culture
January 21, 2026
‘Soviet attitudes framed local culture as backward’: the record label standing up to Russian imperialism
Ored Recordings documents chants, laments and displacement songs of the Caucasus threatened by erasure. After the invasion of Ukraine, its ‘punk ethnography’ has never been more urgent
TL;DR
- Ored Recordings, founded by Bulat Khalilov and Timur Kodzoko, uses 'punk ethnography' to record and preserve Circassian culture through music.
- The label documents religious chants, laments, and songs about displacement, aiming to combat the erasure of Circassian heritage.
- Circassia, historically a distinct nation, was largely conquered and its people displaced by Russia, resulting in fragmented territories and diaspora communities.
- Circassian music is characterized by voice, memory, and social function, often featuring solo or small-group singing with modal melodies and sustained tones.
- Ored Recordings releases new music annually around 21 May, the Circassian Day of Mourning, linking archival recordings with contemporary diaspora voices.
- Due to increased suppression and isolation in Russia following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Khalilov and Kodzoko relocated to Germany.
- Their move has facilitated new collaborations and a broader engagement with the Circassian diaspora and experimental music scenes.
- Khalilov emphasizes that the value of the music lies in the stories behind it, addressing themes of genocide, displacement, and ongoing colonial conditions.
Continue reading the original article