Chingis is a trailblazer in the organic house scene. He is not only a talented DJ with a unique style that fuses experimental sounds, but also the founder and owner of the Baikal Nomads record label.
This label was a harbinger of what would later be classified as organic house music, as this genre did not have a distinct name at the time of its establishment. Chingis has a passion for slow to mid-tempo tunes that blend electronic sounds with influences from world music.
Along with a small group of fellow music enthusiasts, this experimental mix of sounds contributed to the formation of what we now recognize as organic house. In order to learn more about his personal and innovative journey through sound, we invited him to this interview.
EG: Hi, Chingis! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been? How did you kickstart your year? What have you been up to?
Chingis: Hello! Thank you for inviting me to the interview. The year started great. In the opening days, I uploaded a free track to our SoundCloud, an edit by Mexican producer DVNIEL of a famous Xavier Rudd track called ‘Spirit Bird.’ We also released a very nice collaboration by Kapchiz & Holman, which was a 2-track release called ‘Romantica.’
EG: By the way, congratulations on the release of the new Baikal Nomads’ EP, Kapchiz & Holman’s ‘Romantica.’ What has the initial reception been like so far? What can fans of the label find on this one?
Chingis: Thank you! As Kapchiz and Holman told me, ‘Romantica’ was originally a remix of a track from a famous Russian project, whose name we will leave out of brackets. However, after delaying the release of this remix for about two years, they were asked to put this story under the table. Since a lot of soul was invested in the remix, the guys decided to leave only the original material (fortunately there was enough of it) and publish the track as an independent work.
And about ‘Balasan Tuhan,’ they told me, when it was drafted, it looked like a banal downtempo track, with oriental vocals that lacked zest. Later, the guys came up with the idea to go in the direction of pop and began to stuff it with nu-disco fills and simple three-note, understandable, hit parts. The result was a very romantic, danceable EP in the key of A minor with quite an elastic sound.
EG: So, where is Baikal Nomads at this particular moment? What can we expect from the label for this coming year?
Chingis: I think so far, we are “harnessing the sleigh,” so to speak, allowing us to ride very quickly and smoothly. This year my colleagues already did a showcase on Koh Phangan Island in Thailand, and hopefully will do more there. Maybe I will arrange some shows in Tulum, Mexico too, where I’m currently based. For now, we already put together 2 showcases here with Catatonique and Nino Amarillo last year, and with Nhii, Mula (Fr), Farry, Marco Tegui, and Sereno two years ago. I’m also working on several EPs at the moment, and of course, preparing to release our main VA in the summer – the Badarchin compilation, for the eighth time. We will also delight our listeners with monthly mixtapes, as always.
EG: What place does Baikal Nomads occupy in the grand scheme of organic and deeper sounds? How do you feel about its contributions to that scene?
Chingis: I believe that thanks to my strict selection, we occupy a unique niche and I hope that our great contribution to the scene is yet to come.
“I believe that thanks to my strict selection, we occupy a unique niche and I hope that our great contribution to the scene is yet to come”
EG: How was Baikal Nomads born? What was your main motivation at that time? Has the label grown according to your expectations?
Chingis: Oh, this is a very funny story. In 2013, I first came to the legendary island of Koh Phangan in Thailand. After a very crazy party in the jungle on what’s called, Bicycle Day, I was so impressed by what happened, that I created a Baikal Nomads page on SoundCloud on the same day. There were no expectations or goals for creating a label back then. I just wanted to collect music on this page that I like. So, it turns out that this wish just came true!
EG: How do you feel about the state of the “organic” scene at the moment? Have some things or ideas become a bit trite or have been taken a bit too far in your opinion?
Chingis: It seems to me that the genre is now experiencing some kind of stagnation, if that word is even applicable here. I’m hearing too many of the same style tracks now. However, many producers are experimenting with subgenres such as slow techno or slow psy-trance, so that’s good. There should always be a search for something new.
EG: Now, stepping outside of the studio for a bit… the use of AI in music has become quite common after its initial introduction, which raised many eyebrows. What’s your stance on this? Have you contemplated its possibilities?
Chingis: It is very difficult now to predict anything or give any assessment to these AIs. Most people will likely use these tools to fuel their creativity or when feeling lacking in inspiration. I don’t think there is any need to be afraid of these AIs. After all, even if in the future there are concerts full of people with music entirely created by AI, what’s the big deal? If people enjoy it, why not? But I also think that music created by real talented geniuses will be even more valuable. It’s like this with mass market furniture and handmade crafts. There are and always will be clients here and there. But who knows how everything will turn out. Let’s just see.
EG: There also seems to be a trend where more and more acts and performances rely on these huge LED screens and breathtaking visuals. What are your thoughts on this? Is the music starting to rely more and more on visual aids? Can that same music work without them?
Chingis: Of course, it can. Yes, in the end, there will be more and more audio-visual experiences. Not only at dance events, but we see this in many other places, for example at the opening of the Asian Games in Hangzhou. All this is of course very cool, but I think old-school, cozy parties, will always hold a special place in people’s hearts.
“There should always be a search for something new”
EG: Finally, can you provide some insights into what’s next for Chingis?
Chingis: It’s going to be a busy year with lots of new music to release, and I can’t wait for you all to hear it.
EG: Thank you so much for your time, Chingis. We wish you all the best for the future. Take care!
Chingis: Thank you for having me, it was a pleasure to speak with you!
Kapchiz and Holman’s ‘Romantica’ is now available through Baikal Nomads. Stream and download here.
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