AIGEL is an innovative electronic duo founded in 2016 by Tatar singer-songwriter Aigel Gaisina and music producer Ilya Baramiia. their music vividly reflects a fusion of cultures and musical traditions. their debut album “1190” released in 2017 addresses critical issues of social fairness in society. the track “Tatarin” from this album became iconic, amassing over 118 million views on YouTube and winning accolades at the Berlin Music Awards. in 2020, the music video for “You’re Born” gained wide attention, earning a Silver Lion at the Cannes Lions festival. finally, their Tatar-language song “Piyala” topped the global Shazam chart in 2023 and hit number one on Apple Music and Spotify in multiple countries.
amalia is an independent artist and sound producer from Tashkent, who writes tracks in different languages in the style of trip-hop, bedroom pop and rap. in her first tracks, she was inspired by the everyday reality and wrote about almost everything. from computer games to restaurant menus. as her style and individuality developed, she moved on to a sincere and sometimes post-ironic storytelling about her life, the role of women in society, romantic relationships, Tatar identity in the context of Uzbek culture and even about her grandmother’s dreams. as the artist herself says, «my fragmented self consists of several schools and cities, several childhoods, with my grandparents, and then with my mom and dad». therefore, her work is a personal introspective study and a journey into the depths of consciousness, in an attempt to collect her entire life path into a holistic narrative, which she shares with her listeners.
The Dalahast group was founded at the end of 2016 in Uzbekistan and initially specialized in instrumental music with elements of improvisation. later, vocalist Ohista Zhamshid joined the lineup, and the group began performing songs in the Uzbek language. the group actively works in the genres of ethno-fusion and “global” music, combining various styles and cultural influences. Dalahast features original music based on poems by modern and classical Uzbek poets, touching on themes of dreams, life and death, joy and sadness. since 2017, the group has been actively performing at various venues in Tashkent, participating in international festivals and cultural events, such as Ün Music Week in Almaty, Groza, SCO and many others. each musician in the group makes a unique contribution, enriching the group’s creativity with their musical projects and unique vision.
Dequine (Danelya Sadykova) is a young performer from Kazakhstan, whose work successfully combines elements of R&B, hip-hop and classical pop music. In addition to her career as a singer, Dequine successfully realizes herself as a popular blogger and influencer. Having started her career in 2018, the artist immediately attracted the attention of the audience thanks to the mini-album “Drunken Cherry” and the hit “18”. Later, success was consolidated with the release of the full-length album “labum”, which critics and listeners recognized as one of the most interesting releases of 2020. Thus, the record hit the top ten of the CIS charts. Later, Dequine continued to strengthen her position with the songs “Wind”, “Matcha Tea” and “Deja Vu”, which became big hits in the region.
In 2023, the singer’s first solo concerts were held in Almaty and Astana. For each of the events, more than 1,500 tickets were sold out within the first 24 hours after sales began.
one of those musicians whose career has grown from performing in subways and on Almaty’s Arbat to the country’s biggest festivals. his unique feature is his skillful combination of genres and languages: he easily mixes Kazakh and English, indie pop, hip-hop and folk.
he is not afraid of collaborations with sound and style, and is one of the brightest voices of a generation.
e.v.e is a duo from Tashkent that creates music filled with balance and peace. Their work is characterized by the beautiful, deep female vocals of Sabina Ablyaskina, psychedelic synthesizers and funk guitars performed by the inimitable virtuoso Stepa Varlamov. Each e.v.e composition is a journey into subtle matter – into a unique atmosphere that helps to balance the listener’s inner state, balance a restless mind and invigorate the spirit. their music invites everyone to remember themselves as creators, feeling harmony and integrity with the world around them.
Flyin Up is an independent musical act from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, inspired by post-metal, psychedelic rock and local ethnic music.
founded in 2012, the group became iconic to the local scene and currently actively takes part in the underground movement of Uzbekistan, performing at various significant festivals, as well as creating their own events.
in June 2023, the band released a debut LP in Uzbek language – Jimlik (“Silence”). this album is a research on various metaphysical questions embodied in songs that have been composed over the last 6-7 years.
this year the band released the 1-hour movie created via AI as a video maintenance to the “Jimlik” album. the movie shall immerse listeners deeply to the core album ideas and will be played along at the mocfest.
Gaye Su Akyol, already a legendary Istanbul-based artist, after a long period of silence, finally presents her 4th album “Anadolu Ejderi” (Anatolian Dragon). continuing her unique blend of Turkish psychedelia, social commentary, and retro-futuristic sounds, this album is her most personal and uncompromising work yet. it combines courage and innovation with a mix of global and personal themes, adding depth to her music that transitions from Anatolian folk to rock and disco.
Joseph Tumari, an electronic musician and producer from Tashkent that creates a unique sound that he describes as a “symbiosis of introverted nostalgia with elements of ambient, electro, and techno, possessing a unique atmosphere”.
his music is often characterized by broken rhythms, dark melodies, and rhythmic lines, creating a rich and powerful audiovisual landscape. vintage synthesizers combined with lo-fi sound give the pieces warmth and authenticity, evoking a sense of nostalgia and creating a cozy, intimate atmosphere.
his musical approach is a fresh take on the electronic scene, combining classic techniques with experimental sound design. this allows Joseph to create compositions that are both familiar and surprisingly new, where each track is a journey into the past and future simultaneously.
Turkish band Lalalar is back with a new album! following their first LP that set European stages on fire in 2022, they announce “En Kötü Iyi Olur”, an album that mirrors their style: edgy, independent and tremendously energetic. rooted in Anatolian poetry and sounds, Lalalar maintains a focus on club-oriented rock. the first single “Hem Evimsin Hem Cehennemim” blends classic Turkish and Middle Eastern sounds into a club banger.
LOUD373 is a musical project of two producers from Kokand, infused with a deep respect for their heritage and a desire to reinterpret cultural codes through music. LOUD373 do not just mix traditional motifs with electronic beats, they strive to convey the emotional state and mood of the past, awakening deep feelings and reflection. the band actively participates in cultural life, performing at famous festivals such as Groza, Stihia, and enlivening dozens of parties with their energetic sets. their performances combine techno, breakbeat, drum’n’bass, dubstep with the atmosphere of traditional Uzbek music, performances of local humourists and visual memes from Uzbek tiktok.
“Nikina is a project of two young musicians, bright beams of the capital’s underground scene, who convey familiar emotions and delicate melancholy in their indie and dream pop works.
Nigina and Ilya have been making music together for the second year, actively performing, experimenting, and searching for their sound. at their live shows, you can hear tracks with ethnic motifs, national Uzbek elements, and the beloved dreamy pop. Nikina regularly performs at various festivals in Uzbekistan and Central Asia: mocfest, Stihia, Foure.
“to create music in which everyone can find a personal response,” is how vocalist Nigina Usmanova describes the band’s philosophy. texts woven from light, gentle vocals, simple and recognizable guitar rhythms are the tools through which Nikina transports the listener to their small dream world.
in January 2024, the duo released their debut album, “Mosaic of Youth.” it is a journey reflecting Nigina’s personal experiences: friendship, growing up, love, loss, and hopes. dreamy, melancholic, thoughtful music with notes of indie-dream-rock-pop in various combinations.”
Kuziev Toir Askarovich, Honored Artist of Uzbekistan, was born on November 5, 1969, during his career he reached significant heights in Uzbek national music. he is a master of a number of folk musical instruments, including the tanbur, dutar, rubob and doira, which allows him to uniquely interpret the traditional musical heritage. Toir Askarovich is the leader and soloist of the musical group “Safo”, which is known for its hypnotic and emotionally intense performances. author of a number of popular and legendary compositions, such as “Shukrona”, “Boburiy”, “Budabar” and “Izmir”, each of which carries a deep cultural and historical context.
Khamdam Sobirov is a popular Uzbek pop singer, composer and music producer. He was born on January 6, 1989. From an early age, Khamdam was fond of music, which led him to study at a music college. He sings in Uzbek, Kazakh and Russian, which makes his work accessible to a wide audience and brought him to the top charts of the entire region.
From 2011 to 2016, Khamdam was a member of the popular group MANGO, which became famous for the hit Gulbadan. After leaving the group, he began a solo career and released several successful songs, such as Holimga qara, Maktabimda and So’ngi marta. These songs entered the top 50 best hits of 2021 in Uzbekistan, and Holimga qara even took a place in the top 10.
Khamdam Sobirov actively performs not only in Uzbekistan, but also abroad. In 2021, he gave concerts in Turkey, attracting fans with his unique voice and emotional performances. In addition to singing, he is also involved in composing, creating music that resonates with his audience.
Hamdam’s real fame came after the release of the song and video Janze, which plays on the retro theme that is so popular these days. Thanks to his unique style and humor, Hamdam has become a real YouTube star, where his videos have been viewed almost a billion times in total.
Zere is an artist from Kyrgyzstan, delving into what it means to be a Kyrgyz woman today through her music. her latest album, “Men Kaidamyn”, was created in collaboration with a theatre director and a visual artist. This live performance album features elements of immersive theatre. “Men Kaidamyn” poses questions about the feelings of modern Kyrgyz women—what concerns them, what empowers them, what they long for, and how they engage with modern society. the album was crafted from scratch using a creative laboratory method, making it a unique cultural project that reflects deep personal and social explorations.