Main points
- Drevo gained popularity thanks to the hit “Smaragdove nebo” (Emerald Sky), as well as his TikTok videos and collaboration with Pianoboy.
- Zhenya Galich criticized the song “Smaragdove nebo” but later apologized; Drevo did not respond to the criticism.
Drevo / Collage of Channel 24
There is probably no person in Ukraine who has not heard the hit “Emerald Sky”. For Drevo (Maksim Derevyanchuk – real name and surname), this song became the impetus for his crazy popularity. He became a frequent guest on various programs and shows.
- 1 How did Drevo become popular?
- 2 The scandal with Zhenya Halych
- 3 What do Drevo and Andriy Yermak have in common?
If everything is clear about success, then it remains an open topic what kind of singer he is outside the cameras. It is known that the artist was born in 2001 in Varash, in the Rivne region. Since childhood, he showed a love for music, and his parents supported his son in his hobby. At the age of 17, he bought a guitar and learned to play it with the help of lessons on YouTube. Gradually, everything moved to covering songs by other performers, and then developed into writing his first own song. Next, Channel 24 will tell you what is known about Drevo's career, who inspired him and what Yermak is here for.
How did Drevo become popular?
In his hometown, the young man set up his own small studio in his parents' house. There he shot videos and wrote the now-famous tracks “Lastivka”, “Samolitom” and others.
I just always did everything myself. I remember it was winter, there was no money for microphones and a sound card – so I went with a guitar to sing carols. And it worked out – there was enough money, and so step by step it started to turn around,
– Maksym said in an interview with BBC.
Drevo – “Samolitom”: watch the video online
After school, he entered the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute and studied at the specialty “Automation and Computer-Integrated Technologies”. Then the guy realized that his soul lies in creativity, and not in the chosen course of study.
The singer began to develop his path to fame with TikTok. At first, he filmed videos with his parents, which began to attract interest in his person. The next step was the National Selection for Eurovision in 2023. He did not manage to get on the shortlist, but Pianoboy (Dmitry Shurov) noticed the young talent. They began to collaborate, performing together on the same stage.
Then there was another National Selection and a shortlist. Later, Drevo wrote music to the poem by Oleksandr Usyk, and the track was called “Terpy, Kozak”.
Drevo – “Endure, Cossack”: watch the video online
Step by step, he reached his most famous hits, which made him truly popular.
Drevo – “Emerald Sky”: watch the video online
So, the singer got a team, and his manager was his beloved Yana, to whom he got engaged in February of this year.
Drevo proposed to his beloved / Photo from Yana's Instagram
The scandal with Zhenya Halych
The frontman of the band O.Torvald called Drevo's track “Emerald Sky” “a hymn” on the YouTube show “Kritikanti” because there is nothing interesting besides the chorus.
I know: Emerald Sky”. Here's this rant. I don't understand what's next, and then I think: I need to listen to the whole song. Shit! Well, the chorus itself is cool. That's all, and after that there's nothing more,
– said Galich.
After these words, a scandal broke out. Fans of the young artist came to his defense, and Tina Karol also intervened.
It's such a mess when artists are chasing other artists, other artists' songs. But sit down and write your own material. A young person is creating a repertoire, the song has taken off. This is perhaps the first of many songs that has taken off. But let the person be! Just give each other life! There's enough space for everyone. Stop commenting on other people's work, do your own,
– said the singer.
This whole scandal ended with Zhenya Galich apologizing, but Drevo himself did not react to the words of his star colleague.
What do Drevo and Andriy Yermak have in common?
Recently, the former head of the President's Office announced the “establishment of collaboration between the Ukrainian military and artists.”
Yermak introduced the singer to the Spartan Brigade. The politician claims that creativity helps maintain fighting spirit both in the rear and in the army.
Drevo at an online meeting with Yermak and the Spartan brigade / Photo from the brigade's Telegram channel
Neither the former head of the OP nor the National Guardsmen specify what the cooperation will be like.