In July 2023, the Ukrainian singer, renowned by her stage name MARUV, finally unveiled her latest song “Killing Me Softly.” Interestingly, the song was originally penned in 2019, and the music video had been ready since 2020, awaiting to be revealed. However, after undergoing multiple alterations and numerous versions, the song has now arrived in its final form for listeners to enjoy. This definitive version, favored by the singer Hanna Borysivna Korsun (Ukrainian: Ганна Борисівна Корсун), has taken shape as a duet between Maruv and her two cherished alter-egos, MARUV and Sharlotta Ututu.
The “collaboration” between MARUV and Sharlotta introduced a subtly distinct sound compared to the artist’s more typical style following her notable transformation in 2017. This departure is evident not only in the lyrics but also in the musical composition and the visual aesthetics portrayed in the video. In this case, it brings an emotion different than the usual pop-dance/electronic songs that the singer is known for.
This is the song with a complicated history. I even think it’s kind of enchanted. I wrote it in 2019. I filmed a music video in 2020. I have changed the melody twice. There were 12 variants of this track before approving the final version. I have re-recorded the vocal for 4 times, and I am still not totally satisfied with the result. I’ve tried to release this song for 3 times and only the fourth attempt has been successful
said the singer in the YouTube post
Who is MARUV?
The Ukrainian singer Hanna Borysivna Korsun assumes the persona of MARUV. Since 2017, the 32-year-old artist has used the name MARUV (in capital letters) as her stage moniker. Throughout her career, she has produced four studio albums: “Stories” (2017), “Black Water” (2018), “No Name” (2021), and “Killing Me Softly” (2023). Additionally, she has released two EPs: “Hellcat Story” (2019) and “Fatality” (2020) under the alias Shlakoblochina.
In 2019, MARUV was initially chosen to represent Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest. However, the rights to the winning song “Siren Song” were held by the Russian publisher Warner Music Russia. Consequently, the publisher arranged a concert in Moscow too. The situation intensified when news of her scheduled Moscow concerts emerged. This prompted the Ukrainian Minister of Culture to declare that artists who don’t acknowledge Ukraine’s territorial integrity and those who perform in Russia are ineligible to represent the country at Eurovision.
