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The former USSR might not be considered a musical hotbed, but a new compilation of rare music from the Soviet Union lifts the veil on the vibrant, dance-focused scene that existed there in the 1980s.
Synthesizing the Silk Roads: Uzbek Disco, Tajik Folktronica, Uyghur Rock & Crimean Tatar Jazz from 1980s Soviet Central Asia, offers 15 ’80s-era songs from the region, with the project made after deadstock vinyl was discovered at a Soviet-era vinyl plant in Uzbekistan capital of Tashkent.
This rarely heard music — including loads of funk and Moroder-adjacent disco — is out digitally this week and will be available in physical formats on Sept. 24, via Ostinato Records.
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The music contained on the compilation came to life as a function of world events. In 1941, Stalin ordered a mass evacuation as the Nazis invaded the USSR, with 16 million people boarding trains to Central Asia. Many of them landed in Tashkent, with this group including the engineers who, four years later, would found the Tashkent Gramplastinok factory.
The 15-track compilation is forged primarily of vinyl discovered at this plant, with groups from all over Soviet Central Asia — Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, the Crimean Peninsula and beyond — traveling to Tashkent to record music.
By the mid-’70s, the Soviet disco scene was in full swing, with Latvian DJ Hardijs Lediņš writing a widely read manifesto urging, the album’s liner notes recount, that “greater professionalism amongst musicians was necessary because ‘like mushrooms after the rain, like the rain after a hot day, that’s how discos are springing up today.’ Lediņš echoed the sentiment of many young people who believed these clubs should play more than music imported from the West, where disco was exploded after being born in the clubs of New York City.
“Recognizing the futility of banning disco clubs outright,” the liner notes explain, “the authorities, ever mindful of ideological control, opened dance spaces exclusively through Komsomols (state youth leagues), requiring partygoers to sit through a one-hour lecture on the Soviet worldview before the music dropped”
The U.S.-born genre became so popular in the USSR that by 1976, the Latvian capital of Riga hosted the first week-long USSR-wide disco festival, with artists flying in from across the region to perform. “Almost 200 disco clubs were soon registered with the local Komsomol in Moscow and 300 in Riga,” the liner notes continue, “and eventually, according to data pieced together during our research, about 20,000 public discos were attended by 30 million people a year across all 15 republics in the union.
With discos raking in money, “Dances were now allowing black market trading to fester. ‘Western clothes and other hard-to-get items—vinyl, jeans, foreign cigarettes—were literally being sold under the table. Discos had become a space for early alternative culture, as well as private commerce.’”
Meanwhile, a so-called “disco mafia” emerged in many Soviet cities including Tashkent, with these entities controlling “a lucrative business model with multiple revenue streams. Propaganda and ideology officials began accepting bribes to turn away from clubs indulging in ‘bourgeois’ extravagance or music viewed as ideologically adversarial.
“But the impact of this music went beyond just entertainment or cultural showcases,” the notes conclude. “From the opening of these clubs in the 1960s onwards, the political ranks drew from what historian Sergei Zhuk called ‘The Deep Purple Generation.’ Disco and rock in the Soviet Union played a not insignificant role in the USSR’s unraveling, steering youth leagues and, in turn, future leadership towards attitudes far removed from Soviet gospel.”
The Soviet Union was dissolved in 1991, with Synthesizing the Silk Roads offering a relic from this perhaps unlikely moment in music history.
08/30/2024
In just a matter of days, the politician was told off by Beyoncé, Foo Fighters and Jack White.
08/30/2024
There’s a party going down in Brooklyn Friday (Sept. 6). Billboard‘s Hip-Hop Live concert series is coming to Bushwick venue Xanadu for a show headlined by Teezo Touchdown, with performances from BossMan Dlow, “Texas” rapper BigXthaPlug and DJ Miss Milan.
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Those still in need of tickets are in luck, as Billboard and the Billboard Unfiltered team is giving fans the chance to enter a sweepstakes on X to win a pair of tix to the show.
It’s very easy: All you have to do is reply to the official sweepstakes post on Billboard Hip-Hop’s X account with your favorite BossMan Dlow or Teezo Touchdown song. Doing that any time from now until Sept. 4 at 11:59 p.m. ET will give you an official contest entry. There is only one entry allowed per person.
One winner will be notified on Sept. 5, and they will have the chance to claim their two tickets to the show. If the winner does not reply to Billboard within 24 hours, another will be selected. To enter, you must be a legal U.S. citizen and at least 18 years old.
No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. For those who don’t win, tickets are still on sale for the Xanadu roller rink show here for $32.
The winner may be required to provide a completed W-9 or W-8 form. Each winner agrees to Billboard’s use of their name, photograph, likeness, voice, biographical information, statements and address, and any information provided by Billboard for advertising and/or publicity purposes worldwide in all forms of media now known or hereafter developed, in perpetuity, without further compensation or authorization, to the extent permitted by law.
“I credit hip-hop as the foundation of my art, so I am honored and excited to perform in the birthstate at such a [prestigious] ceremony,” Teezo said in a statement.
BigXthaPlug was announced as an addition to the lineup on Aug. 28, when Billboard revealed he’s also Amazon Music and Rotation’s next Breakthrough Artist.
“BigXthaPlug has been one of the most exciting new voices in hip-hop, with an outsized sound that’s as big as his personality,” Alexis Cueva, artist relations for Amazon Music, told Billboard. “We’ve already seen our customers respond to his incredible music on Amazon Music, and as our next Breakthrough Artist, we’re excited to help BigX connect with even more fans.”
It all goes down Sept. 6 at Brooklyn’s Xanadu, with the show slated to start at 8 p.m. ET.
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This week in dance music: An all-star collection of French electronic artists including Jean-Michel Jarre, Breakbot, Busy P and Alan Braxe were announced as performers for the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paralympics Games in Paris; Chase & Status’ Stormzy collab “Backbone” continued its run at the top of the U.K. Official Singles Chart; we spoke with The Blessed Madonna about her forthcoming album and aspiring to be “a little shard of glass in the industry’s foot”; Charli XCX teased a new project; artists including Tokimonsta and Louie Vega offered free music in exchange for participating in democracy; we spoke with producer Clams Casino; Clean Bandit & Zara Larsson’s “Symphony” hit No. 1 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50; ADE 2024 expanded its program; and we talked to the CEO of Burning Man, which is happening this week, about the more than 100 other official Burning Man events that happen around the world.
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And of course, there’s the music. These are the best new dance projects of the week.
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Zedd, Telos
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There’s a barrage of different styles and influences on Zedd’s new album, Telos, but on every single one of the 10 tracks, you can hear the great ambition embedded in the project, and also the achievement of its lofty aspirations. The long-awaited follow-up to the producer’s 2015 sophomore album, True Colors — which along with his 2012 debut Clarity set him up as a wunderkind of the EDM era, with a special dexterity in that genre’s pop impulses that delivered a string of hits to the Hot 100 — Telos finds the artist born Anton Zaslavski flexing every one of his musical muscles. The project shows off his classical training and good taste across productions that span classical, jazz, cinematic maximalism, Middle Eastern sounds and electronic party music that nods to the EDM origins of Zaslavski’s career, but evolves his sound into a sophisticated, nuanced (but yes, still danceable) place.
The album features an all-star collection of collaborators, including Bea Miller, who’s on both lead single “Out of Time” and the hooky, punchy “Tangerine Rays”; John Mayer, who adds his singular laidback cool to the jazz fusion influenced “Automatic Yes”; stadium rock stars Muse, who lend operatic grandiosity to the album-closing, spiritual “Epos”; and even Jeff Buckley, who Zaslavski reinterprets with style and grace on his version of the late artist’s 1994 “Dream Brother,” which leans into Radiohead territory without being reductive and hits hard with its string-drenched drops. Altogether, Telos just doesn’t sound like anything else produced recently in the electronic world or, arguably, beyond.
But the artist explains the guiding principles here best, with Zaslavski saying that the Greek word “telos” has multiple meanings, one of them being “accomplishment” or “completion of human art. I’ve always dreamed of creating an album that, 30 years on, I can look back and be incredibly proud of. That will be just as amazing then as it is right now, because it’s not based on trends or sound design that might fall off — it’s based on music, just like the albums that shaped me growing up that I still adore to this day. With Telos, I created something I didn’t think I was capable of — it just took a bit of time to get there.”
Zedd soon to bring the album to a live format with a fall North American tour that includes shows at the L.A. State Historic Park, Bill Graham Civic Auditorium and Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
Tycho, Infinite Health
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Few producers capture the heady, sun-soaked psychedelia of NorCal as well as Tycho, who again takes us up the coast and into the redwoods with his seventh studio album, Infinite Health. The project is classic Tycho, offering tracks that are clean yet emotive and sophisticated while still getting the blood pumping, simultaneously capturing brightness and melancholy through often hazy, lo-fi IDM that contains thematic multitudes.
“‘Green’ and ‘Devices’ represent the conceptual bookends of the…album,” the artist Scott Hansen writes. “‘Green’ is an elegy to my childhood home, a once-rural town on the outskirts of Sacramento where I spent my youth forging a deep connection with nature. ‘Devices’ represents the struggle to stay connected to nature and our own humanity in the modern world. I wanted to illustrate this tension with a set of sonically contrasting songs.” The album is out via Mom + Pop Records in the U.S and through Ninja Tune in the rest of the world, and the 27-date Infinite Health tour will take Hansen across North America this fall.
Swedish House Mafia & Alicia Keys, “Finally”
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Having woven their edit of Kings of Tomorrow classic into their sets for years now, it follows that Swedish House Mafia have now fully revamped the 2001 house anthem, bringing in none other than Alicia Keys for vocals and trading the brightly bumping bassline, hi-hat and warm keyboards of the original for a much bigger and more urgent swirl of strings. The track extends the XXL house vibe of their 2022 album Paradise Again, and nods to that album’s ambition to lean harder into the genre that the trio were so influenced by that they in fact name themselves after it.
Jon Hopkins, “part ii – palace/illusion“
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Following his 2021 album Music For Psychedelic Therapy (the intention of which was stated right there in the title), English maestro Jon Hopkins returns with an album so deep and soothing that it could very well be used for the same purpose. “Designed,” Hopkins says, “to reconnect you to the deepest part of yourself,” Ritual is subtle, deep and often profound, with the project first sparking to life in 2022 when Hopkins was commissioned to work on an immersive experience, Dreammachine, that set the celestial sonic and visual aesthetic for the eight-track Ritual. The album is out now on Domino Records.
Caribou, “Come Find Me”
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Other DJs might party harder, but is anyone having more fun that Caribou? The artist brings the playfulness that’s always defined the Canadian artist’s visual aesthetic to the video for his latest, “Come Find Me,” which finds a dancer in a tracksuit and oversized Snaith mask dancing alone in settings that include the bus, a city sidewalk and an open field. (Watch for a cameo from Snaith himself at the end.) The track itself is warm, gently building IDM — in other words, classic Caribou — and comes from the artist’s sixth studio album, Honey, coming Oct. 4 on Merge Records.
Andy C & Becky Hill, “Indestructable”
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As drum ‘n’ bass extends its position on the U.K. charts, two of the genre’s key players link for the predictably walloping “Indestructible,” which gets an official release today on Astralwerks but dates back almost ten years, when Andy C first included an early version in his sets. With Hill possessing one of the defining voices of the genre and Andy C being one of its architects, the result is an acutely powerful meeting of the mninds, with Hill’s lyrics pointing to the success of genre itself.
“’How did we end up here, look how far we’ve come,’ say it all,” Andy C says. “It sums up my relationship with DnB, how popular the genre is right now as well as how huge Becky’s career is. It’s just so magical.”
Six months after earning its first No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, Daughtry now has its second, as “Pieces” lifts to the top of the Sept. 7-dated tally. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “Pieces” reigns following the one-week rule of “Artificial” in February. The […]
Cage the Elephant’s “Rainbow” leaps three spots to No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart dated Sept. 7. The six-piece adds its seventh leader and second in a row, after “Neon Pill” ruled for four weeks beginning in March. The group enters a four-way tie for the eighth-most No. 1s in the Adult Alternative […]
Lady Gaga is sharing the love for the next generation of pop girls. The “Bad Romance” superstar commented on a TikTok from user @holdmygaga, in which a young Sabrina Carpenter is seen performing a cover of Gaga’s “Speechless,” off her 2009 album, The Fame Monster. In the clip, Carpenter, who looks about 11 or 12, […]
Ice Spice has seen plenty of people speaking on her body throughout her career, and now, she’s controlling the narrative and taking back the power of her figure.
The Bronx native posted a workout video on Thursday (Aug. 29) showing off components of her routine while on the road for tour. “We beatin them allegations bae,” she wrote, brushing off the Ozempic claims that were thrown her way earlier this year.
She received a ton of love in her comment ssection from peers including Chloe Bailey, Saweetie, Bktherula and more. “Body on point,” Chloe wrote.
Fans chimed in, hyping up Ice as well. “Mic drop ozempic doesn’t make you toned. Tell em ice,” one person said. Another added, “Yes baby show them wasssssswhat!”
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Ice Spice had enough of everyone talking about her weight and decided to clap back at those with loose lips and defend her work ethic during an X Spaces Aug. 19.
“I actually came on here to talk about that real quick. I wish y’all never learned the word Ozempic,” she said. “That’s one thing I wish. Oh my God! Like, what even is Ozempic? What the f–k is that? Genuinely, what is that?”
Ice continued: “You lazy-a– b—–s never heard of a gym? It’s called the gym, it’s called eating healthy, it’s called being on tour. Like, what the hell? Maybe if I was sitting at home all f–king day, it’d be easier to stay big.”
The 24-year-old is wrapping up her Y2K! World Tour in Miami with a final show at The Fillmore Miami Beach on Saturday (Aug. 31), and then she’s slated to make an appearance on Sunday (Sept. 1) at Club LIV.
Ice Spice released her anticipated Y2K! debut album in July with features from Gunna, Travis Scott and Central Cee. The LP reached No. 18 on the Billboard 200.
Watch Ice Spice’s workout video below:
A$AP Rocky has delivered the previously leaked “Tailor Swif” video after expressing concern about giving the track and visual an official release. The song and accompanying Vania Heymann and Gal Muggia-directed video arrived on Friday (Aug. 30) as a gift to the Mob frontman’s faithful fans, but don’t expect it to land on his upcoming Don’t Be Dumb album later this year.
Rocky unleashed another memorable visual that will be part of his decorated videography. Each scene from the jarring clip shot in Kyiv, Ukraine, back in December 2021 is as bizarre as the next. Whether it’s the inclusion of a bunny rabbit bathing with a glass of wine in a public bathroom sink to Rocky dodging a car, a dog in a jacket and tie talking on a cellphone in a diner, or a man’s hair serving as a bird’s nest (complete with hatching eggs), the Harlem native’s dedication to his craft doesn’t disappoint.
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Swifties’ eyeballs were collectively drawn to the track’s title, which is seemingly inspired by the pop titan of the same name. Rocky even gives Taylor Swift a shout-out on the tune’s chorus. “I’m too swift, don’t tell Taylor ’bout this s–t (Swift, yeah)/ I’m too swift, now don’t tell Taylor ’bout this s–t,” he raps.
However, it doesn’t appear all of the Swifties are thrilled with Rocky throwing T-Swift’s name into the mix. “If i had a dollar for every man that used taylor’s name for clout id be as rich as her,” one tweeted.
But Rocky’s fans flocked to Flacko’s defense. “Love taylor swift, but asap rocky does not need her to stay relevant,” one person replied on X.
A$AP was initially hesitant to release the track, which he performed at Rolling Loud Portugal in 2022 before it leaked days later, but decided to go ahead with it earlier this week. “SINCE U DUMMIES LEAKED IT ALREADY,” he tweeted.
Rocky’s Don’t Be Dumb album was slated to land on Aug. 30, but he revealed to Billboard that it’s been pushed to the fall.
“Tailor Swif” follows Rocky’s August single “Highjack,” which debuted at No. 89 on the Billboard Hot 100. Watch the video for “Tailor Swif” below.
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Who was that masked man? That’s what a lot of players were wondering on Thursday (August 29) before the identity of the mysterious Shadow Duelist Nocturne was unveiled during the Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel livestream.
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As it turns out, it was none other than Zayn Malik, 31, a lifelong fan of the free digital card game who didn’t play in the tournament, but whose reveal was teased earlier this month as a “celebrity in disguise,” along with previous hints that he mystery man was “cloaked in shadow and draped in melody” and was part of a “celebrated brotherhood of troubadours.” When the big moment came, Malik, wearing black leather gloves and a black suit, slowly pulled off the character’s gold and black voice changing helmet with glowing green eyes as the event’s hosts lost their minds.
Before the reveal, the hosts shared a the obvious penultimate clue, which read, “From dusk till dawn, Nocturne fills the air with Stardust and PILLOWTALK,” a triple-down on Zayn solo single hints.
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The winner of Thursday’s tournament not only earned bragging rights, but also a signed copy of the mask as part of their prize package. After a player called Fictinium emerged victorious, Malik removed his mask and talked about his love of the franchise that includes games, anime and playing cards.
“Yeah, I’m a big, big Yu-Gi-Oh! fan. I’ve been into Yu-Gi-Oh! for a long time, since I was a small kid, so it’s an honor to be here, to do this, and it was very exciting,” said Malik, who offered up game-play commentary on the final four alongside the night’s hosts, Steven Kangas and Billy Brake. “I’ve been looking forward to it for a few weeks.”
Zayn said he was excited to wear the cool mask because he loves dressing in costume, but also was way into watching everyone compete as he signed the inside of the mask for Fictinium. The singer also ran down his favorite battles, shared his packed childhood Yu-Gi-Oh! binder and revealed his favorite card while talking about his Yu-Gi origin story, which involved first playing the game when he was “really young” on his Gameboy Advance SP.
“What is my favorite card? Obviously, I have the Shooting Star Dragon — and, obviously, it’s one of my most powerful cards, that’s why I like it so much,” Zayn said, displaying his leather binder — with the game’s name hand-scrawled across the front in Sharpie — and some of his most treasured cards. “I have the Shooting Quasar Dragon, too.” And, for the record, if he was to record a theme song for the series, it would be something “high energy” with an “early 2000s rock” vibe.
The singer, who joked about calling his next album, Yami Yugi, displayed a deep knowledge of the Yu-Gi-Oh! universe, while also taking a moment to tease upcoming music. Saying he was “honored to be here,” Zayn also told viewers that he has “some interesting stuff coming out with my music pretty soon. Some pretty big announcements coming up, so if you’re interested in my music at all, I’ve got some cool news coming pretty soon.”
Zayn signed a new recording contract with Mercury Records last summer and released his fourth solo album, Room Under the Stairs, in May.
Watch Zayn’s reveal below.
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