ARTBAT: How the Kyiv Duo Shaped Melodic Techno
· re:union Radio editorial · 2 min read
ARTBAT from Kyiv are among the most influential acts in melodic techno – from club debut to stadium shows and their own label, Upperground.
ARTBAT are among the few acts who have taken melodic techno from small clubs to festival main stages. The Ukrainian duo from Kyiv, formed in 2014, consists of Artur Kryvenko and Vitaliy “Batish” Limarenko – two DJs who met in a Ukrainian club and achieved an international breakthrough within a few months.
At a glance
- ARTBAT was founded in Kyiv in 2014 by Artur Kryvenko and Vitaliy “Batish” Limarenko
- The single “Taboo” topped Beatport’s Deep House charts for eleven weeks in 2018
- In 2021, they founded their own label, Upperground
- In 2025, they entered the DJ Mag Top 100 for the first time, at number 73
From Kyiv Club to International Breakthrough
Their start was exceptionally fast: just three months after they began collaborating, Artur and Batish experienced their breakthrough with the track “Mandrake” – significantly fueled by the support of Richie Hawtin, who heavily played the track in his sets. For a then-unknown duo from the Ukrainian club scene, this was a rare leap to the international forefront.
Chart Success and Own Label
In 2018, “Taboo” marked the next major milestone: the track topped the Beatport Deep House charts for eleven weeks. A year later, ARTBAT were honored as Breakthrough Artist at the DJ Award and named “Stars of the Year” by Mixmag magazine. In 2021, they went a step further and founded their own label, Upperground – a sign that the duo is increasingly controlling their sound themselves, rather than relying solely on external label partners.
From Stadium Stage to Remix Classic
Just how big ARTBAT has become was demonstrated in May 2024: the duo played their own concert at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium – a format rarely reserved for electronic live acts. In the same month, they released their official remix of The Chemical Brothers’ classic “Hey Boy Hey Girl,” giving one of the most iconic big-beat tracks of the 90s a contemporary, driving makeover. In 2025, ARTBAT finally debuted in the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs at number 73, confirming their status as a fixture in the international scene.
Their discography has long extended beyond pure techno: collaborations with names like David Guetta, Armin van Buuren, and Benny Benassi show how the duo moves between techno, progressive house, electro house, and trance, without losing their own melodically driven core. On the festival circuit, they have already graced stages at Coachella, Tomorrowland, Ultra Miami, EDC, and Creamfields.
FAQ
Who is behind ARTBAT?
ARTBAT is a DJ and producer duo from Kyiv, founded in 2014, consisting of Artur Kryvenko and Vitaliy “Batish” Limarenko.
Which label does ARTBAT release on?
Since 2021, the duo has operated its own label, Upperground. If you’re interested in similar label stories from the techno scene, you can find more in our article on Charlotte de Witte’s The Resistance EP on KNTXT as well as an overview of current Minimal Techno releases.
Source: Wikipedia – Artbat
