In this episode of Modern Nomads, we meet kui-pop pioneer Aktoty Bolshova and electronic music trailblazer Nazira Kassenova in Almaty to find out how they are fusing Kazakh heritage with modern sounds to inspire new global audiences.
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00:00Welcome to Almaty, one of Kazakhstan's cultural treasures, a UNESCO Creative City of Music
00:15since 2017, it moves to a captivating rhythm where centuries-old traditions shape the beats
00:21of today.
00:22Join us as we dive into the soul of Kazakh music through the lens of its modern sounds.
00:35I'm in Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city, located on the southeastern border of the
00:40country, to visit the Khras Museum of Folk Musical Instruments.
00:45Here we can explore the origins of traditional Kazakh music, shaped by the Kazakh nomadic
00:51lifestyle, featuring portable instruments and celebrating the steppe's beauty and the
00:56nomads' deep connection to their environment.
01:05Among the 1,000 items housed in the museum, one of the main highlights is undoubtedly
01:10the dombra, a two-string, long-necked, lute-like instrument that symbolizes Kazakh heritage
01:16and national pride.
01:17Almost every Kazakh has a dombra in his house.
01:19It has been the soul of Kazakh people, actually, because it assisted during all the main, the
01:27most important occasions, including festivals, rituals, weddings, birthdays, and we have
01:33even a special saying, which says that a real Kazakh, not a Kazakh, a real Kazakh is a dombra.
01:39This instrument is central to performing Ky, a solo dombra composition inscribed on UNESCO's
01:45Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2014.
01:51Inspired by traditional Ky compositions and utilizing the dombra, a new genre, known as
01:57Kypop, has emerged onto the Kazakh music scene.
02:01Aktota Bolshova, a leading figure in this genre, has gained local and international
02:07recognition for her unique blend of modern pop, traditional ethnic music, and Kazakh
02:13ethno-rock.
02:44Aktota's music is popular with the younger generation, introducing them to Kazakhstan's
02:52rich musical heritage with a modern take that is both accessible and exciting.
03:01Like Kypop, electronic music is emerging as a popular modern genre within Kazakhstan and
03:07beyond.
03:08Nazira Kasenova is one of the country's most prominent electronic music producers and DJs
03:14She started playing the dombra as a child, but discovered electronic music while studying
03:19in Europe.
03:20Back in Kazakhstan, she began DJing and launched the Svuk parties, shaping Almaty's underground
03:26electronic music scene.
03:29Kazakh music is very deep and nostalgic and it's very emotional, but like with a little
03:34bit of sadness, it's quite trance-like, like a little bit.
03:38And I think I have those things in, like, still influence me subconsciously, like not
03:42without even realizing it.
03:44I was incredibly lucky to have Nazira perform a private set just for me.
03:49Even though the electronic music scene in Kazakhstan still has a way to go before breaking
03:54through to the mainstream, it's steadily gaining traction among a new generation of young Kazakhs
03:59who are excited by a genre that directly reflects their modern international ambitions whilst
04:05remaining loyal to their rich heritage.
04:08If I compare sometimes, like, Almaty and some European cities, I think, like, promoters
04:13in Almaty and musicians are sometimes even more innovative.
04:16And I think even in electronic music, you know, we see a lot of artists, like, kind
04:20of reusing our heritage, like, musical heritage and stuff.
04:25And I think, like, electronic music artists, we are trying to do bigger things.
04:29Nazira even let me join in and play alongside her for a while.
04:34That was impressive.
04:39As we fade down the volume, we have had a behind-the-scenes look at Kazakhstan's music
04:45scene.
04:46We heard how the timeless sound of the dombra now inspires new genres as artists bring Kazakh
04:52music to the world stage with a blend of tradition and modernity.