By Dilyara Lindsay
I was born into a family where music was not just something from the city radio. My father played guitar. He was the first Elvis of Almaty and Kazakhstan in the 1960s. He started in Moscow, living in a dormitory for foreign students, and that’s how he got tapes of contemporary music—Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and many others. Since childhood, I listened to that music. I attended music school, sang in a choir, and later studied history with a specialization in English at university.
When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1992, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was searching for officers. They sent us to study at the London Diplomatic Academy in 1993. After returning, I finished university and joined the Ministry as an interpreter under the attaché. I also worked as an assistant to the Ambassador of Malaysia to Kazakhstan.
In 1996, I quit diplomacy for music. That year, I joined the newly opened national TV channel Khabar, where I produced a youth program called High-Five Front—a kind of Kazakh MTV. Since then, my band and I have performed more than 3,500 gigs, with me as both master of ceremony and singer.
My upcoming vinyl release draws a symbolic connection to the Hype Road. British music has always influenced me. As teenagers, my friends and I copied the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Animals, later Supergrass, Oasis, and the Stone Roses. At the same time, I was writing my own songs. This year, we released a 14-track album recorded with producer Stuart Epps at Abbey Road Studios. That was my teenage dream, and it came true.
British music has three invasions: the 60s with the Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Who, Yardbirds; the 70s with Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin; and the 90s with Stone Roses, Supergrass. All of them influenced me. You can hear those sounds in my album.
I thank the Kazakh Embassy in London for their help. They organized this press conference brilliantly. Representatives of the Eurasian Creative Guild, where I serve as ambassador, attended. They were kind and supportive. Special thanks to Marat Akhmedjanov and all the guild members in the UK.
Building a Kazakh Branch on the Beatles Tree
This project cost a lot—more than a beautiful car. I need sponsors. If none exist, I will work hard to bring my band to the UK, especially to Glastonbury Festival. That has been my dream for over 20 years.
Talented young people deserve the stage. I believe my daughter is very talented—maybe more than me. I created a music school to help young musicians gain real experience. This business is hard. You must be number one. It took me 30 years. You have to be a maniac towards your target.
My intention is to put Kazakhstan on the world music map. That is what I am doing. With this album, we put a branch on the Beatles tree. The Beatles created a tree, and many branches have grown from it. I have put a Kazakh branch on it. I hope it finds its roots and prospers. I do not use traditional folk elements. I simply joined the greatest British music culture.
