Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Qara Qura
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
In my childhood, my family had a cassette recorder that could also record audio. I remember my parents recorded me singing local pop songs. However, after that, I was quite distant from music until I was 18, when I started learning to play my older brother’s guitar out of boredom.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
While I was learning to play the guitar, I started coming up with my own melodies. I thought, “Hmm, what if I write lyrics for these tunes?” That’s how my songs gradually started to emerge.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
At a certain point, I started thinking deeply about my people’s identity and the preservation of our culture and language. I had worked on other projects in English and Russian, but I realized I had never tried creating music in my native Tatar. When I finally did, I loved the result. I decided to focus entirely on my new band, Qara Qura, to show that our language and identity are vibrant and modern. My wife helps me with this; she is the drummer in the band.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
It’s heavily influenced by late 60s psychedelic rock, 80s post-punk, and alternative rock from the 90s and 2000s.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
I can’t recall one specific moment; I just write songs, and I feel that as the quantity grows, so does the quality. However, I’ve realized that mixing plays a crucial role—even a simple change in the drum balance can shift the entire mood of a song. That’s why I started mixing my tracks myself.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
I compose songs on the guitar and tab them out in Guitar Pro. Then I send the file to my drummer, and she comes up with the drum parts. I also arrange the tracks there. When everything is ready, I record and mix it all in DAW Reaper—I am a supporter of the DIY approach.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
I guess I’m an old-school fan. In modern indie music, I often miss the vibes that drew me to Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Red Hot Chili Peppers, or Nirvana.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
It’s probably my city—Naberezhnye Chelny. It has a gritty industrial vibe with giant factories, endless blocks of panel high-rises, and residential suburbs. As for the lyrics and themes, they are influenced by a desire to resist globalization and preserve our unique cultural heritage.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
That your native languages can sound cool too! And that guitar music is still very much alive!
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
No one will do the work for you! The era of major labels searching for musicians is long gone. You must not only write the song but also produce it, mix it yourself, and find a way to bring it to the listeners.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
I think it’s definitely Glastonbury Festival!
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
I think it would be John Frusciante, acting as a producer. Our tastes align in many ways, and I would love to learn from him both as a musician and as a producer.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
I post all important news here:
By the way, I also draw manga, so don’t be confused when you see my artwork there alongside the music!
You can listen to us on all streaming platforms, including: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3GKBCmhv2RTc2pF09lR68m
https://music.apple.com/ru/artist/qara-qura/1760961670
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
Right now, I’m immersed in creating my first animated music video. My plans are to complete our live lineup and hit the road for a tour!
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
I hope they realize that I’m not trying to follow trends; I make music sincerely. I don’t really follow what’s popular; I just want to find the people who truly resonate with what I do.
