Urker (English: constellations) is a well-known Kazakh folk-pop band from Almaty that first appeared in 1993. Despite the small domestic (Kazakh-speaking) pop music market, the band can boast some impressive achievements. neweurasia’s Leila asked Aidos, Urker’s singer (and main songwriter), to answer some questions via Email (the results of which you find below).

The band’s unique blend of traditional Kazakh folklore music and international pop music elements is ear candy - and personally, I have come to like most of the stuff that I can find on the band’s website and on Youtube. Let’s start the interview with the most catchy of their tunes available on Youtube - lift the curtain for: Konyr!

neweurasia: Compared to Western pop music, the chorus in your songs comes in rather late. Is that a reflection of your Kazakh folk influences?

Aidos: The principle of the ?+?+? form was already used in the 18th century by classical composers. You would also find similar forms in the songs of The Beatles and many other musicians. So, it’s just good old music.

ne: What equipment do you use in your studio? How do you manage to get that sound in Kazakhstan?

Aidos: The level of equipment in Kazakhstani studios is now similar to Western standards. We think that not the equipment, but the music ideas themselves are important. There are many examples when the product was technically good, but it didn’t become a good music. I don’t think your readers are interested in exact models of our equipment, so I won’t elaborate on that.

ne: Can you live of being pop-stars?

Aidos: Of course, there are no millionaires among Kazakhstani pop-stars so far… It is because Kazakhstan is not such a big music market, only 15 million potential customers. But we do have enough for a decent life. Musicians mostly come from the middle class anyway. As for the music business, we accept financial support from sponsors who take part in the creation of our music projects. It’s practiced everywhere, though. As far as we know, even superstars such as Paul McCartney often use sponsors’ money in exchange for advertisement campaigns.

ne: Who do you think is your audience in Kazakhstan and abroad?

Aidos:Due to the fact that we have been in the Kazakhstani music business for 10 years now, we have people of different age and social groups among our fans. Mostly, it’s progressive and patriotic youth from 20 to 40, people of older generation like us for the propagation of Kazakh language and culture. We only became known abroad recently, so it’s difficult to say, but I think it’s mostly music lovers interested in the culture of our region specifically, and Kazakh diasporas and students living abroad. Lately we have acquired contacts with western music producers and media. American Link TV broadcasted our video (the first Kazakh video in the US!). We do hope that we will have an opportunity to widen the geography of our music.

ne: Aidos, how do you manage to combine music with social activities and lecturing?*

Aidos: The more you do, the more you manage!

In the extended entry, find two more of Urker’s songs.

Tugan Elim

Arwlar

*Aidos is involved in the youth movement Kaisar and lectures on Show Business Management at KIMEP.