This event united different generations: to familiar melodies danced both those who listened to them on cassette tapes and on MTV, as well as the youth who discovered music in the streaming era.
Among the performers were Nana, Outlandish, Haddaway, and Natascha Wright, known for her participation in the legendary group La Bouche. Ahead of the concert, the stars of world music met with representatives of the press, including a correspondent from VB.KG.
The legendary performer Nana shared his impressions of meeting the Kyrgyz people:
- I felt incredible warmth and hospitality. I will definitely return here. Today I will perform my well-known hits Lonely, Let It Rain, Dreams. It is especially nice to see parents bringing their children to the concerts, and the youth happily listening to this music. It is a true connection of generations.
The artist noted the unique atmosphere of festivals:
- Festivals have a special energy. I am looking forward to performing and want to light up the stage together with the audience of Bishkek.
According to him, the songs of his time were filled with meaning:
- Our compositions are not about drugs or alcohol, but about feelings and the meaning of life. If they resonate with people, then we did everything right.
Nana also expressed interest in the Kyrgyz music scene:
- I know about your singer Bakr. Perhaps in the future we will create a joint track.
Members of the group Outlandish noted that they are well acquainted with the region:
- The nature here is amazing, the people are wonderful, and the cuisine is delicious.
The musicians believe that the popularity of 90's music is explained not only by nostalgia:
- It was the era of MTV when Nana and Haddaway became global icons for millions.
They are confident that an artist must remain true to themselves:
- The main thing is not to try to seem fake for the sake of trends. Social media can be helpful, but people feel insincerity. You can experiment, but it’s important to stay real.
The group spoke warmly about the audience in the region:
- In different countries, the audience reacts differently. Here, people rejoice from the very first minute. This is a very warm and grateful audience, and we feel their support.
Haddaway visited Bishkek for the fifth time and noted that the city has changed significantly:
- Over the past 25 years, Bishkek has transformed greatly. But most importantly, the people here still know and love my songs.
In his opinion, the secret of the popularity of 90's music is not only nostalgia:
- At that time, the compositions had amazing melodies. We competed in the charts with Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. It was a period of musical diversity, and that’s where the secret lies.
He also touched on the importance of copyright:
- Today, young performers can create remixes and forget about copyright. If we forget about this, the music industry will have no future.
Haddaway noted changes in the music world:
- Previously, MTV set the mainstream, and now streaming platforms allow you to listen to anything. For example, K-pop is a mix of hip-hop and national flavor. I don’t strive to teach the new generation, I just perform and am happy if they like it.
Natascha Wright talked about her career path and the time of eurodance:
- I grew up in the 90s, and my career began in that amazing time. Many don’t know, but I started with Haddaway and later became part of La Bouche.
She promised to gift the audience with beloved hits:
- Be My Lover, What Is Love, Sing Hallelujah — this is music from that era, filled with hits. Back then, eurodance, rap, and hip-hop created a unique atmosphere.
The singer shared that she doesn’t bring souvenirs from her travels:
- I have an imaginary box of memories where I store emotions from the countries I visit. If someone asks about Bishkek, I will say that the nature here is amazing and the people are wonderful.
Speaking about her success, she noted:
- It takes talent, perseverance, and a bit of luck. I dreamed of this, worked hard, and met the right people, which helped me move forward.
The festival organizer, producer, and founder of Dari Event Darika Ibraimova, talked about the start of the project:
- We have been engaged in concert activities for 20 years, but before there were no venues in Kyrgyzstan to implement projects of this scale.
The situation changed with the opening of the "Zhashtyk-Arena":
- With the emergence of a modern space, we realized that we could realize this idea. The festival is timed to the 20th anniversary of our company, and we are starting a series of events called Dari Fest.
According to the organizer, the project will continue:
- This year we plan to hold three festivals and hope for the support of the audience.
The artists were selected carefully:
- We compiled a list of performers based on their hits and the possibility of coming. We were really lucky to gather everyone in one day in Kyrgyzstan, - noted Darika Ibraimova.
Dari Fest confirmed that the hits of the 90s have not become museum classics — they continue to live, uniting different generations, cultures, and countries.
The audience joyfully sang familiar lines, danced to eurodance, and filmed the events on their phones to preserve an evening filled with emotions and memories.
Nostalgia, the energy of the stage, and the sincerity of the artists made the festival an event where the past and present resonated in unison.
It is clear that real music never loses its relevance.
Video author: Elizaveta Bliznyuk
