The Mixtape 42: Nazira

This month’s mix from Kazakh DJ Nazira takes us into the depths of Almaty’s underground party scene. Nazira is at the forefront of a small but growing DIY clubbing scene that she compares to those in other former Soviet cities, like Moscow and Kiev. “I started to get involved in Kazakhstan’s underground club scene around 3 years ago. I realised that there was no electronic music scene and that if you want something to change, you should do it yourself,” she says. The DJ started putting on her own parties called ZVUK, sharing the decks with local DJs at unusual places around the city. “My favourite place to play has been a post-Soviet bunker. Another place very close to my heart is a bar called Pink Pong, which is not afraid to do techno or electro nights every now and then.” This mixtape compiled for The Calvert Journal showcases Nazira’s collection of murky electronica, from techno to acid to leftfield. As the co-organiser for Unsound festival in Almaty, she also wanted to give a taster of the experimental sound you’re likely to find on the dancefloor, while the artwork made especially by local artist Darion Shabbash takes its cue from the city’s graffiti.