The festival became a unique meeting of generations: on the dance floor, one could see both those who remembered these hits from cassettes and MTV, as well as the youth discovering this music in the streaming era.
Stars such as Nana, Outlandish, Haddaway, and Natascha Wright, known as the voice of La Bouche, took to the stage. In the lead-up to the concert, the artists met with journalists, including a correspondent from VB.KG.
Nana shared his impressions of Kyrgyzstan:
- I feel incredible warmth from the locals and I am sure I will return here again. Today I will perform my famous hits - Lonely, Let It Rain, Dreams. It is especially pleasing that parents bring their children to my concert, and the youth enjoy listening to this music. It’s an amazing connection of generations.
The artist noted the special atmosphere of festivals:
- Festivals create a unique energy. I am looking forward to a powerful performance and hope to ignite the stage together with the audience of Bishkek.
In his opinion, the songs of the 90s carried important ideas:
- Our compositions are not about drugs or alcohol, but about feelings and meaning. If they resonate in people's souls, then we have done everything right.
Nana expressed interest in the Kyrgyz music scene:
- I have heard about your performer Bakr. Perhaps we will create a joint track in the future.
The musicians from Outlandish shared their impressions of the region:
- The nature here is wonderful, the people are amazing, and the cuisine is excellent.
They also noted that the popularity of 90s music is explained not only by nostalgia:
- It was the MTV era, and back then Nana and Haddaway became stars for millions of people.
In their opinion, an artist must remain sincere:
- It is important not to try to be unnatural for the sake of trends. Social media can be useful tools, but the audience feels insincerity. Experiments are good, but the main thing is to stay true to oneself.
The group spoke warmly about the local audience:
- In different countries, audiences react differently, but here people are happy from the first minute. This is a very warm and grateful audience, and we feel their support.
Haddaway, visiting Bishkek for the fifth time, noted the changes in the city:
- Over the past 25 years, Bishkek has transformed significantly. But most importantly, the people here still know and love my songs.
He believes that the secret of the popularity of 90s music lies not only in nostalgia:
- Back then, the compositions were characterized by melodiousness. We competed with Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. It was a time of musical diversity, and it is in this eclecticism that the secret lies.
He also touched on the topic of copyright:
- Young performers often forget about music rights when sending remixes for approval. If we continue to ignore this, the industry will have no future.
Haddaway noted changes in the music industry:
- Previously, MTV shaped the mainstream. Today, streaming platforms allow you to listen to any music, such as K-pop, which combines hip-hop and national elements. I don’t aim to teach the younger generation; I just perform and hope that people enjoy it.
Natascha Wright shared her memories of her career and the eurodance era:
- I am from the 90s. My career began in this amazing time. Many don’t know that I started with Haddaway and then joined La Bouche.
She promised to delight the audience with popular hits:
- Be My Lover, What Is Love, Sing Hallelujah - this is music full of hits. Back then, eurodance, rap, and hip-hop created a unique atmosphere.
When asked about souvenirs, the singer replied:
- I have an imaginary box of memories where I store emotions from my travels. If someone asks about Bishkek, I will say that the nature here is stunning and the people are wonderful.
She talked about her path to success:
- It takes talent, hard work, and a bit of luck. I dreamed, worked hard, and met the right people, which allowed me to move forward.
The festival organizer, producer, and founder of Dari Event, Darika Ibraimova, spoke about the project's concept:
- We have been engaged in concert activities for 20 years, but previously there were no venues for events of this level in Kyrgyzstan.
With the opening of the "Zhashtyk-Arena," the situation changed:
- When a modern venue appeared, we realized that we could implement this idea. The festival is dedicated to the 20th anniversary of our company, and we are launching a series of events called Dari Fest.
She added that the project will continue:
- This year we plan to hold three festivals and hope for the support of the audience.
The artists were chosen carefully:
- We compiled a list of performers based on their 90s hits and their ability to come. We were really lucky to gather everyone together in Kyrgyzstan, - noted the organizer.
Dari Fest proved that the hits of the 90s continue to live on, uniting generations and cultures.
Audiences sang familiar lines, danced to the rhythms of eurodance, and captured moments on their phones to preserve this emotional evening.
Nostalgia, the energy of the stage, and the sincerity of the artists made the festival an event where the past and present resonated in unison.
And it became clear that real music is timeless.
