Interview - Sevara Nazarkhan





Interview - Sevara Nazarhan


The Uzbek singer Sevara Nazarkhan invited us to meet her. She has been produced by Hector Zazu and Victor Sologub. The BBC recognised Sevara as the best Asian performer in the genre of world music (2004).

Recently the first Russian-speaking album of Sevara Nazarhan "So Easy", let out under a signboard, "has stirred up Sevara and Elf" (Elf's second release) and one in which they have made beautiful music the like of which we haven't seen. The release comes again from Real World Records, the label begun by Peter Gabriel, registered in London, Tashkent, Moscow and New York. Among others, Nikolay Devlet-Kildeev, sound producer Tequilajazzz Andrey Aljakrinsky and producer Bruno Ellingham, who earlier co-operated with Goldfrapp and Doves, helped record the guitarist of "The Moral Code". Lyric in Tashkent s were written to Sevara's melodies by Sergey Mihalok from "Ljapisa Trubetsky", Boris Grebenshchikov, Vadim Stepantsov and Karen Kavalerjan.

We asked the singer from Uzbekistan about her relation to world music, musical predilections and reference points and her eclectic life.

- How did your musical career in native Uzbekistan have its beginnings?

- It all happened very naturally. My parents are both musicians. Mum teaches on a game class on рубабе. It is a central-Asian string tool. And daddy worked at musical school and as editor on national radio. That is, music and everything that is connected with it, were always readily accessible to me growing up. And further there was musical school and conservatory work in ensemble дутаристок (one more string tool) at the radio committee, the first pop group with conservatory friends. And, almost imperceptibly to myself, I became a independent actress, when in 2000 I gave my first solo concert in Tashkent.

- What has led you to world music? And how you have come to be in "a genre citadel" – on Peter Gabriel's Real World Records label?

- World music - I am prejudiced against concept. I only do what I do – together with the "modern" songs I sing also national classical compositions; simply I adore them. Naturally, experiments with sounding, attempts of new arrangements keep coming. Therefore, as in that bad joke – I look – world music, and has got accustomed – the Uzbek classical song! And the more mature I become, the more I like a classical song without any mixtures. Here then a new album was written down – simply a set of songs which I love, and any electronics added in the studio – I hope all can soon hear them. And to Real World Records I arrived almost casually: I had flown to England for the festival WOMAD (Festival of World of Music, Arts and Dance) which has been for several years produced by Peter Gabriel. I wished to listen to Haleda, Jussu Н'Дура and others. Well there had been an absence – one of the singers had to cancel and as such could not perform. Someone mentioned to the festival management that they saw Sevara among the public. They paged me and had taken an interest, but I could not act as replacement. Next day, together with a local drummer and bass player, we sat down for a jam.

The new album "So Easy" sounds eclectic enough even for pop. The desire to please all is felt: both for thinking music fans, and thoughtless party-goers. Is this because you don't want to miss any potential listeners?

- In general our thoughts were primarily of content over marketing. This album of songs which are pleasant to me were simply written down. And as they were pleasant to the sound recording company, it is our hope certainly that they will be desirable and pleasant to many who might listen.

- What, in your opinion, should be modern pop? What do you listen to and recommend?

- What it should be, I can not answer, as I am not a critic. But different, innovative, moving apart to horizons … And I listen to very many. Today in my mp3-player David Bowie, Depeche Mode, M.I.A., Roger Waters, Sade, Nusrat Fateh Ali the Khan, Bjork, Prince, CocoRosie, Radiohead, Dzhonni the Cache, Frank Sinatra. Sometimes I dwell for some days in hip-hop and R&ampB – Farell Williams, Lorin Hill, Wayne, Drake, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, Andre 3000 Poured. From the Russian actors for today such collection: "Aquarium", Mityaev, the Dolphin, "Center", Hvorostovsky, "Mummies the Troll", Zemfira, "Spleen", V.Presnyakov, A-studio (with Shukenovym).

- How you have got acquainted with your present collaborators? Reading on a site your biography where in each line there is a star name, someone, perhaps, will see in it all only artificiality and the huge budget. As though you parried conjectures of foes and envious persons?

- All is much more prosy – I solicit verses from what sources of creativity I respect. I was familiar with some earlier, with some have got acquainted in the course of work on an album. The budget was normal – not big and not small. Flights have eaten much budget.

- Judging by your last interviews, an album "Sevara and Elf" is not the only project in which you now are engaged. What else are you preparing for listeners?

- Now we have completed an album of the Uzbek classical songs which I have adapted with the best instrumentalists. It very heavy for perception the unprepared listener, but I adore it. And besides I have begun work on a new album – it will be big and dark. I think it will take at least another year to finish. And still more time will be required for additional studio work.

Quantum Love

Since forever it seems the music was the thing. Instinctual yet not natural to me. Finally found a way to put things in perspective, as it were, as my daughter's music presented itself as a possible venue to artistic outlet. Anyway this is what resulted after listening to this song for many moons indeed. I woke with it softly in my mind and went to rest with it's repercussions still fresh.

I need always to give thanks to forces beyond my ken. I pray I was an instrument put to good purpose but aside from all that it was really fun - as an exercise.

To my darling wife I can only feel every day the privilege of your friendship. The gifts you have brought to our lives are truly remarkable. This is of course a tribute not only to our daughter's music but to that which we hold dear and dare I say saintly in each other. Some one once said the road goes on forever...well the sky goes even further..........................................lensuniverse

Sevara Nazarkhan Fan Club

http://sites.google.com/site/sevarafanclubcom/Home

Sen 2007 by Sevara Nazarkhan - Real World Records

The Uzbek people have a word for "love of the universe":

Sevgi Olam

First of all I must admit I was prepared to love this music.
The tracks are emblazoned upon my psyche through so
much repetition (and pure love of her voice) and I can
honestly say I adore this work beyond even my own
expectations. To my mind Sevara and her production
team have established a new reference point for
transcendence through music. I  believe this CD
 a departure into another realm entirely for Sevara.

Her music - her way - is synergistic and sublime.
This is music beyond the need for coherent language
structure or even attempt to follow the
spoken and whispered Uzbek vocal. The near-hypnotic
quality of her voice has the potential to speak to all
people. Sevara is not merely a singer of exotic
language with a pleasing voice. She is
a vocal - powerhouse.

Hers is a voice like a beacon, navigating us
through difficult times, communicating seemingly
effortlessly across borders and cultures - she
shares with the listener a rich and insistent chorus
of her love of music - one might guess:
her sevgiolam.

There is a considerable amount of multi-tracking
and electronica layered into this work. Sevara penned
the music on all but two of the tracks (Bakhtimdan and Debochadan). She and her team's tender care about these songs is evident, as several seem to have evolved, becoming almost a sentient touch.

Overall the work feels like a warm embrace (or a shout
to the universe), at its essence personifying a vital spark
of humanity for which many have striven but few achieved.

The various song structures blend wonderfully in a
furthering of progressive stylings. Ancient-sounding
traditional harmonies give way to Sevara's enlightened
improvisation.

While all experiments on the mix of this album may not
have come off as seamless as one might wish - Sevara
has arrived - of that there is little doubt.

Lest the reader think this reviewer's inherent bias has
caused a review  too given to hyperbole, decide for yourself
Only listen with more than your ears open. Open your mind
and your heart, and by all means, read the words
translated into English (they used to be found on the label's
web site but it has undergone a renovation of late). It's a little
easier to get into the mood and appreciate the sheer joy instilled
by embracing this marvelous work, though a lot is lost
in translation.

(England's)  Bruno Ellingham and (Russia's) Viktor Sologub
for Peter Gabriel's Real World Records have worked some
technical magic here to be sure. But all give more than ample
credit to Sevara's voice, verve and dynamism.

This is Sevara's soul on display...it is what she is. And like
the soul it is beautiful.

You won't find much in the way of technical gaffs on this
work. It is most lovingly produced. The potential exists
for this exchange to open the listener's eyes to not only
what is possible, but what this in turn makes possible
through music.

She brings a little of Uzbekistan's rich culture to the world
with a fresh voice and modern style. So it is to be expected
she is not without detractors in her own land - though I
suspect they are becoming fewer over time. It strikes me
they would most likely come in the form of traditionalists
aggravated over what she has done to the (very)
long-standing Uzbek sound.

Sevara's voice, multi-layered and sensous,  is sometimes
reminicsent of ancestral chants and when she hits the
high notes, as in the title track Sen, it sounds and feels
just like heaven.

An Uzbek traditional favorite is reworked here
(Kugai ) but Sevara and company manage
to keep all tracks sounding fresh and vibrant. Sevara
Nazarkhan has never sounded  better and that's not
saying a little. Her transition from Uzbek pop star to
top World Music artist is magnificently complete. I applaud
her for remaining true to that which drives her creative energies.

Not only her amazing voice and evolved spirit,  but the
integrity and frank boldness to present her art to the world
from within the framework of her native Uzbek - inherently a
truly musical language (as a quick survey of the blossoming
Uzbek pop music industry can exemplify) in which there are
many references to "my soul" ( jonim).

So listen and listen again. You may just be pulled into this
ancient soul and start to be more appreciative of Sevgiolam.
Enough listens and one begins to see though altered eyes
and hear through altered ears.

Her adoring "Sen" (translated as "you") - is not "you"
the listener nor "you" a particular love interest.  More likely it is the
"You" who hears us all when our hearts speak most truly.

Music and Peace

Peacesong - Halla Basam & Sevara Nazarkhan

from "Lullabyes From The Axis of Evil"

There never was a time more appropriate to being totally devoted to the music wrought by ALL human beings. From Louis Armstrong, to Pat Metheny and Sevara Nazarkhan, I have seen the world's responses and gleaned some semblance of the TRUTH.

There has scarcely been a time more needful of harmony among the peoples of this planet.

Religion, though in its most sincere form a particularly useful vehicle for creating a real and potentially lasting peace, has proven of late (due to a variety of circumstances and decisions
around the globe) to be a bit of a washout. The list of intentions and mis-intentions is as long as it's undistinguished.

Every generation thinks they have a handle on the problems (being those of unaccountable greed, failed trust and just sheer nihilism in the face of the logistical nightmares surrounding actually getting along).

Always these well-intentioned seem to lose sight of the real goals (putting an end to turf wars and rampant tyrants with the will and means to punish the thoughtful and unthoughtful citizens of Planet Earth for wrongs real and imagined - not to mention rampant
capitalists and xenophobes at home and abroad with a will to stamp anything considered non-productive into the ground before there is any chance that nuggets of wisdom from which these ideas or philosophies or products ... or whatever ... sprung can start to be realized).

So if I mean to say it's time to find alternatives to war, I am immediately inoculated against speaking it too stridently by the world I see available to me. In the wake of human suffering, and in spite of the latest and greatest perpetrators in these most recent
manifestations of ancient and embedded hostilities, an answer needs to be forthcoming.

Yet what compromises our "security" in the face of such a staggering complex of motivations and means? The only sure thing is that our security breeches will come from unexpected directions.
The real journey can begin when we realize the falsehood lulling in the sweet, comforting arms of borders language and culture. So busy extolling careworn platitudes, our leaders abdicated their choices...as we languish within these increasingly-chaotic diplomatic
vortices.

Rather they should be spreading seeds of cultural plurality, as sagacity demands, in order to protect the innocent as much as possible, while building real understanding in the process.
And from real understanding can spring the beginnings of real TRUTH - acceptance of humanity (both angels and devils all) in toto. The realization of the spirit embodied in the one race we all depend upon for survival - the human race.