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

Here's a video of the Arteria show Kordz performed and said was one of his earliest performances.

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.

Songs featured courtesy of Kordz:

• Kordz, DRO, Dilla of KayaKata — ICO
• Kordz — AntiGeorgianDreamAnthem
• Kordz & DRO — Shish Kebab Requiem

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 [email protected].

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