Тамара Дадашева - Лезгинки

Макка Межиева - Лоьхур Ву

Макка Межиева - Королева Моя

We have been dreaming and even planning to go on an expedition to the regions of Georgia since 2018. The label was interested in the neighboring Caucasus region, which was isolated from the Russian part of it informationally, administratively, and politically. Traditional music situation in the country was no less interesting: polyphony became a tourist brand for Georgia which was supported in every possible way at the domestic and official levels. Usually, in such cases, the real situation differs from the showcase. We wanted to check all that out.

It happened so that the expedition started to formate only in 2022 when the major part of the label moved to Georgia for an indefinite time, and the first point of the destination was Pankisi Gorge.

In Pankisi, Kistins mainly live. Some researchers attribute the Kistins to a separate ethnographic group of Chechens. But most locals perceive themselves as Chechens without separating from their historical homeland. Kistintsy or kists is an exonym that Georgians used to call all Chechens in the past. However, all these are conclusions after the very first acquaintance and we need to immerse ourselves more in the local context to make statements.

It is symbolic for Ored that acquaintance with Georgia began with Chechens from Pankisi since we are very familiar with the national minority problems in the nation-state.

This contact happened thanks to Ben Wheeler, an ethnographer, and co-founder of the Mountain of Tongues label who has been working with local Chechens for years, recording them and supporting various cultural initiatives.

In September, the Tbilisi Museum of Photography and Multimedia invited Ben to work on the audiovisual project Sounds of the Valley, dedicated to the life and culture of Pankisi. Ben invited us to join him.

There is a difficult and interesting situation with music in the region. Chechens in Pankisi profess Sunni Islam. Some of them perform religious music during dhikr and do not perceive spiritual chants as music in the secular sense. There are also some Muslims who regard music as an undesirable activity at all. On the other hand, the state in Georgia supports mainly Georgian polyphony, and the music of other peoples of the country remains unrepresented.

Therefore the status of traditional musicians in Pankisi is complicated.

Despite all of these difficulties, there are several active ensembles and performers in the Pankisi Gorge.

One of the most notable among them is the Pankisi Ensemble, which we worked with and recorded during the first expedition.

The ensemble was founded by Bela Mutoshvili, a Tushi, who married a Chechen in her youth and moved to the village of Jokolo. Bella has been playing the accordion since childhood performing Tushin melodies and songs. Later she became a professional folklorist and music teacher. Mutoshvili became so immersed in the Chechen culture that she went on expeditions to Pankisi, brought archival recordings of Vainakh music from Chechnya, and studied with local children and youth.

Pankisi Ensemble began as an amateur ensemble based on enthusiasm and working with culture despite the circumstances. Later, the local administration supported Bella and her ensemble but the support was insufficient and formal.

Pankisi Ensemble - Music of Kists, Chechens of Georgia

Noxchicho

Kurmadila

Гилани - Что такое Грозный

New track! XS Project - Grozny 2016
Ivan Grozny, was the Grand Prince of Moscow from 1533 to 1547
The anthem for a festival and symbol of guys from Norway: https://www.facebook.com/Grozny2016

XS Project - Grozny 2016

Баркалла

Шийла мох

Гордая Чечня

Да нана

Ма зама хир яр

New tracks in Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6mOoMN2QY9uj1quWG6X23q

Booking: xsproject.info@gmail.com

info:
XS Project was founded in 2002 by two Russian producers Levon and Andrey who have more than 10 years experience of creating dance music. During this term guys were taking part in many projects with certain success. XS project is most famous Pumping house and Hard bass project of Russia. Tracks of XS Project are loved by millions fans in Russia, Ukraine, Spain, France, UK etc. Some of them were even used in popular comedy shows in Russia and Ukraine. XS Project producers are favorite guests not only in Russia and also in Spanish clubs (e.g. Non-club, Image, Dcibelia…) 
    The project prefers aggressive Pumping and Hard bass sound in tracks. The producers like to mix styles to get their own style with a unique sound.

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