There is no telling what can happen if you take a chance and put yourself out there artistically. Running the risk of criticism or failure, it takes a brave individual to let the general public into their creative world.
Something to think about for those who feed off the toxic energy of putting others down for sweating it out on stage under the hot lights: the positivity comes when said creators find success. Such is the case with the Hard Rock band NOAPOLOGY, who boldly rolled the dice and came up with aces.
An interesting story to tell: NOAPOLOGY roots were planted in Ukraine’s capital city, Kyiv, back in 2014 when their core of Lead Vocalist Daria Zaritskaya and Guitarist Sergey Sershen started posting covers of songs on YouTube. Doing this under the name of Sershen & Zaritskaya, they started with some interesting cover selections such as The Pretty Reckless’s “Oh My God,” Lorde’s “Yellow Flicker,” and Halestorm’s “Apocalyptic.” From here, they also tapped into AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell,” Guns N’ Roses’s “Welcome To The Jungle,” and Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer,” among others.
Presenting the songs with the utmost professionalism, they showed off a talent for recreating favorite songs with an interesting flavor where Zaritskaya’s voice truly shined. On their way to attracting substantial attention, the music videos amassed the duo over two hundred million views and counting! Rather impressive, they could easily stick with doing what they were comfortable with and found themselves exposed. Still, they took another bold step forward in 2022 when deciding to plunge into original songs under the band title NOAPOLOGY.
A decision that came shortly following the full-blown war between Ukraine and Russia broke out, and tragically, three years later, the destruction and loss of life continue. One of the most horrid pieces of modern history of our time, while uncertainty lies ahead for NOAPOLOGY’s friends and family, they continue to blaze an impressive path as an original Hard Rock band.
Led by Daria Zaritskaya on vocals and Sergey Sershen on guitar, Bassist Alex Shturmak and Drummer Przemek Nalazek fill out the four-piece. A solid group of players, their music debuted in October 2022 with the single “Ashes.” A song that unified passionate vocals with dark and melodic Hard Rock, it was soon followed by “Deadhearted” in 2023 before “Defenseless “ and “I’m Done” in 2024.
Putting out some high-energy songs, it quickly became apparent that NOAPOLOGY had serious songwriting chops. With that in mind, the band’s next step forward emerged on January 31, 2025, when they put out their cleverly titled debut full-length album Uncovered. Entirely independent, the debut encompasses ten captivating songs that touch on so many different corners of the Modern Rock world. Difficult to explain, there is a certain poignance in the heaviness they possess matched with absolutely soaring singing by Zaritskaya that puts her in the same league as a Lzzy Hale of Halestorm, Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless, or Guernica Mancini (formerly of Thundermother and current leader of The Gems).
With a highly dynamic range, Zaritskaya’s singing is demanding, passionate, and even haunting in certain corners of NOAPOLOGY’s music. With songs like “Bad News,” “Hunter,” or “On The Edge,” you can not go wrong because each of them, among the rest of the band’s debut, has unique textures.
In a crowded music genre with many bands jockeying for position, it would be foolish not to consider NOAPOLOGY one of the next big things to take over the Hard Rock world.
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