Acell is an artist, DJ and promoter from Almaty, Kazakhstan. She’s a part of independent music space called “bULt”, known for immersive support of local techno scene and diverse community of artists. We asked Acell to share her background, favorite music and her thoughts on perception of queer community in Kazakhstan.

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To start with tell us 3 fun facts about yourself.

 

I’ve got three kids. I’ve been to Berghain twice and wasn’t denied entry and I believe in God.

 

What is your background, your biggest achievements or projects, which we should be absolutely aware of?

 

I am part of the team of the independent music space bULt, in which we hold techno parties, film screenings of non-obvious author's films, poetry readings, explore, reflecting on and trying stitches together the queerness, rave and beingness that arising in us every moment. Also this year, in July, as part of the @orta_centre group which working with a new performativity and escaping from theatricality, I participated in the Launch of the First Atomic Bombreflector at the NONAME Festival in the Center of Meyrhold as a sound maker.

 

Which music, art, culture influenced you and why?

 

The greatest influence on me is exerted by those artefacts of art that don’t appear but rather remind me of the existence of something infinitely large and great, which at the same time is not separated from me in any way and can’t be separated from me.

 

Who would be an artist/DJ of all times you’d like a collaboration with?

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Arvo Pärt, Phillip Glass, Mamer, Ryoji Ikeda, DJ NOBU, HVL.

 

How’s your music is different? What are you trying to tell with your music and mixes?

 

In music, whether I want it or not, I’m decoding into the sound those states that I’ve got in my experience, and in this sense a special kind of transmission and communication takes place on the dance floor.

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Please describe your mix for us: what is your story in words, which you tried to reflect in music?

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Techno for me is always a story about strength and resistance. It is about looking in and about the willingness to celebrate life.

 

Which moment is the most touching/emotional moment in your mix and why?

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The very beginning? It introduces and leads.

 

If you mix was a color, which one it would be?

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Deep red and silver.

 

Let’s speak about Kazakhstan. Could you name 3 things about your region, which might surprise others.

 

1) Less than a century since our people began to lead a sedentary lifestyle. 2) Borat is not from this country, to tell the truth. 3) Kazakhstan ranks 9th place in the world in terms of territory, while the population density is one of the lowest-less than 7 people per square kilometer.

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How music & culture from your region is different from other parts of the world?

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Perhaps this a nomadic way of the interacting with reality, the mentality of a nomad who is always ready for changes and looking for.

 

Name 3 artists from your region which we should pay attention to and why?

 

MAMER  -  this is a very interesting experimental work with the sound of the Kazakh national instruments, voice and noise.

BALSHAKH SNITSA - this is an album written inside our crowd about it and what is around it.

MARHABA SABI - The song Zhuye (System) despite the fact that in general I rarely listen to such music, is very beautiful and touching, with the text about the broken system and the courage necessary for change.

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How is queer culture developed and percieved in your region? Do you see any shift over the past years? 

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I think that many people have a feeling that society isn’t ready to accept diversity of the individuals, which is why it’s so important for us to create safe and inclusive places where the acceptance and celebration of differences is perceived as the norm, which is actually what it is. But overall of course there is no denying the positive dynamics either in the academic environment associated with an increasing interest in the study of this topic, or in daily life when more and more people allow themselves to be ownself and openly talk about it finding the support of loved ones. In this regard there is a new understanding of nepotism which is determined not on the basis of blood kinship, but ideological, and this is very cool!

 

What are you plans and aspirations for the foreseeable future?

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I’d like to keep settle into the habitat of the Rave further and deeper, inventing and applying new mental technologies and cultural practices in its relation.

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Let's deep dive into your playlist. What is it?

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MAMER – ethnic Kazakh from China whom works with both instrumental and electronic sound, makes noise compositions. Listen in Bandcamp. 

ARShAT – Listen on YouTube. 

KRËLEX ZENTR – the project of Ruth Jenerbekova and Maria Vilkoviskaya an artists engaged in contemporary art and working with queer theory. Listen on Soundcloud.

MARHABA SABI, Zhuye (System) – Listen on YouTube. 

URKER – Kazakh Song "Tugan Elim" – Listen on YouTube. 

KOKONJA – musician and DJ from Almaty, member of the bULt team, ambient – Listen on Soundcloud.

TANGBOSH – DJ and producer from Astana, recently founded his label MOBILESUBERB – Listen on Soundcloud.

E.T. – my favorite DJ from Almaty, quite often plays at bULt, his first release on the same album – Listen on Soundcloud.

BALKHASH DREAMING – the project of the guys from the bULt team, the Kazakh poet Anuar Duisenbinov and the musician Rustem Myrzakhmetov – Listen on Bandcamp.