do poslednego vzdokha».
By this point, Artik & Asti were no longer perceived as a new duo but as an established pop project with a loyal audience. Their songs regularly appeared on radio and digital charts, while the scale of their live shows had grown considerably.
«Nedelimy» became one of Artik & Asti's most recognizable ballads of their first decade. At the same time, the group continued to release more rhythmic tracks, so their repertoire was never limited to slow songs alone.
«Grustnyy dens» and the 7 Era
The next stage became the most successful period in the history of the original lineup. On February 15, 2019, Artik & Asti released «Grustnyy dens», recorded with Artem Kacher.
The title captured the basic idea of the song: lyrics about a breakup set against a dance-oriented arrangement. The track topped digital charts, and by the end of 2019 it ranked first in TopHit's overall Russian year-end chart. It was also named the most popular song of the year in Russia by Apple Music.
For «Grustnyy dens», Artik & Asti and Artem Kacher received a Golden Gramophone award. In the same year, Artik & Asti were named Best Group at the RU.TV Awards and Best Pop Group at the MUZ-TV Awards.
«Grustnyy dens» was included on the EP 7 (Part 1), released on March 29, 2019. Another major track from the release was «Pod gipnozom».
The follow-up, 7 (Part 2), arrived on February 7, 2020. Its biggest hit was «Devochka, tantsuy». The song remained among the leaders of streaming charts for an extended period and earned the group another Golden Gramophone.
By this point, Artik & Asti had become one of the most in-demand Russian-language pop acts of the streaming era. Their older songs also continued to accumulate streams alongside the new material.
«Millennium» and the Final Year with Anna Asti
In March 2021, the four-track EP «Millennium» was released. Its lead single was «Isterichka», with a music video directed by Alan Badoev.
On July 23, the group expanded the project with the full-length album «Millennium X». It included «Isterichka», «Ona ne ya», «Lampochki», «Lyubov posle tebya», «Millennium», «Bla Bla» and other tracks.
This album became the last release by the original lineup. On November 2, 2021, Artem Umrikhin officially announced Anna Dzyuba's departure. The parties initially gave no detailed explanation for the split. Dzyuba continued her career independently under the name ANNA ASTI.
The final release featuring her as a member of Artik & Asti was «Family», released on November 5 and recorded with David Guetta and A Boogie Wit da Hoodie.
Why the Name Asti Remained After Anna Left
After changing vocalists, Artem Umrikhin did not create a new project under a different name. Artik & Asti continued to exist as an established musical brand.
At the same time, the new vocalist did not adopt the name Asti. She performs under her own stage name, SEVILLE. In the second lineup, therefore, the word Asti remains part of the group's name rather than being Seville Velieva's personal stage name.
Seville Velieva
Seville Fuadovna Velieva was born on November 20, 1992, in Fergana. As a child, she moved with her family to Simferopol.
Before joining Artik & Asti, she had already appeared several times on televised music competitions. Velieva took part in the Ukrainian shows «Superzvezda» and «X-Factor», and in 2014 competed in the third season of the Russian version of «The Voice». Contrary to a frequently repeated claim, she was not a finalist on the show.
Before being invited to Artik & Asti, Seville had already been releasing her own music. After joining the group, she retained the name SEVILLE and continued developing solo projects alongside her work with Artik & Asti.
In 2024, Velieva also won the fifth season of the television show «The Masked Singer», performing as Raccoon.
«Garmoniya» — the Beginning of the Second Lineup
The new vocalist was introduced on January 21, 2022, at the same time as the premiere of «Garmoniya». This allowed the group to avoid turning the lineup change into a prolonged promotional campaign: listeners immediately heard what Artik & Asti would sound like with a different voice.
«Garmoniya» quickly climbed to the top positions of streaming charts. This was especially important for the project, as after more than a decade with the same vocalist, there was an obvious question of whether the audience would accept the replacement.
Under Seville, the project's basic musical formula remained intact. Artik continued as producer and one of the songwriters, while the female vocal once again became the center of the compositions.
In summer 2022, Artik & Asti released «CO2» together with DJ Smash.
«Kukla», «Vselennaya» and «Kacheli»
In February 2023, Artik & Asti released «Kukla». The song became one of the first major standalone hits by the lineup with Seville and rose to the upper reaches of Russian streaming charts.
During the year, the group also released «Mir soshyol s uma» with Mars Deimos, «Za gorizont» with Mot and «Vselennaya».
On February 9, 2024, the group released the EP «Kacheli». It included five tracks:
- «Kacheli»;
- «Na nozhakh»;
- «Ta, chto delaet bolno»;
- «Tolko raz»;
- «Vselennaya».
The release continued Artik & Asti's familiar focus on emotionally unstable relationships, but by then Seville's voice was no longer perceived as a temporary replacement for the former singer. The second lineup had existed for more than two years and had developed its own set of recognizable songs.
Khudi and the 2025 Releases
On May 31, 2024, Artik & Asti and NICK RIIN released the English-language single «Nobody Like You». In autumn, the group appeared in another major collaboration — «Khudi» with Dzhigan and NILETTO.
On January 24, 2025, «Byt schastlivoy» premiered. In April, Artik & Asti again worked with Stas Mikhailov, releasing the joint song «Ya budu zhdat tebya».
On August 15, the single «Modnyy pop» was released. In December, part of the second lineup's repertoire was reworked in an acoustic format on the EP VK Akustika with Selen Orchestra.
2026
On April 24, 2026, Artik & Asti and Egor Kreed released the joint single «KARMA». As of September 2026, it is the latest new single in the group's main catalog.
At the same time, Seville continues her independent activity. In summer 2026, she released the solo song «Brilliant» under the name SEVILLE. This separation reflects the project's current model: Seville remains the vocalist of Artik & Asti, while her own discography exists independently.
Musical Style
Over the course of their career, Artik & Asti have changed details of their sound, but the basic structure of their songs has remained relatively stable. The early material contained more R&B and Europop, while later releases increasingly incorporated dance-pop, EDM and elements of club-oriented electronic music.
One of the project's most characteristic techniques is the contrast between lyrics and arrangement. The characters in the songs go through breakups, betrayal or emotional dependence, while the music often remains danceable. «Grustnyy dens» effectively turned this principle into a song title.
The female point of view also plays a major role. During Anna Dzyuba's period in the group, it was closely associated with Asti's powerful low timbre and dramatic delivery. Seville's voice is technically and tonally different, but the production model has been preserved: a large chorus, emotional vocals, an electronic beat and lyrics built around immediately recognizable real-life situations.
Artik, meanwhile, remains not only a member of the project but above all its production center, overseeing the material, working with songwriters and shaping the overall musical direction.
Artik & Asti Lineup
Current Lineup
- Artik — Artem Umrikhin — founder of the project, producer, songwriter, performer.
- SEVILLE — Seville Velieva — vocals, since 2022.
Former Member
- Asti — Anna Dzyuba — vocals, 2010–2021. After leaving, she began a solo career under the name ANNA ASTI.
Artik & Asti Discography
Studio Albums
- 2013 — #RayOdinNaDvoikh
- 2015 — Zdes i seychas
- 2017 — Nomer 1
- 2021 — Millennium X
EPs
- 2019 — 7 (Part 1)
- 2020 — 7 (Part 2)
- 2021 — Millennium
- 2024 — Kacheli
- 2025 — VK Akustika — with Selen Orchestra
Major Awards and Achievements
- 2019 — RU.TV: Best Group.
- 2019 — MUZ-TV: Best Pop Group.
- 2019 — Golden Gramophone: «Grustnyy dens».
- 2019 — TopHit: «Grustnyy dens» ranked first on the year-end Russian chart.
- 2020 — Golden Gramophone: «Devochka, tantsuy».
- 2021 — Golden Gramophone: «Isterichka».
- 2022 — Golden Gramophone: «Garmoniya».
Artik & Asti Today
The change of vocalist did not lead to the end of the project and effectively divided its history into two distinct eras. The Anna Dzyuba period produced Artik & Asti's core catalog of the 2010s and its biggest hits, «Grustnyy dens» and «Devochka, tantsuy». With Seville, the project retained its name and recognizable production model, while gradually building a separate repertoire of its own — from «Garmoniya» and «Kukla» to «Kacheli» and later collaborations.
For Artem Umrikhin, Artik & Asti remains a long-term songwriting and production project that survived a change of central vocalist and continued releasing music more than fifteen years after its first recordings.
