By Dilyara Lindsay
Zhantemir Baimukhamedov, known as Jantik, visited London,United Kingdom, as the leader of his musical group and a well‑known musician and songwriter. He shared that his path to music began in childhood. He grew up in a family where music was a living presence, not just something heard on the radio. His father, who played guitar, was considered the first “Elvis of Almaty and Kazakhstan” in the 1960s. While studying in Moscow, his father lived among foreign students and brought home tapes of contemporary Western music—Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and many others. These sounds shaped Junior’s early musical world.
He studied in music school, sang in a choir, and later entered university to study history with a specialization in English. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs selected him for diplomatic training, sending him to the Diplomatic Academy in London in 1993. He returned, completed his studies, and joined the Ministry as an interpreter and attaché. He later worked as the assistant to the Malaysian Ambassador in Kazakhstan. After several years in diplomacy, he decided to leave the field and pursue music full‑time.
His music career began in 1996, when he joined the newly established national TV channel Khabar and produced the youth program High‑Five Front, often described as a Kazakh version of MTV. Over the years, he formed a band and performed more than 3,500 gigs as both singer and master of ceremonies.
His upcoming vinyl release carries symbolic ties to the Silk Road. British musical heritage has always influenced him deeply, as he grew up listening to the tapes his father brought home. As a teenager, he and his friends imitated British bands such as The Beatles, The Animals, The Rolling Stones, Supergrass, Oasis, and The Stone Roses, while he simultaneously developed his own songwriting. This long creative journey eventually led to the release of an album recorded with renowned producer Stuart Epps at Abbey Road Studios—a dream he had carried since youth. The album contains 14 songs.
He described British music as having three major waves of influence: the first British Invasion of the 1960s with bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Animals, The Who, and many others; the second wave with groups such as Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin; and the third wave of the 1990s with bands like Oasis, Supergrass, and The Stone Roses. All these eras shaped his musical identity, and traces of their sound can be heard in his new album.
He expressed deep gratitude to the Embassy of Kazakhstan in London for organizing an excellent press conference, attended by diplomats and members of the Eurasian Creative Guild, where he serves as an ambassador. He appreciated their support and the warm reception he received. He also thanked Marat Akhmedjanov and the representatives of the Eurasian Creative Guild in the UK for their assistance.
He noted that producing the album required significant financial investment—more than the cost of a luxury car—and emphasized the importance of securing future support or sponsorship to bring his band to the UK, especially to perform at the Glastonbury Festival, a long‑held dream.
He spoke about his commitment to supporting young talent. He believes gifted young musicians deserve a stage and shared that he has created a school to give them real‑world experience in the music industry. He acknowledged the challenges of the profession, explaining that success requires exceptional dedication and the ability to stand out.
He affirmed his intention to place Kazakhstan on the global music map. By creating this album, he feels he has added a Kazakh branch to the great musical “tree” planted by The Beatles—hoping it will take root, grow, and flourish. His work does not incorporate traditional folk elements; instead, it joins and contributes to the broader legacy of British musical culture.
