New label Maqom Soul revives Central Asian music with debut drop
The Uzbek label's first release is a restored 1978 album by Yashlik that blends Uyghur folk, jazz & early synths
A new label from Uzbekistan is reviving Central Asia’s once-buried sounds.
Maqom Soul, founded by Tashkent-based archivist Anvar Kalandarov, kicks off with a rare reissue: ‘Yashlik’, a 1978 album by the groundbreaking Uyghur ensemble of the same name.
The reissue follows Kalandarov’s acclaimed project ‘Synthesizing the Silk Roads: Uzbek Disco, Tajik Folktronica, Uyghur Rock & Tatar Jazz from 1980s Soviet Central Asia’, a compilation of tracks from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan that showcased how local musicians used drum machines and analogue synths to bridge tradition and futurism.
Formed in 1973 as part of the Uyghur Music and Drama Theatre in Almaty, Yashlik (meaning “youth”) mixed folk melodies with jazz, Soviet estrada, psychedelia, and early synths.
The result was a bold, hybrid soundscape that reflected a shifting cultural era.
Read this next: Phantom Limb revives DD. Records’ 1985 cult compilation ‘Disk Musik’
Originally recorded at the Soviet Melodiya studios, the album blends traditional Uyghur instruments with electric guitars, drums, and analogue synths. It was only circulated within the USSR…until now.
Tracks like ‘Vaj Dadej’ capture the lighthearted spirit of rock and roll, while songs such as ‘Zhanajym’ highlight the rhythmic beauty of folk guitar and layered vocals.
In contrast, listen to ‘Nahshamda Sen’ which features a more yearning vocal style that evokes the soulful essence of folk music.
Read this next: Revolutionary impact: How Zvuk built dance music as a culture in Kazakhstan
“This was a group that embodied youthful energy, deep respect for tradition, and a genuine thirst for innovation,” says the Maqom Soul team. “Their music once played at festivals and on television, and then quietly disappeared. We’re bringing it back — not out of nostalgia, but as a living piece of art.”
Pre-order both vinyl and digital formats of ‘Yashlik’ here.
Amira Waworuntu is Mixmag Asia’s Managing Editor, follow her on Instagram.
Cut through the noise—sign up for our weekly Scene Report or follow us on Instagram to get the latest from Asia and the Asian diaspora!
