Drinking with Nazira

Text: Maya Baklanova
Photo: Yura Matsiyun
______

The first hero in our favorite new column is Nazira, a DJ from Almaty, who we’ve been closely following since the beginning of her career. A little less than two years ago, she first performed outside her native Kazakhstan with Unsound festival team. Since then, thanks to her diligence and endless charisma, Nazira became a resident at the Berlin Room 4 Resistance parties, got a regular shows at Radar Radio and Radio Cómeme, became a part of the Odd Fantastic family and the main moving power that is leading Kazakhstan underground into a brighter tomorrow.

Drinking with Nazira

Text: Maya Baklanova
Photo: Yura Matsiyun
______

The first hero in our favorite new column is Nazira, a DJ from Almaty, who we’ve been closely following since the beginning of her career. A little less than two years ago, she first performed outside her native Kazakhstan with Unsound festival team. Since then, thanks to her diligence and endless charisma, Nazira became a resident at the Berlin Room 4 Resistance parties, got a regular shows at Radar Radio and Radio Cómeme, became a part of the Odd Fantastic family and the main moving power that is leading Kazakhstan underground into a brighter tomorrow.

Drinking with Nazira

Text: Maya Baklanova
Photo: Yura Matsiyun
______

The first hero in our favorite new column is Nazira, a DJ from Almaty, who we’ve been closely following since the beginning of her career. A little less than two years ago, she first performed outside her native Kazakhstan with Unsound festival team. Since then, thanks to her diligence and endless charisma, Nazira became a resident at the Berlin Room 4 Resistance parties, got a regular shows at Radar Radio and Radio Cómeme, became a part of the Odd Fantastic family and the main moving power that is leading Kazakhstan underground into a brighter tomorrow.

Drinking with Nazira

Text: Maya Baklanova
Photo: Yura Matsiyun
______

The first hero in our favorite new column is Nazira, a DJ from Almaty, who we’ve been closely following since the beginning of her career. A little less than two years ago, she first performed outside her native Kazakhstan with Unsound festival team. Since then, thanks to her diligence and endless charisma, Nazira became a resident at the Berlin Room 4 Resistance parties, got a regular shows at Radar Radio and Radio Cómeme, became a part of the Odd Fantastic family and the main moving power that is leading Kazakhstan underground into a brighter tomorrow.

Drinking with Nazira

Text: Maya Baklanova
Photo: Yura Matsiyun
______

The first hero in our favorite new column is Nazira, a DJ from Almaty, who we’ve been closely following since the beginning of her career. A little less than two years ago, she first performed outside her native Kazakhstan with Unsound festival team. Since then, thanks to her diligence and endless charisma, Nazira became a resident at the Berlin Room 4 Resistance parties, got a regular shows at Radar Radio and Radio Cómeme, became a part of the Odd Fantastic family and the main moving power that is leading Kazakhstan underground into a brighter tomorrow.

Drinking with Nazira

Text: Maya Baklanova
Photo: Yura Matsiyun
______

The first hero in our favorite new column is Nazira, a DJ from Almaty, who we’ve been closely following since the beginning of her career. A little less than two years ago, she first performed outside her native Kazakhstan with Unsound festival team. Since then, thanks to her diligence and endless charisma, Nazira became a resident at the Berlin Room 4 Resistance parties, got a regular shows at Radar Radio and Radio Cómeme, became a part of the Odd Fantastic family and the main moving power that is leading Kazakhstan underground into a brighter tomorrow.

I know you well enough, so I skip the question on whether you like liquoring up. So the question is, what’s your drink of choice?

In fact, I'm such a "garbage person” - I drink up everything. Not often, but when I start, I usually finish lying on the belly, absolutely drunk.

Is the glass half empty or half full?

The glass? Who made up these questions? I’d say, the glass is half full. No, it is full - half water and half air.

The most ridiculous story you got yourself into with alcohol?

A tough question. Usually, I hold myself well after alcohol. I do not recall anything like that.

OK, but still: alcohol or drugs?

What if my mom reads this one? I’ll try to put it up this way, everything has it’s place. People have fun in various ways, in various circumstance. So, there is a schtick for every situation, I’d say.

You do molecular biology. Could you please elaborate on that a little, because, I’ve no idea what you are doing?

I work in agriculture and develop the experiments for products used in it, and then work with government bodies. I analyze the results in various fields: biology, toxicology and so on. At night I techno play, though. Let's move on to the next question.

How do you combine molecular biology and DJing?

That’s cool. It gives me the opportunity to look at the world from both sides. In the daylight, I examine the data, look at the figures, the results of the analyzes, etc. At night, I sit down and listen to music, mix, or travel somewhere to play. So I get the result, I could have never achieved with only one of these activities.

What was the coolest party in your life? The most disastrous one?

I guess it was some of the first ZVUK parties in Bunker, in Almaty. When you play, say, in Berlin, it’s certainly amazing, but here it's different. You kind of feel the feedback better. There are less people on the dance floor, but you sense that you are changing something. It has another mood, I think. Everything seems somehow more naive and less hype-centered, everything is very sincere.

I know you well enough, so I skip the question on whether you like liquoring up. So the question is, what’s your drink of choice?

In fact, I'm such a "garbage person” - I drink up everything. Not often, but when I start, I usually finish lying on the belly, absolutely drunk.

Is the glass half empty or half full?

The glass? Who made up these questions? I’d say, the glass is half full. No, it is full - half water and half air.

The most ridiculous story you got yourself into with alcohol?

A tough question. Usually, I hold myself well after alcohol. I do not recall anything like that.

OK, but still: alcohol or drugs?

What if my mom reads this one? I’ll try to put it up this way, everything has it’s place. People have fun in various ways, in various circumstance. So, there is a schtick for every situation, I’d say.

You do molecular biology. Could you please elaborate on that a little, because, I’ve no idea what you are doing?

I work in agriculture and develop the experiments for products used in it, and then work with government bodies. I analyze the results in various fields: biology, toxicology and so on. At night I techno play, though. Let's move on to the next question.

How do you combine molecular biology and DJing?

That’s cool. It gives me the opportunity to look at the world from both sides. In the daylight, I examine the data, look at the figures, the results of the analyzes, etc. At night, I sit down and listen to music, mix, or travel somewhere to play. So I get the result, I could have never achieved with only one of these activities.

What was the coolest party in your life? The most disastrous one?

I guess it was some of the first ZVUK parties in Bunker, in Almaty. When you play, say, in Berlin, it’s certainly amazing, but here it's different. You kind of feel the feedback better. There are less people on the dance floor, but you sense that you are changing something. It has another mood, I think. Everything seems somehow more naive and less hype-centered, everything is very sincere.

What about the party you felt is “the one?”

The most meaningful party for me? Well, then it is my first Rooms 4 Resistance party in About Blank. It was my first performance in Berlin and I played as a part of an amazing team and it turned out tremendous. A few months before that, some Kazakhstani magazine asked me to write about my favorite club and I wrote about About Blank, because it’s one of my favorite places to visit. So I was in Berlin, in my favorite club, I did not expect anything, just came and I thought: “Well, I’m just going to play.” Eventually, I’ve become a resident. 

Any disastrous ones?

Oh, I was once kicked out from the decks in Almaty. I think it was the 15th minute of my set. It was the third or fourth times I was playing. For some reason I was meant to play prime-time slot, though, a guy who booked me, knew that I didn’t play a lot. So, he approached me when I was playing an started pepping some gibberish, like: “the club’s owners are here…” He also said that I could come back and play at the end. I got drunk and baked, come up to him, asked the for the money and left. I do recall it with a good laugh now, but then it did feel nice.

What song can play in your head all day?

Some super cheesy ones. I'm a kind of person who can play some song and imagine that I’m Britney Spears, or whatever. You know that childish thing. Usually, though, these are the songs like "It's Raining Men" or "A Final Countdown.”

What song is the ideal for being sad?

Well, you know, Alsou (Алсу) or Maxim (Максим). At the age of 14, I cried because of the unrequited love while listening to "Cruel Love" by Philip Kirkorov (Жестокая любовь - Филип Киркоров) [Here we deal with Russian Singers].

Do you have any songs with similar saddening impact today?

Perhaps, I’m rarely sad these day, and if I’m, I try to play some bouncy stuff instead. I mean, being sad doesn’t make me want to play certain song to keep myself cheerless.

Name three DJs that are better than you.

Oh, God! There are so many! Lena Willikens, Object, and Olivia.

I’ve recently found out that Object graduated from Oxford.

You see, all smart people become DJs.

If not yourself, who would you like to be?

Perhaps, an animal, a cat that just lies and does nothing. Never wanted to be someone else, to be honest. I just like being myself.

What do you appreciate the most in people?

I do appreciate sincerity. I do not like people who are lying, slippery and secretive.

What’s your credo?

I’ve got this one recently: "You do not know until you try." Wait, here is another one: "It's better to regret about what you’ve done than about what you haven’t."

What is your main drawback?

I sometimes think that I’m the most intelligent around and do not let other people speak out. Not always, of course, but it happens. I'm ready to learn and listen, but sometimes I need to calm down my omniscience. I don’t know how to get into the background and try to be the first one in everything. Surely, it’s not that bad, but sometimes you have to pass.

What is your main virtue?

If I had decided that the guy who kicked me out of the decks was better then me, I would have never reached a place I’m in right now. I’ve attended one of the worst schools where people did not set themselves up for anything. If I’d listened to these people, I would have never gone to study to Britain on the grant basis. I know how to solve a thing in the “I’m right, you are not” kind of direction. This one is my drawback, which is, at the same time, is my greatest virtue.

What question you would like to answer, but no-one seems to ask?

Oh, I hate these questions. I always ask people who they wanted to be when they were children. I think this describes a person very well. Among the most original answers I’ve heard were: "I would like to become a pathologist.” No one asks me, though! I always wanted to become an astronaut in my childhood.

If your life is a DJ set, then whose?

DJ Bus Replacement Service. 

What about the party you felt is “the one?”

The most meaningful party for me? Well, then it is my first Rooms 4 Resistance party in About Blank. It was my first performance in Berlin and I played as a part of an amazing team and it turned out tremendous. A few months before that, some Kazakhstani magazine asked me to write about my favorite club and I wrote about About Blank, because it’s one of my favorite places to visit. So I was in Berlin, in my favorite club, I did not expect anything, just came and I thought: “Well, I’m just going to play.” Eventually, I’ve become a resident. 

Any disastrous ones?

Oh, I was once kicked out from the decks in Almaty. I think it was the 15th minute of my set. It was the third or fourth times I was playing. For some reason I was meant to play prime-time slot, though, a guy who booked me, knew that I didn’t play a lot. So, he approached me when I was playing an started pepping some gibberish, like: “the club’s owners are here…” He also said that I could come back and play at the end. I got drunk and baked, come up to him, asked the for the money and left. I do recall it with a good laugh now, but then it did feel nice.

What song can play in your head all day?

Some super cheesy ones. I'm a kind of person who can play some song and imagine that I’m Britney Spears, or whatever. You know that childish thing. Usually, though, these are the songs like "It's Raining Men" or "A Final Countdown.”

What song is the ideal for being sad?

Well, you know, Alsou (Алсу) or Maxim (Максим). At the age of 14, I cried because of the unrequited love while listening to "Cruel Love" by Philip Kirkorov (Жестокая любовь - Филип Киркоров) [Here we deal with Russian Singers].

Do you have any songs with similar saddening impact today?

Perhaps, I’m rarely sad these day, and if I’m, I try to play some bouncy stuff instead. I mean, being sad doesn’t make me want to play certain song to keep myself cheerless.

Name three DJs that are better than you.

Oh, God! There are so many! Lena Willikens, Object, and Olivia.

I’ve recently found out that Object graduated from Oxford.

You see, all smart people become DJs.

If not yourself, who would you like to be?

Perhaps, an animal, a cat that just lies and does nothing. Never wanted to be someone else, to be honest. I just like being myself.

What do you appreciate the most in people?

I do appreciate sincerity. I do not like people who are lying, slippery and secretive.

What’s your credo?

I’ve got this one recently: "You do not know until you try." Wait, here is another one: "It's better to regret about what you’ve done than about what you haven’t."

What is your main drawback?

I sometimes think that I’m the most intelligent around and do not let other people speak out. Not always, of course, but it happens. I'm ready to learn and listen, but sometimes I need to calm down my omniscience. I don’t know how to get into the background and try to be the first one in everything. Surely, it’s not that bad, but sometimes you have to pass.

What is your main virtue?

If I had decided that the guy who kicked me out of the decks was better then me, I would have never reached a place I’m in right now. I’ve attended one of the worst schools where people did not set themselves up for anything. If I’d listened to these people, I would have never gone to study to Britain on the grant basis. I know how to solve a thing in the “I’m right, you are not” kind of direction. This one is my drawback, which is, at the same time, is my greatest virtue.

What question you would like to answer, but no-one seems to ask?

Oh, I hate these questions. I always ask people who they wanted to be when they were children. I think this describes a person very well. Among the most original answers I’ve heard were: "I would like to become a pathologist.” No one asks me, though! I always wanted to become an astronaut in my childhood.

If your life is a DJ set, then whose?

DJ Bus Replacement Service. 

What are your plans for the future?

I really hope that my career has not reached its peak, and it’s only the beginning. I want to play more in different places and start writing music, at some point. I have no expectations about what comes out of this, but I would like to try. And the promoter activities, I want to continue doing parties in Kazakhstan.

How are you going to combine promotion activities and life in Kazakhstan with touring and traveling?

Now I manage to combine the 9-till-6 working routine for 5 days a week, travel around, and do the promotional activities. When I quit my job, I will have a lot of free time. Moreover, I have friends who do Zvuk with me, so if I'm out somewhere, they will pick it up. I solve a lot of things via Internet or phone. I'm not going to move out right now, though.

OK, let's talk about food: Beshbarmak (a spicy boiled meat mixed with noodles) or falafel?

I do not eat meat! Falafel, for sure.

And finally: how to cope with a hangover?

Honestly, I have no cure for that one, but I usually drink cola and eat ramen so the life becomes better. There is also a folky Kazakh remedy - koumiss. So, Cola, ramen, and koumiss.

What are your plans for the future?

I really hope that my career has not reached its peak, and it’s only the beginning. I want to play more in different places and start writing music, at some point. I have no expectations about what comes out of this, but I would like to try. And the promoter activities, I want to continue doing parties in Kazakhstan.

How are you going to combine promotion activities and life in Kazakhstan with touring and traveling?

Now I manage to combine the 9-till-6 working routine for 5 days a week, travel around, and do the promotional activities. When I quit my job, I will have a lot of free time. Moreover, I have friends who do Zvuk with me, so if I'm out somewhere, they will pick it up. I solve a lot of things via Internet or phone. I'm not going to move out right now, though.

OK, let's talk about food: Beshbarmak (a spicy boiled meat mixed with noodles) or falafel?

I do not eat meat! Falafel, for sure.

And finally: how to cope with a hangover?

Honestly, I have no cure for that one, but I usually drink cola and eat ramen so the life becomes better. There is also a folky Kazakh remedy - koumiss. So, Cola, ramen, and koumiss.