Dimash Kudaibergen, the voice that brings Asia to the West

“My dreams have no limits. When I grow up I want all the people in my country to be proud of what I’ll do. “

A little Dimash, pale and with dark circles, speaks about his future on Kazakhstan’s national TV. Together with an older boy, he is interviewed as a prize for his scholastic excellence.
His mother is a soprano, and his father, also a musician, is the Aktobe district councilor for culture. Reading the countless Dimash’s biographies online, it turns out that as a child he loved to attend his parents’ shows and to run on stage at the end, to bow in front of the audience too. At the age of five he was already a piano player and his primary school teacher remembers seeing him getting to school exhausted because he had passed the night working on his new arrangement of a traditional song. His mother says he cried in despair when they tried to take him to the park, pulling him away from his compositional manias.

Now that Dimash is twenty-six years old, he still calls and thanks his grandparents after every concert: he is the firstborn and was raised by them, according to the Kazakh tradition. They are the ones who took him to music school every day, even when it was snowing, even when they were sick.
Dimash’s family, warm and supportive, is his first big fortune, followed by his extraordinary talent and his vocal agility, often considered as “superhuman” by the youtubers who rush to film their reactions whenever Dimash releases a new song online. They collect thousands of views and contribute to his fame, that is becoming legendary.

Dinmukhamed Kanatuly Kudaibergen*, this is the full name, is a phenomenon: musical, physical (his volcal cords are longer than the average), cultural, social and even political.
On stage he seems to be in his best element and shows a disarming spontaneity. The way he moves and looks inspires passion and benevolence at the same time.
Trained in classical studies, he became a melodic pop singer, but enriches his songs with arab sounds, melisma, trill, whistle, opera singing and other surprising vocal virtuosity. Has the rare voice of the countertenor, but can sing just as well as a baritone, a tenor and a soprano, with such a power and control over almost five octaves, to leave the experts speechless. About voice, he knows how to do everything: the vocal fry, the mixed voice, that of head and chest, the staccato and impossible transitions. He has more than twenty years of obsessive exercise behind him. Sings in seven languages ​​and has the breath to keep a note over 20 seconds. His mother, when asked how he can do it, shrugs: “It must have been the swimming lessons.”.
He reclined the offer of a job at the Astana National Opera to follow his idea of ​​music.

Many people would be happy to classify him as a virtuoso – a “simple” vocal acrobat – but this is actually impossible: it is obvious to anybody that he is an equally exceptional artist as his voice, and even the most grunge rappers end up loving him. One of the many miracles of Dimash is to put different audience together, to love them and to make them surrender: if you have a bit of musical ear and like singing, you can only love him, he is far too good, beyond envy.
Adored and adorable, at his concerts that fill entire stadiums from Russia to China, people cover him with flowers. He thanks kneeling on the stage and spreading his long arms, calls his fans Dears and always reminds everyone that they are welcome in Kazakhstan.

This is one of his performances, in Sochi. He starts in a very low register with some vocal fry, moves gradually to the soprano register and kills the audience with a stunning arabic melisma/trill (repeated note) at surprise, followed by an impressive belting, singing high notes for over 23 seconds without breathing. In the middle, countless small jewels of perfection, good taste and originality plus the ability to sing while whispering, which would seem within the reach of anyone if it were not so crystalline and emotionally charged as to be even more inimitable than the rest. About the different styles of vibrato, which are an integral part of the songs of his tradition, useless even discuss.
And yes, he is also charming.

(The man in white shirt standing at the end of the performance is Igor Krutoy, the most famous russian composer/producer)

Already famous in his country, in 2017 Dimash joined a Chinese television singing contest. He was the only foreigner to be admitted, and got the second place probably because it could not be a foreigner to win a Chinese contest. But his Weibo profile – the most used social network in China – in a few months has exceeded 300 million views, and his first album, put up for sale on the Web, has become platinum in the record time of 30 seconds.

Slim and more than six feet tall (1,91 mt.), today Dimash is also a model and testimonial of countless products. He dresses in a very personal style, also on stage. Idol of girls, who chase him through airports all over the world with bouquets of flowers in their hand, he is beautiful but above all, has the features, the eyes and the determination of a manga hero.
Muslim, turkic, a bit asian and a bit european, Dimash is the ideal ambassador of a cultural world that has been neglected for long and is almost unknown. The Chinese Culture Minister said about him: “A young foreigner with big and friendly eyes: his voice is the most beautiful and amazing, it can transcend gender, language and borders. This is the essence of music. “
In short, he said the most modern and inspired thing that could be said, with an emphasis on feeling, leaving the Western world without better definitions.
Dimash thanked in Chinese, recorded the Chinese theme song of Power Rangers and his image ended up on China Airlines planes.

Some observers argue that China, in search of markets to the West, is using Dimash to establish alliances with other Asian countries. If so, it would still be a nice way to do it.
Kazakhstan, of which Dimash was declared a cultural ambassador by the President in person, has less than twenty million inhabitants and is among the top exporters of natural and mineral resources: every Kazakh should be a millionaire, while instead finds himself struggling with a post communist country with a bizarre architecture, where the contraddictions from the past are still powerful.

China is richly investing in music TV shows: in 2019, a twelve-episodes program called Super Vocal, has been broadcasted with the intention of re-launching Opera and Musical: a sort of idea that Italy, still paralized by the fear of China copying its products, would never have, unless copying it form somebody else.
36 singers, who have done classical studies in prestigious schools, have been selected. They were all males, all beautiful, charming and talented. The program has been a huge success and Dimash was requested as a judge in the final episode. Among the singers in the race there was Ayunga, a talent from the grasslands of Inner Mongolia who has now become, among other things, a testimonial for Ralph Lauren.

Ayunga (or Ayanga), Inner Mongolia. Singer, actor, dancer, model.

Ayunga and two other Chinese singers who participated in Super Vocal, joined Dimash for a Queen medley. If any of the youtubers-singers hoped that Dimash could not be a perfect rocker at least, well, had to change his mind. The original video is currently not available, but here there is the reaction of one of the many enthusiastic American musicians. (Ayunga is the second solo voice)

The explosion of popularity of the last two years is forcing Dimash to beastly tours, but he works tirelessly, improves, has the bright ideas of a genius. So it happened that Lara Fabian sang Happy Birthday  for him on Facebook and Andrea Bocelli wanted to meet. Above all, Igor Krutoy, the famous Russian composer and music producer, decided to dedicate himself exclusively to him.
Igor Krutoy must be fond of this boy, because he not only composes epic music on which only Dimash can sing: he makes the lyrics written in Italian by the poet Lilia Vinogradova, and they are an obvious hymn to Dimash and his young life. All this may sound a bit too sweet, until you listen the opening song of the Olympic Games in Minsk, with over 100 orchestra elements, sung live by a Dimash dressed up in a jacket inspired to the Kazakh flag. At the mega concert Arnau, Dimash, this time dressed as a space druid, has sang the same song, making it a million-hit succes instantly. The song is titled “Ogni Pietra” (Every Stone) or Olimpico, and sticks the Bel Canto straight into the hearts of millions of kids from all over the world.

(Curiosity that I did not find commented in the reaction videos: Dimash uses the earphones – and also the microphone – in a very personal and skilled way. During certain performances he removes the left earphone to better control his high notes. In this video he often brings his hands to the earphones to put them back in place as he sings with a wide open mouth and the earphones are pushed outwards by the jaw movements.)

The Arnau concert in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan, received substantial state funds, employed over 500 people and filled a stadium. Thounsand of fans flew from every city in the world to reach a capital they had never heard of. For Dimash, who had always dreamed of a great concert in his country, it has been yet another achievement.
During this concert Dimash also sang his famous cover of SOS, aboard a suspended sphere flying above the audience. Since Denis Ten, one of his best friends and the only Kazakh Olympic skater, has been stabbed to death in Almaty by two thugs, Dimash dedicates this song to him. He said he will always do it, like he declared that he sings and will always sing live, and there is no reason to doubt it.

Dimash’s private life is unusual and surprising, like him: the girls throw themselves under the wheels of the limousines that take him to the recording studios, but when he had to make his first video with a Chinese model, he was so shy in touching her to be funny. She was shy too, however: Asia – and this was also seen in Super Vocal – carries some moderation of customs.
Dimash says he is single and that he would like to have a girlfriend and marry, but promiscuity, especially exhibited, is out of the question. He goes on vacation to Bodrum with his family and friends, who are also his staff and who would protect him at the cost of their own life.
His fans love him exactly for that: because he embraces children with emotion and gets up to seat the old ladies; because on Instagram he puts pictures of his friends and relatives and never forgets a birthday; because he sees a singer on Instragram singing his songs beautifully and invites her to perform on the stage with him at the next concert.
That he has a big heart is well known, and it is also contagious: at his concerts – says a youtuber – people love each other and there is an atmosphere of joyful brotherhood.

In December 2019 Dimash held a concert at the Barclay Center in New York. It was a moment of testing his popularity that must have brought him some tension. The concert went sold out: thousands of people came from all over the world and for some of them it was a real pilgrimage, as well as a significant investment. Fans met and celebrated before and after the concert, making thousands of video footage.
Dimash – after being greeted at the airport by a crowd that stunned the American musicians that were passing by, after accepting with a moving tranquility the caress of a gigantic former rugby champion fan, after calming down gently a grup of ladies trying to rip off his skin for a selfie, and refusing with no esitation to sign the flag of Kazakhstan carried by a fan, because it is unrespectful for the flag – has seen another of his greater dreams becoming real: America singing the traditional Kazakh song Daididau. He did not expect his fans to know the words and he was moved.
Then he improvised a verse a cappella in his language, which the fans diligently repeated, singing all together. The phrase was roughly: “” Пусть будет мир во всем мире – Alemde birlik bolsyn “- May there be peace and unity worldwide –

Returning home immediately after the concert, Dimash received the title of Honored Worker from Kazakhstan at an official ceremony. His work to promote the country has no historical precedent and is having a surprising impact. It is extremely moving to look at this boy, so famous and an object of unusual veneration, to stay upright and moved as never before in a modest room, with his dark suit and tight tie, in the presence of few officials who, not accustomed to the cameras, were messing around, walking past him, giving him the prize in a clumsy way, while he was promising that he will try to bring home a Grammy for the next time.
Who knows if Kazakhstan has truly understood that the world of Dimash, made of music and values, new and ancient ​​at the same time, is so original for a pop star to be revolutionary. All this could become fashionable, because West today lacks courage and spirituality, while Dimash seems to bring them as a very healty carrier.

Updates:
– The pandemic stopped the first international tour of a 25-year-old boy with the devastating force of a meteorite. Until then he had lived a fairy tale so magical and astonishing that it seemed supernatural. While other artists complained asking for the reopening of discos, clubs and theaters, Dimash – who for three years had lived chased by hordes of fans and when he bit into a pear the video made millions of views upsetting teenager’s hearts and the Asian fruit and vegetable market – returned to Kazakhstan to play PlayStation with his brother, never uttering a single word that was not a heartfelt recommendation to behave responsibly and take care.
He recorded a song for the Italian sci-fi film Creators – the Past by Piergiuseppe Zaia remotely, and changed its fate making it a successful film at a time when it was not even possible to present it for release. The music of the song is by Zaia himself, now also a big fan of Dimash.

– Fans who had organized to follow Dimash on tour sharing rooms, meeting before concerts to make friends and exchange gifts, moved the party to Instagram and Facebook fan groups: it crosses time zones, with its cheerful jumble of multilingual comments – luckily there is a translator – smiles, photos, confidences, gratitude and blessings.
In Mexico, Poland and Chile some “Radio Dimash” are now on air broadcasting his songs 7/24. The Chilean broadcaster is called Dearmash.
– During the pandemic Dimash focused on enhancing his country and doing charity. Also became the most wanted testimonial of national brands. He told his Dears that he misses the direct contact with them and sadly greeted his team left back in China.
– It seems that his tour programming has resumed: there should be a concert in Moscow in december and others to follow in 2021.

Before the pandemic, Dimash had sometimes looked tired, probably because of his many busy schedules and trips. But he often smiled, and when he did, he still looked like a child dreaming. Today in the pictures he looks more mature, more muscular and less pale. Who knows. His Dears are waiting.

* Also written Kudaibergenov or Qudaibergen, this last transcription seems to be the most correct and preferred by Dimash who uses the logo DQ in his official marketing.

Dimash YouTube
Dimash Instagram
Read the original post in Italian

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