Samrattama

Behind SAMRATTAMA, the project of Kostanay-born artist Samrat Irzhassov, lies a search for identity that is as personal as it is political, unfolding within a country that continues to oscillate between its Soviet legacy, globalisation, and an ongoing process of cultural self-definition. His performances move between music, theatre, and performance art, while his bilingual lyrics weave together intimate self-reflection and sharp social observation.

Raised in the predominantly Russian-speaking north of Kazakhstan, Irzhassov only began to engage deeply with the question of what it means to be Kazakh after moving to Almaty. The city became a laboratory for cultural reinvention. He learned the Kazakh language, took up the dombra and approached traditional forms not as a custodian, but as someone searching. His music suggests that authenticity is not a fixed state but an ongoing process.

His songs combine indie, spoken word, electronic fragments, and traditional sonic elements into a richly layered world where past and present continually negotiate with one another. The 2024 EP »Mıñ Müñ« explores memory, loss, and belonging, while tracks such as »Dekorativny Qazaq« and »bitpeitin bit« reflect on questions of origin, cultural centralisation, and the contradictions of a young nation.

The name SAMRATTAMA already embodies this ambiguity. It refers to Samrat’s tribal affiliation while also suggesting a desire not to be Samrat at all. For Irzhassov, there is no universal path towards identity. His music is an invitation to search – for one’s own roots as much as for new ways of translating tradition into the present.