Spanish journalist and devoted Dimash fan Yolanda Garcia presents an exclusive interview with the Kazakhstani artist in Galicia’s highest-circulation daily newspaper:

“Dimash Qudaibergen, the Kazakh artist who made the whole world fall in love with him: ‘I owe everything to my family and my fans.’”
The global star from Kazakhstan had always dreamed of shaking the world with his voice. Today, he fills stadiums and draws fans from over 80 countries to his breathtaking concerts. This year, for the first time, he will perform in Spain.

Once upon a time in Kazakhstan, there was a little boy who would draw pictures of himself performing on stage and fall asleep with his fingers tucked into cassette tape slots, listening to music. That boy grew up to be Dimash Qudaibergen (born in Aqtobe, 1994), a child of singers, who made his stage debut at just five years old.

In 2015 and 2017, he won two major competitions: the first in Belarus, and then *Singer* in China. Today, he draws concertgoers from more than 80 countries thanks to his devoted fans, whom he lovingly calls “Dears,” who follow him across the globe. Through him, they discover his homeland and its culture. Some even go so far as to learn the Kazakh language.

Following his visit to Barcelona on June 1, Dimash granted his first interview to a Spanish-language publication to mark his upcoming debut concert in Spain, which will take place on November 8 at the Olympic Arena in Badalona. This show will launch the European leg of his Stranger 2025 tour. Before that, in October, he will fulfill a dream by performing at New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden.

At the recent Shanghai Film Festival, he performed “Hymne à l’amour,” once again showcasing the breathtaking vocal range he had already demonstrated in “SOS d’un terrien en détresse,” one of his most iconic songs.

Dimash also writes original music in several languages, including the Spanish-language ballad “El Amor En Ti.” It took him three years to complete his most ambitious project, The Story of One Sky, a powerful call for life and peace.

What were your impressions about your firsr official visit to Spain and about the atmosphere of the event “D&Dears”?

First of all, let me thank you for the invitation and extend my warmest greetings to all the Dears in Spain. Barcelona is incredible, so vibrant and beautiful. I truly hope that when we return for the concert in the fall, I’ll get a chance to learn more about your country. Initially, the plan was to hold a press conference ahead of my first solo concert here. But then we thought: ‘Why not open it up to the Dears as well? Maybe they’d like to ask something too’. That’s how it turned into a combination of a press conference and a fan meeting. I hope the audience enjoyed it as much as I did. The atmosphere was very warm and cozy.

Some fans narrated hoy their lives changed after hearing your voice and listening to your music. Was there some story that touched you in particular?

That’s an interesting question… [pauses] I can’t say that one specific story comes to mind right away. But I’ve often heard people talk about the first song they heard, the first video they saw. Just like I remember the face of my very first fan in China, whom I met after my debut on Singer. It’s humbling to know that your music reaches people on such a deep level. It really makes you reflect on the responsibility you carry as an artist. Sometimes I think it’s divine timing, when everything aligns just right in one place and moment.

How important has your family’s emotional support been in your career, especially your singer parents and your grandmother, who used to take you to music school every day?

My family is truly unique. Both the older generation, my grandparents, and my parents have always supported me. They never tried to steer me away from the path I chose very early in life, and I’m endlessly grateful for that. When a child sees encouragement and support in the eyes of someone close, it gives them wings. Even now, at what one might call a ‘serious’ age, I still find joy in their smiles and praise, and I take their advice to heart. Of course, I’ve always made my own decisions, but their opinions remain very important to me.

On stage and off, you seem like two very different people. What’s your secret to balancing those two worlds?

As Shakespeare said: “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” I think everyone shifts depending on their role, at work, at home, in different situations. That’s what keeps life interesting. When I go on stage, I step into different lives, stories that don’t always reflect my own. I wouldn’t say I change when I leave the stage; I’m still me. One story ends, another begins. That’s all.

You’re undeniably a multi-artist, a true polymath. You sing in more than 10 languages, across genres including rap, you dance, compose, do stunts, play instruments, direct videos, write songs, produce, work on a dissertation in music, act, and you’re possibly the best tourism ambassador Kazakhstan has ever had… Is there anything you can’t do?

[Laughs] Do you have a large notebook? If I start listing things, like cooking, for example, you might run out of pages. But I suppose you mean professionally. The key is not to confine yourself. Just because you graduate with a degree in composition doesn’t mean you should only write music. I’m genuinely interested in many aspects of art. When I come up with a melody, I often start to imagine lyrics, a storyline for the music video, a stage concept. I hear the instruments coming together into an arrangement. If you want to realize your ideas in your own way, you have to be involved in many parts of the process.

How challenging is the creative process for you, from the initial idea to releasing a new song?

It’s not so much difficult as it is multi-layered. Many people are involved, and the original idea often changes over time. Circumstances shift, your inner world evolves, and suddenly you find yourself revising it twice, three times… Eighteen times.

What was it like working with Igor Krutoy, Renat Gaissin, Walter Afanasieff, or singing with legends like Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, Lara Fabian, and Hauser? Are there any other musicians or composers you’d love to collaborate with?

I’ve been performing for 26 years now. I’ve taken part in various concerts, projects, and competitions. These days, I often serve as a jury member rather than a contestant. Over the years, I’ve had the incredible honor of working with so many talented people, artists I could only dream of meeting as a child. Sometimes, in the middle of the creative whirlwind, I pause and think: “Is this really happening?”. I won’t reveal too much just yet, but if everything works out as planned, there’s a new kazakh-chinese project in development where I’ll be a producer. It may involve collaboration with some very well-known global artists.

Many people talk about your vocal range and technique. But how important is it for you to sing with soul?

To be honest, I don’t even understand how it could be any other way. Without soul, it’s just exercises in solfège, and even those can be emotional. For me, it’s crucial to deliver the music in a way that touches people. The audience shouldn’t leave thinking about vocal ranges or octaves. They should remember the emotions, the energy, the connection. That’s my goal: to let them step into another universe for a while.

Just recently, while judging the Virtuosos project, I advised some of the young performers to work on the acting aspect of their performances. I believe it’s essential in any form of art. Of course, technique matters too. It allows for seamless delivery. As we say in Kazakhstan: “Ermek quğan päläge jolığadı, enbek quğan qazınağa jolığadı” (“He who seeks idle entertainment finds trouble; he who works hard finds treasure”).

What does success mean to you?

It’s not easy to define. It’s certainly not money or power. For me, success means contributing to something greater than myself, my country, my people. Using the opportunities I have to support those in need, to promote culture, to remind the world that peace and dialogue are always possible. That, to me, is real success.

Do you believe that music can change the world and people’s lives?

I absolutely do. A living example is my beloved Dears. Because of music, they come together from all over the world, sit side by side at concerts, and sing along with me in multiple languages.

How do you see yourself in 2055?

We’ll see when we get there.