On April 2, as part of the Voice Beyond Horizon show, Dimash premiered his original composition “Living for the Game.” The track, written specifically for the project, was performed in English and Chinese. In the fall of 2025, after filming episodes in Almaty, Dimash also performed the new song during his solo concerts in New York, Mexico City, Barcelona, London, Berlin, and Riga.

DimashNews spoke with his co-writers Candice Kelly and Dmitry Gordon, both familiar to fans of the Kazakh artist through their previous collaborations on several tracks.

CANDICE KELLY – LYRICIST

Fans of Dimash are already familiar with two songs for which you wrote the lyrics. How does “Living for the Game” compare to them, and how is it different?

— I like to call this song “The Game” for short. It has a completely different vibe compared to “When I’ve Got You,” but in terms of lyrical content, it is closer to “Smoke.” Both songs carry a similar “single, free-spirited guy” energy — someone who can’t be tamed.

Did Dimash give you a specific concept for the lyrics, or did you have creative freedom? How did the process work?

— Dimash is always very generous and allows me to write freely. I think he trusts me when it comes to shaping his overall artistic image. He and Dmitry started working on the track with a powerful bass line and a strong melodic idea, and I came in to connect everything through lyrics.

For you personally, is life a game, or is that just a lyrical concept and not a reflection of your own worldview?

— Personally, I don’t think life is a game… unless you happen to be the one being played (laughs).

DMITRY GORDON – PRODUCER, COMPOSER, ARRANGER

“Living for the Game” is arguably the most energetic and uplifting song you’ve worked on with Dimash. What genre would you define it as, and how does it differ from your other collaborations?

— Like our previous songs, this one is a fusion of several genres. From the very beginning, Dimash and I decided we wouldn’t limit ourselves to a single style. I would describe it as a cross between funk, rock, and pop, although it originally started with a K-pop concept.

But during the creative process, especially after Dimash wrote the chorus melody, things shifted. The song initially began with a verse that felt very K-pop-oriented, but after the chorus was written, we hit a small dilemma. Dimash suggested rewriting the chorus to fit the K-pop direction as well, but I felt it would be a mistake to alter such an energetic hook. In the end, we decided to let the verse and chorus coexist organically, while adding a touch of rock to the chorus. For the final chorus, I made the drums heavier, which gave it an even stronger rock feel.

What makes this song different? It’s truly full of energy – very catchy. Both the melody and Candice’s lyrics are easy to remember. Overall, it feels like a celebration.

Could you share some details about the arrangement — what instruments and techniques were used, and why?

— Everything started with the bass line. The entire song was built from it. Before we began, I analyzed trends in the most popular songs on the American market and spoke with a friend who told me that songs with strong, clearly defined bass lines are always successful in the U.S. I shared this with Dimash and suggested starting from the bass.

Other instruments were then built around the vocals and that foundation. We used electric bass, acoustic drums, various percussion elements including vocal “click” sounds, which Dimash improvised during vocal demo recordings. These were captured on the spot and can be heard at certain moments in the track. We also used electric guitars, synthesizers, background choirs, and brass instruments.

When working on songs, do you imagine any cinematic interpretation of the story? Did you see the music video for this song at the New York concert, and did it match your vision?

— I didn’t have specific visual images while working on the song. My approach was more abstract, as the melody itself was so vivid that it filled everything on its own.

In the end, the video perfectly matched the atmosphere of the song and emphasized its spirit without distracting from it. It felt completely organic. Dimash performing effortlessly with his dance team exactly what was needed.