Culture Takeover: Kordz on music and Georgian politics

This week, editor Yousef Bardouka and culture and features editor Xandie (Alexandra) Kuenning took over the Caucasus Digest to speak with Kordz, a Georgian musician and producer, about his work, the making of his last album with his mother, Tamriko Kordzaia, and the cancellation of his concert in Gori following a smear campaign by the ruling Georgian Dream party.

Read more:

Kordz concert cancelled over 'security concerns' after smear campaign by Georgian Dream

Recommendations from Kordz, Yousef, and Xandie:

Kordz has recommended that listeners check out Goat Niko, a young freestyle rapper from Georgia who regularly posts videos on TikTok.

Yousef has recommended the album 'Nejeguje' by Circassian multi-instrumentalist Astemir Marshenkulov.

Xandie has recommended Aka Morchiladze's 2007 novel, 'Of Old Hearts and Sword', which she recently reviewed a new 2025 English translation of for OC Media's culture section.

If you enjoyed this episode and would like to hear more culture on the Caucasus Digest, we'd love to hear from you! Please e-mail us at podcasts@oc-media.org.

And don't forget to sign up for our Culture Dispatch, a bi-weekly newsletter with book, film, and music recommendations from the Caucasus.

Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: Join today.