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Jennifer Lopez to Perform in Kazakhstan – Billion-Tenge Boost Expected

American pop icon Jennifer Lopez will perform in Kazakhstan’s capital this summer, with local officials predicting a major economic windfall from the event. Malik Hasenov, producer at Astana Concert Company, told a recent government meeting that the concert could generate over 6.5 billion KZT ($12.6 million) for the city’s economy and contribute 400 million KZT ($778,000) in taxes to the state budget. Kazakhstan on the Map of J.Lo's World Tour Astana has been added to Lopez’s Up All Night world tour schedule, with the concert set to take place at Astana Arena on August 1. The tour includes stops in Turkey, Egypt, Spain, Hungary, Poland, the UAE, and other countries, but Kazakhstan is her only Central Asian destination. She is scheduled to perform in Abu Dhabi before arriving in Astana and will close the tour in Armenia's capital Yerevan. “I will have some special concerts this summer. I am very much looking forward to meeting you. We haven’t seen each other for too long. This summer is going to be awesome,” Lopez wrote on Instagram. Economic Impact: Expectations and Numbers According to Hasenov, approximately 15,000 tourists are expected to visit Astana for the concert, with significant spending projected across hotels, restaurants, transportation, and retail sectors. “Jennifer Lopez’s arrival will be a landmark moment, opening Astana on the touring map of A-class stars,” he said. Tickets are expected to go on sale shortly, ranging in price from 40,000 to 150,000 KZT ($75 to $290). Astana will also host two other major events in 2025. On July 13, the Alem Fest music festival, featuring British singer Craig David as headliner, will take place at Astana Arena, coinciding with the closing of Comic Con Astana. Additionally, large-scale drone shows are planned, expected to attract up to a million spectators. J.Lo and Kazakhstan: A Brief History This won’t be Jennifer Lopez’s first visit to Kazakhstan. In 2010, she performed at a private birthday celebration, and in 2011, she returned for a New Year’s corporate event. Reports estimate she was paid around $3 million for both appearances. In 2017, Lopez drew attention from Kazakhstani fans during a Las Vegas concert when she echoed chants of “Kazakhstan!” shouted by Gennady Golovkin supporters, a moment that quickly went viral. A year later, controversy arose when YouTube temporarily blocked the Kazakh music video Zyn-zyn, citing similarities to Lopez’s Control Myself. The video was later reinstated following public backlash in Kazakhstan, with many hailing it as a “small victory”. Most recently, in February 2025, Lopez interacted with a Kazakh fan named Binura during a concert in Abu Dhabi, sparking lively discussions across Kazakhstani social media.

Music Dimash Kudaibergen Times Square Kazakh Singer

Kazakhstan’s Dimash Kudaibergen Lights Up Times Square

Kazakh singer Dimash Kudaibergen’s latest song, "Love’s Not Over Yet," is currently being broadcast on digital billboards in New York’s Times Square. According to DimashNews, the initiative was organized by a U.S.-based fan group, US Dears. The music video is being displayed on four screens at three different locations, including a prominent site featuring both a main and overhead screen. One of these locations, near a subway station, ensures that a large number of passersby can view the broadcast. Prior to this, Dimash’s fans arranged a private premiere screening of the video in a rented hall, which was attended by representatives of Kazakhstani media. In February, Rolling Stone published an article highlighting Kudaibergen’s achievements, including his recognition at the 2024 Distinctive International Arab Festivals Awards (DIAFA) for his contributions to the global music industry. The award ceremony took place in November 2024 in Dubai. Additionally, SPIN magazine recently featured the singer in an article titled Dimash Kudaibergen: A Parisian Triumph of Music, Art and Fashion. The piece detailed his visit to the Alpange music salon in Paris, where he performed SOS d’un Terrien en Détresse alongside French pianist Van Tuan. The article also teased the release of Love’s Not Over Yet. Dimash Kudaibergen is a Kazakh singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, renowned for his vocal range spanning seven octaves and seven semitones, from deep bass to the whistle register. In 2023, he was honored with the title of People's Artist of Kazakhstan.

Culture Music World Music Turkmen Dutar

Japanese Musician Yutaka Kikuchi Captivated by the Turkmen Dutar

Japanese musician and shamisen performer Yutaka Kikuchi visited Ashgabat recently as part of a cultural exchange program, and shared his admiration for Turkmen musical traditions. According to Kikuchi, the richness and diversity of Turkmenistan’s musical instruments left a strong impression on him. “I consider it my duty to emphasize that during the master classes, I gained invaluable knowledge about Turkmenistan’s unique culture and feel deeply grateful for this experience,” he said. Kikuchi noted striking similarities between Turkmen and Japanese musical instruments, particularly in their design and construction. He observed parallels between Turkmen instruments and the Japanese Koto and Biwa. However, what astonished him the most was the Dutar, which he compared to the shamisen, an instrument he has mastered. With two decades of experience teaching music, Kikuchi was especially pleased to engage with students and faculty at the Turkmen National Conservatory. He praised the enthusiasm and dedication of Turkmen students. “It is a great honor for me to hold a master class for talented Turkmen youth and introduce them to the traditions of Japanese culture,” he said. Alongside Japanese folk dance master Ueda Chiho, Kikuchi conducted a series of master classes at specialized secondary and higher educational institutions in Ashgabat. The visit concluded with a performance at a reception celebrating the birthday of Emperor Naruhito of Japan, a vibrant display of the strengthening cultural ties between the two nations.

Music Art and Culture Central Asian Art World Music

Kazakh Singer Dimash Kudaibergen Climbs U.S. Charts with “Smoke”

Kazakhstani singer Dimash Kudaibergen has achieved significant success on the U.S. charts with his song Smoke, ranking highly on both Amazon and iTunes. Throughout January 2025, international media outlets, including publications in Argentina, the United Kingdom, and the United States, featured stories on the singer. Reports highlighted his exceptional vocal range, creative independence, and dedication to Kazakh national culture - qualities that have earned him a global fan base. “Dimash Kudaibergen is rapidly becoming one of Asia's best-known artists, captivating audiences worldwide with his unique fusion of neo-classical, pop, Kazakh folk, and contemporary trends. His independence allows him to experiment freely, combining traditional Kazakh motifs with global musical influences. For him, music is not just entertainment but an opportunity to present Kazakhstan's rich culture on the world stage,” Haute Living wrote. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zKBUihALTH0[/embed] Released on April 26, 2024, Smoke is one of Dimash’s latest tracks. The music of the composition was written by the singer, with lyrics by Candice Kelly and Dimash Gordon. The song quickly gained traction, and by January 30, 2025, it had risen in the U.S. charts. It reached No. 32 on the iTunes Top 100, entered the Top 10 of Amazon’s Best Sellers in Songs, and claimed No. 1 in Amazon’s Best Sellers in Pop. This success underscores Dimash Kudaibergen’s growing influence beyond Kazakhstan and rising prominence in the international music industry. Dimash Kudaibergen is a Kazakh singer renowned for his extraordinary six-octave vocal range. He first gained international recognition after winning Slavic Bazaar (2015) and later became a finalist on the Chinese talent show Singer (2017). His musical style blends elements of neoclassical, pop, and traditional Kazakh folk. He has performed on prestigious stages worldwide, including the Kremlin Palace, Barclays Center, and Meridian Hall in Toronto. In 2019, he won the MTV Global Chinese Music Awards, and in 2021, he was named Asian Musician of the Year by the Top Chinese Music Awards. Kudaibergen also took part in the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics.

Art and Culture Music Central Asian Art Diplomacy

Japanese Musician Mashu Komazaki Named “Ambassador of Uzbek Culture”

Japanese singer and musician Mashu Komazaki has been awarded the title of “Ambassador of Uzbek Culture,” becoming the first Japanese citizen to receive this distinction, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Culture has announced. As an Ambassador of Uzbek Culture, Komazaki will work to promote Uzbekistan’s traditional music and arts in Japan. The Ministry of Culture has pledged full support for her activities, providing national costumes, musical instruments, and other cultural materials. Komazaki has a close connection to Uzbek music, having previously volunteered as a music teacher in Bukhara. She plays the dutor, a traditional Uzbek stringed instrument, and has performed at major cultural festivals in Uzbekistan. Speaking at the award ceremony, she expressed gratitude for the honor and shared her passion for introducing more Japanese audiences to Uzbek music. “When I perform Uzbek music, many in Japan tell me it creates a vivid image of a mysterious land along the Silk Road. Some even say they want to visit Uzbekistan because of the music,” she said. The “Ambassador of Uzbek Culture” title is part of a new initiative under a presidential resolution aimed at recognizing foreign citizens who actively promote Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage. Those granted the status receive cultural materials and may even be recommended for state awards based on their contributions. Komazaki plans to organize concerts and educational events in Japan to further showcase Uzbekistan’s rich musical traditions.

national traditions Art and Culture Music

Exploring Uzbekistan’s Cultural Tapestry – Trio Fadolín’s From Near and Far in NYC

Earlier this month, the Library for the Performing Arts at Manhattan’s Lincoln Center resonated with the vibrant sounds of From Near and Far, a new musical project by the New York-based ensemble Trio Fadolín. The performance, part of the New York Public Library’s cultural programming, captivated audiences with its rich exploration of Uzbek musical traditions and beyond. Suspense, melancholy, and drama were interwoven with personal stories shared by Ljova (Lev Zhurbin), a member of the ensemble and virtuoso of the fadolín — a one-of-a-kind string instrument custom-made for him — blending the tonal depth of the violin, viola, and cello. The program featured compositions by Ljova, Uzbek composer Dmitry Yanov-Yanovsky, and Ljova’s father, the renowned Soviet-era composer Alexander Zhurbin. Adding a poignant layer to the evening, Alexander Zhurbin attended the concert in person, providing a tangible connection to the ensemble’s exploration of cultural and familial roots. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guMv_IRHstg[/embed] Alexander Zhurbin, 1985 Much of Ljova’s career has been dedicated to uncovering and performing music from underrepresented regions, introducing audiences to sounds often unfamiliar in the West. Born in Moscow, he immigrated to New York in 1990 with his parents, quickly immersing himself in the city’s multicultural and musical landscape. As a composer, arranger, and bandleader for his ensemble, Ljova and the Kontraband, he has collaborated with globally acclaimed groups including the Yo-Yo Ma-founded Silkroad Ensemble (now called Silkroad). Ljova’s work defies boundaries, blending Eastern and Western influences to honor and innovate musical traditions. The trio's members — Ljova, violinist Sabina Torosjan (born in Estonia), and cellist Valeriya Sholokhova (born in Ukraine) — found a shared connection to Uzbekistan through their personal histories, which became the foundation for From Near and Far. TCA spoke with the trio about their musical and familial ties to Uzbekistan. TCA: Can you share how your personal histories connect you to Uzbekistan? Ljova: My father, Alexander Zhurbin, wrote the Soviet Union's first rock opera, Orpheus and Eurydice, in 1975. It played in stadiums and was in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest-running musical in Russia. He was born in Tashkent and lived there until his mid-20s when he moved to Leningrad — now St. Petersburg — to study, and then to Moscow to work as a composer in film, TV, musicals, and the concert stage. Sabina: Just like many people from the former Soviet Union, I have a mixed background. I grew up in Estonia. My mother’s side of the family was Ukrainian Jews and my father’s side was Armenian. The interesting connection to Uzbekistan is that it is where my father was born. His father was sent to work there as a veterinarian at the time, in Biruni, Uzbekistan. But shortly after my father was born, his family returned to Yerevan. Valeriya: My grandfather’s family sought refuge there during World War II and survived those difficult years in Uzbekistan. However, they returned to Ukraine as soon as they were able. There are pictures of my grandfather as a child wearing an Uzbek tyubeteyka, and...