Somewhere in the middle of reality and illusions, between Tengri and Earth, there lives аян. Only the power of music conducts these worlds. The music, where each song is the dream. it is the clairvoyance. It is the аян.
credits
released November 27, 2011 

Recorded at MI studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles (USA), in 2009-2010, mixed at Mergenmusic studio, Almaty (Kazakhstan), in 2010-2011, and mastered by Metropolis studio, London (UK), in september 2011. 

Recording engineers: Peter Avveduti and Akmaral Zykayeva 
Mixing engineers: Baglan Ayazbayev and Akmaral Zykayeva 
Sound programming: Uros Strnad and Akmaral Zykayeva 

Musicians 
drums: Blair Shotts, guitars: Uros Strnad and Mikail Baxley, bass: Greg Jong, violin and piano: Akmaral Zykayeva, throat singing: Mazhit Rakhimov and all background vocals by Akmaral Zykayeva 

*Cover picture by Samat Nurmatov and design by Zhandos Naushabayev. 

Special thanks to: 
Albert Kao, Uros Strnad, Blair Shotts, Peter Avveduti, Greg Panciera, Eric Corne, Malik Zenger, Laura Torres, Uto Shiroma, Mikail Baxley, Tamara Angeloz, Klara Vading, Maatyce Dion, Fernando Sanini, Claudio Tristano, Ali Nikou, Hao Li, Barbara Cohen, Alecsandro Cortini, Yerlan Kassymbekov, Samat Nurmatov.

аян

Tänti Boldym

Köbelek

Küzgi Tamşylar

Balyq

Nege

Ainaldym

Moñşaq Qar

You will hear Kazakh national music treasures with a careful convoy by opera singers and ethnic ensembles, outstanding performances of school boys choir and a number of solo artists and instrumentalists, orchestrated single-handedly from the angle of an indie musician Mergen, under one unique theme, Qazaq Lounge. 

Accurately avoiding the chance of damage to the original, this record is an attempt to take a modern urbanistic point of view on trusted by centuries folk songs, adorned with production that's as sympathetic to contemporary music lovers as it is to a classic soul.
credits
released November 23, 2013 

Special Thankyous to Rauan Kenzhehanuly for trusting and supporting the idea and charming Nurzhamal Usenbayeva for being a love muse of the project! 

A big thanks to: Ethnic band Turan with all it's amazing members, Korlan Kartenbayeva, Medet Chotabayev, Shaba Adenkulkyzy, Rustem Nurzhigit, Erlan Kassymbekov, Elmira Kashkimbayeva, Gulim Zhusipbekova, Aslan Zinedenov, Bakhytzhamal Nurgaliyeva, Bisenbek Toleubayev, Darkhan Esetov, Birzhan Sankaibayev, Zhanel Sadykova, Timur Mukhtarov, Marat Isbayev, Almas Nurbakhytov, Nartai Ashim, Zhalgas Ertai, Zhandos Naushabayev and Ruslan Sarsembayev. 


All arrangements by Adilzhan Tolykpayev and Akmaral Zykayeva 
Recording engineers: Darkhan Esetov, Birzhan Sankaibayev 
Mixing and sound programming by Akmaral Zykayeva 
Mastering by Metropolis Studios London 
Cover art and visuals by Zhanel Sydykova
license
all rights reserved

Qazaq Lounge

11-Yapurai feat. Akhmet Zhubanov Music School Boys Choir

10-Inju Marzhan feat. Bakhytzhamal Nurgaliyeva

09-Nazkonur feat. Medet Chotabayev

08-Balkadisha feat. Aslan Zinedenov)

07-Gulderaiym feat. Mergen

06-Karatorgai feat. Shaba Adenkulkyzy

05-Kozinnin moldirin-ai feat. Gulim Zhusipbekova

04-Akkum feat. Rustem Nurzhigit

03-Lyailim Shirak feat. Shaba Adenkulkyzy

02-Gakku feat. Nurzhamal Usenbayeva

Qazaq Lounge 

01-Ahau Kerim feat. Rustem Nurzhigit

Demigod: Here we have no limit to our imagination. The musical theme morphs into avant-garde style, giving a nod to Akmaral’s previous works as Mergen (‘13’, ‘Ayan’). We are carried away in ecstasy to the mystical dances of the mythical goddesses. The character has ascended. We are in the world of the gods.

Mise En Scene

Demigod

Memento Mori: The music traverses as if going from one dream to the next. From Ancient Japan we enter a Europe several centuries later, musically inspired by 17th century ‘Vanitas’. The protagonist finds himself on a merciless battlefield. Flames are rising up to the Heaven, as if Tartarus himself has opened his gates. Somewhere high above black ravens are circling. We can hear the sounds of church bells and choir singling that ‘Dies Irae’ has come. Badly wounded and the image of the beautiful maiden flashing before our hero’s eyes. He finds himself at the penultimate part of his journey, the ends of the Earth, where the river Styx roams the lands.

Memento Mori

Mono No Aware: Written in Japanese aesthetics where music starts the story off in an ancient Japanese garden. It describes the sorrow and the melancholy experienced by our hero, the enamoured young warrior, the beautiful maiden for whom his love grieves.

Mono No Aware

Credits:

Lyrics by Akmaral Zykayeva
Editing by Timothy Walsh

Violin and viola by Akmaral Zykayeva, cello by Salauat Karibayev, bandura by Yelyzaveta Soloviova, guitar by Adnan Othman.

Recording and mixing by Akmaral Zykayeva
Mastering by Felix Davis, Metropolis Studios
 
Album cover by Serjan Burlak

Special thanks to Timothy Walsh for being involved to this journey of creating with me. Many thanks to Galymzhan Moldanazar, Yeldar Kaparov, Timur Turisbek for supporting me with the studio equipment and strong belief in me. And also to Serjan Burlak for visualization and great inspiration! I am grateful for you guys!

And big thanks to my family, especially to my little sister Kim Aliman, to my best friends Azamat Sayfullayev, Jamilya Kadirova,  Aigerim Akenova, Ainur Temirkhankyzy, Janel Sydykova, Julia Kim, Yerlan Kassymbekov, Dinara Diorthebest, Mark Altman, Tom Sweet and many others for being by my side and always supporting me at any moment. Love you!

Golden Sands

Gingerbread House

Fireflies

Solemn Girl

Radiant

Spaceship

For Alice

Notches

Gerda's Song

In this crazy 2020 I met in Berlin Mantas Zemleckas from Lithuania 🇱🇹, a guy who’s soul Is probably nomadic, almost shamanic, he is truly like a wolf as we Turkic people do.
So, felt like we have the same vibe and tribe. Meet our collaboration!
•
Vargan, jew's harp, throat singing, didgeridoos by Mantas Zemleckas
Sound producing by Akmaral Zykayeva

Mergen feat. Mantas -  OMEN

Akmaral Zykayeva is a Kazakh singer-songwriter, multi-musician, composer and sound producer. Her music varies from electronic, alternative, to ethnic and contemporary classic.

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