ATB
MELOVIN, real name Kostiantyn Mykolaiovych Bocharov (born April 11, 1997, Odesa, Ukraine), is a Ukrainian singer, songwriter and composer. He won the sixth season of the Ukrainian version of X Factor in 2015 and the second season of the music television show Maska in 2021. He represented Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon with the song Under the Ladder, finishing 17th in the final.
MELOVIN’s music spans pop, electropop, pop rock and dark pop. His work is distinguished by expressive vocals, a theatrical performance style and close attention to the visual presentation of his shows. Among his best-known songs are Wonder, Under the Ladder, That's Your Role, «Ти», «Вітрила», Dreamer and «Обиратиму себе». His discography includes the EP Face to Face (2017) and the studio albums Octopus (2019) and MRoom13 (2025).
Childhood and music education
Kostiantyn Bocharov was born and raised in Odesa. His parents were not professionally involved in music: his mother, Valentyna Bocharova, worked as an accountant, while his father, Mykola Bocharov, worked as a driver.
His interest in performing emerged during his school years. Kostiantyn sang in a choir, took part in theatre productions and organised small performances of his own. In 2009, he enrolled at the Samotsvity folk theatre school, where he studied acting. Among his teachers was Ukrainian actress Natalia Buzko, known for her work with the comedy troupe Masky.
His theatrical training had a noticeable influence on his later career. Dramatic staging, costumes, choreography and lighting subsequently became regular elements of his concert performances.
In 2015, Bocharov enrolled at the Reinhold Glière Kyiv Institute of Music, graduating in 2020.
The origins of the name MELOVIN
The stage name MELOVIN appeared in 2013. According to the artist himself, it combines the word Halloween with the surname of British fashion designer Alexander McQueen, whose work influenced his aesthetic preferences.
Around the same period, the Big House Melovin creative team was formed. The singer began developing a distinctive stage image combining elements of Gothic aesthetics, contemporary fashion and theatrical art.
One of the most recognisable features of his appearance became the use of contact lenses that created the effect of differently coloured eyes. Over the years, MELOVIN has continued experimenting with hairstyles, costumes and stage makeup.
Winning X Factor and the beginning of a professional career
MELOVIN gained widespread recognition in 2015 after appearing in the sixth season of the Ukrainian television competition X Factor on STB.
His mentor was music producer Ihor Kondratiuk. Throughout the competition, Bocharov performed songs in a variety of styles, demonstrating both his vocal range and his ability to work with dramatic material.
In the final, he performed «Заплуталась» together with Jamala. On December 26, 2015, MELOVIN was announced as the winner of the sixth season following the public vote.
His television success allowed him to move on to recording his own material. In 2016, he released the songs «Не одинокая» and «На взлёт». He also began performing solo concerts, working on music videos and preparing to compete in Ukraine’s national selection for Eurovision.
Face to Face and Ukraine’s Eurovision 2017 national selection
In February 2017, MELOVIN competed in Ukraine’s national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest with his original English-language song Wonder.
The song received the highest level of public support among the finalists, with 60,455 votes. However, the professional jury gave it considerably lower scores. With a combined total of eight points, MELOVIN finished third. The national selection was won by O.Torvald with the song Time.
Despite not winning, the competition introduced MELOVIN to a wider audience and helped promote his original material.
On November 10, 2017, he released his debut EP Face to Face, featuring six tracks. The record combined contemporary pop, electronic arrangements and pop rock. Alongside English-language material, it also included the Ukrainian-language song «Світ в полоні».
Other early songs from this period include Hooligan and Unbroken. These recordings already displayed several elements that would become central to his developing style: emotional vocal delivery, contrasting arrangements and a strong focus on melodic progression.
Eurovision 2018: Under the Ladder
In 2018, MELOVIN returned to Ukraine’s Eurovision national selection. This time he competed with Under the Ladder, written together with American songwriter Mike Ryals.
On February 24, the singer won the national final with 11 points from the combined jury and public vote. The victory earned him the right to represent Ukraine at the 63rd Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon.
MELOVIN’s performance became one of the Ukrainian delegation’s most visually memorable Eurovision entries. He began the song at a piano positioned on a raised stage structure. During the climax, fire effects appeared and part of the set transformed into a burning staircase.
The second semi-final took place on May 10, 2018. MELOVIN qualified for the final, held on May 12.
Ukraine ultimately finished 17th among 26 finalists with 130 points. The voting split was particularly striking: professional juries awarded him only 11 points, while the public gave him 119. In the televote-only ranking, he placed seventh.
Under the Ladder became one of the most recognisable songs in MELOVIN’s repertoire. His Eurovision appearance expanded his audience beyond Ukraine and influenced the further development of his live stage persona.
Octopus and the development of his signature sound
Following Eurovision, MELOVIN continued releasing original material. In August 2018, he premiered the single That's Your Role. The song retained the dramatic character associated with his music while introducing a more pronounced electronic sound.
During the same period, he released the Ukrainian-language track «З тобою, зі мною, і годі», followed later by «Ти», which received its own music video.
On October 25, 2019, MELOVIN released his first full-length studio album, Octopus. The title refers to the record’s concept: the album consists of eight tracks, reflecting the eight arms of an octopus.
Musically, MELOVIN combined pop rock, electropop and electronic dance music. Alongside more energetic material, the album also featured restrained lyrical tracks. English-language songs appeared alongside songs performed in Ukrainian.
The album includes Under the Ladder, That's Your Role, Oh No!, Expectations, Your Entertainment, Want You to Stay and «Ти».
The concert presentation of Octopus took place at the Atlas club in Kyiv. By that time, MELOVIN had already built a stable fanbase and was regularly performing solo concerts.
In 2019, he received an M1 Music Award in the «Breakthrough of the Year» category.
Ukrainian-language songs and music in 2020–2024
In the following years, MELOVIN increasingly turned to Ukrainian-language material. In 2020, he released «Вітрила», a track that placed greater emphasis on melody and the emotional qualities of his vocal performance.
In 2021, he released «І кров кипить» and «Кіт і драма», as well as the collaboration «Таємний знак» with singer SOWA. That same year, MELOVIN won the second season of the Ukrainian music show Maska, performing in the costume of a giraffe.
Following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Ukrainian-language songs continued to appear in his repertoire. Releases from this period included «Не зволікай», «Мені не дзвони» and «Один не один».
In 2024, the singer once again attempted to earn the right to represent Ukraine at Eurovision. He competed in the national selection with Dreamer, a song centred on pursuing one’s dreams and personal freedom.
The song received 18 points in the final and finished third. The selection was won by alyona alyona and Jerry Heil with Teresa & Maria.
That same year, MELOVIN and iSKra released their collaboration «Обиратиму себе», while MELOVIN also released the song «Вбиваєш мене».
MRoom13: a new chapter
On November 13, 2025, MELOVIN released the studio album MRoom13 through TAVR Records. The release coincided with the tenth anniversary of his rise to national prominence following his victory on X Factor.
The album title combines the artist’s stage name, the English word Room and the number 13, which MELOVIN associates with ideas of change and inner transformation.
Musically, MRoom13 continued the development of the electronic side of MELOVIN’s work. The arrangements feature elements of dark pop, synth-driven pop and contemporary alternative music. Lyrically, the album focuses on personal experiences, relationships, fears and emotional recovery.
The album contains 13 tracks, including guard down, popil, «казав люблю», «я горю не згораю», «тривога», «просто лети» and «медитація».
Collaborations form a significant part of the record. Singer LEONA appears on «вітер», while rapper alyona alyona features on «не схожі». Together with Lama, MELOVIN recorded «мені так треба вітрила!», a new interpretation connected to material from his earlier repertoire.
On February 19, 2026, the expanded MRoom13 (Deluxe Edition) was released with 16 tracks. The additional material included the collaboration all you need with singer Oceana, as well as the songs «темрява лякала сонце» and «небо».
In 2025, MELOVIN also served on Ukraine’s national jury for the Eurovision Song Contest. The jury members were selected through a public vote in the Diia app.
In October 2026, MELOVIN and LAMA released their second collaborative single, «Між нами тантра». Unlike their previous duet «Мені так треба Вітрила!», the new track featured a more pronounced pop-rock sound driven by energetic guitar parts. The song explores emotional closeness and the attraction between two people that remains strong even across distance.
Musical style and stage image
Contemporary pop remains at the core of MELOVIN’s music, although his recordings rarely stay within a single genre. His early repertoire shows clear influences from pop rock and electropop, while later releases feature dense synthesiser arrangements, darker electronic textures and elements of alternative pop.
His vocal style often relies on contrast between restrained verses and emotionally intense choruses. He uses both softer delivery and a more forceful tone shaped by pop-rock phrasing.
The visual side of his work plays an equally important role. His theatrical education influenced the structure of his live performances and his use of stage lighting, costumes and scenery. MELOVIN’s shows frequently incorporate Gothic aesthetics, symbolic imagery and elaborate staging.
His lyrics regularly explore themes of self-discovery, love, loneliness, inner conflict and overcoming difficulties. His repertoire includes material in both Ukrainian and English.
Public activity and personal life
On July 5, 2021, during the Atlas Weekend festival in Kyiv, MELOVIN publicly came out as bisexual. During his performance, he kissed a man and a woman before raising a rainbow flag. The moment attracted considerable attention from Ukrainian media and sparked a wider public discussion about LGBTQ+ visibility in the music industry.
In November 2025, the singer announced his engagement to Ukrainian serviceman and paramedic Petro Zlotia. In February 2026, MELOVIN announced that the relationship had ended and asked the media not to interfere in the private circumstances surrounding the breakup.
In January 2026, the artist announced his intention to end his music career in 2027 and devote more time to his personal life. However, in September of the same year, he said during a television interview that he would continue his creative career. His earlier statement therefore did not become a final decision to leave the stage.
MELOVIN discography
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Octopus | Big House Melovin |
| 2025 | MRoom13 | TAVR Records |
| 2026 | MRoom13 (Deluxe Edition) | TAVR Records |
EPs
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Face to Face |
Selected singles
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Не одинокая |
| 2016 | На взлёт |
| 2017 | Wonder |
| 2017 | Hooligan |
| 2017 | Unbroken |
| 2018 | Under the Ladder |
| 2018 | That's Your Role |
| 2018 | З тобою, зі мною, і годі |
| 2019 | Ти |
| 2019 | Вітрила |
| 2020 | Dance with the Devil |
| 2021 | І кров кипить |
| 2021 | Кіт і драма |
| 2022 | Не зволікай |
| 2022 | Мені не дзвони |
| 2023 | Один не один |
| 2024 | Dreamer |
| 2024 | Вбиваєш мене |
| 2025 | Твоя вина |
| 2025 | просто лети |
| 2026 | не маю права |
Selected collaborations
| Year | Track | Artists |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Шлях | Ruzhynski, MELOVIN |
| 2021 | Таємний знак | MELOVIN, SOWA |
| 2024 | Обиратиму себе | MELOVIN, iSKra |
| 2024 | Зодіак | MELOVIN, SWOIIA |
| 2025 | вітер | MELOVIN, LEONA |
| 2025 | не схожі | MELOVIN, alyona alyona |
| 2025 | мені так треба вітрила! | MELOVIN, Lama |
| 2026 | all you need | MELOVIN, Oceana |
| 2026 | all you need | MELOVIN, LAMA |
Awards and achievements
- 2015 — winner of the sixth season of the Ukrainian version of X Factor.
- 2017 — third place in Ukraine’s Eurovision national selection with the song Wonder.
- 2018 — winner of Ukraine’s Eurovision national selection.
- 2018 — 17th place at the Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon with Under the Ladder.
- 2019 — M1 Music Award in the «Breakthrough of the Year» category.
- 2021 — winner of the second season of Maska.
- 2024 — third place in Ukraine’s Eurovision national selection with Dreamer.
- 2025 — member of Ukraine’s national jury at the Eurovision Song Contest.
Film and dubbing work
In addition to his music career, MELOVIN has participated in film and animation projects. In 2018, he voiced the Kraken in the Ukrainian-language version of the animated film Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation. In 2023, he also worked on the Ukrainian dubbing of the animated film Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken.
In 2019, the singer appeared as himself in the youth television series «Новенькая».
