"That notion that music is for everyone has been ingrained in me since my childhood"
Fresh Take:
Headbanger's Ball with Nash Tavkhildze: A Cosmopolitan Approach to Music
Hail to the King: Nash Tavkhildze's latest album "Kingdom Of Love" drops on American label Think Like A Key, marking another trophy in his international music career. Igor Gavrilov sat down with the former Blast frontman to discuss his "nomadic" approach to creating music, current record label trends, and the resurrection of the iconic Moscow club, Imagine Cafe.
Nash Albert's latest album, "Kingdom Of Love," marks a new chapter in your collaboration with foreign record labels. What drew you to Think Like A Key this time around?
My previous album, "Yet," was released on the German label MIG-music. It garnered rave reviews in European press, crossing the pond to the US and Canada. A Canadian journalist who became our friend helped us find new partners. The owner of MIG-music had passed away, leaving the label to focus on old catalogs. I recorded "Kingdom Of Love" in Georgia in the spring of 2022, with Georgian national instruments featured across the album. The first track, "Thought As Time," even has a Georgian choir. Ilya Mazaev, son of Sergei Mazaev and known for his international sound production prowess, polished the record.
Think Like A Key, an American boutique label that focuses on prog-rock and psychedelia, took notice and signed us after six months. The album will also be available in Russia.
You financed the album yourself. How does Think Like A Key support your album as a record company?
In today's music industry, large companies do not invest in discovering new talent as they once did during the 1960s-1970s. Independent players frequently shoulder that responsibility. Think Like A Key found Nash Albert's project. In addition to that, they create music videos for us, distribute our music on digital platforms, and even print CDs. Many journalists and even music enthusiasts appreciate physical copies with covers, as they offer an authentic, tangible experience that has not entirely disappeared. Our song "Kingdom Of Love" was included in the UK magazine RnR, for example.
How does radio work today?
A Michigan radio station recently began playing our "Midnight Blues," a song that was never even released on one of our albums—just a recording from our performance on "Mayak" radio somehow made it to them.
As a Moscow native, you've made a deep impression in Tbilisi, England, and Spain, and now you're making waves in the US. How do you juggle such a "worldly" lifestyle?
Growing up with a nuclear physicist father, I was taught that there are things that transcend national boundaries — science, art, for instance. Using terms like "Soviet" or "American" in reference to music is short-sighted. Art belongs to everyone, and I've always believed that. I'm grateful for my enduring relationships with my Russian, Georgian, and English colleagues.
There seems to be a resurgence of the much-loved Moscow club Imagine Cafe. Is it still operational?
I managed Imagine Cafe until 2022. We had to take a hiatus while I recorded "Kingdom Of Love" in Georgia and my mother battled a long illness. Many frequent customers left Russia during this period, and financial difficulties arose. However, my partners and I decided to give it another shot, keeping it alive as a musical venue. The Moscow music scene hasn't been as vibrant in a long time.
Imagine Cafe has always been a beacon for great musicians.
From Noel Gallagher of Oasis to Yuri Shevchuk and my longtime collaborator Sergei Voronov, there's a wealth of exceptional talent frequenting the stage. I'm particularly excited about Milkmann's, a promising young band. They've taken up residency at the Moscow Imagine Live Club, the rebranded venue. We'll be presenting "Kingdom Of Love" there on June 26.
Igor Gavrilov
The collaboration with Think Like A Key, an American boutique label specializing in prog-rock and psychedelia, marks a new venture for Nash Tavkhildze and his entertainment portfolio.
The music video for the track "Midnight Blues" from Nash Tavkhildze's latest album has garnered attention on American radio, showcasing the international reach of his music.
