On January 30, 2025, as his fan community celebrated its anniversary, Dimash announced the long-awaited premiere of his new song, Love’s Not Over Yet, set for release on March 7.

Ahead of its debut, DimashNews spoke with the song’s creators: American producer and two-time Grammy winner Walter Afanasieff, French composer Flavien Compagnon and arranger and composer Dmytro Gordon.

The story of Love’s Not Over Yet began in 2017 when French songwriters Flavien Compagnon and Dominique Bourse composed it specifically for Dimash. Fans first got a glimpse of the song during a rehearsal in China, as Dimash’s voice filled the room with a brand-new melody.

Flavien Compagnon shared with us the story of how he met Dimash and how it all began:

“In 2017, I came across Dimash’s performance on Facebook and immediately left a message, hoping someone could introduce us. I was eager to work with him, and my friend Andrey Ivanov connected me with his management. That’s how we first met on Le Plus Grand Cabaret du Monde, a show by Patrick Sébastien. Meeting Dimash was incredible—not just for me but for him as well, since he is a fan of Lara Fabian and Céline Dion. He was intrigued by the idea of working together.

I later told my friend and business partner Dominique Bourse about Dimash and suggested we write a song that would showcase his extraordinary vocal range, much like S.O.S. D’un Terrien En Detresse. We sat down at the piano, searching for a chorus that seemed almost impossible to sing (laughs)—one that only Dimash could pull off.

As I stayed in touch with Dimash, I introduced him to my best friend, Thierry Martino, who organizes events for Eva Longoria’s Global Gift Foundation each year. Thierry, who also works with Lara Fabian and appreciates powerful voices, was captivated by Dimash’s talent. He introduced him to Eva Longoria, and at the Global Gift Gala in Paris, Dimash performed All By Myself. The entire audience rose to their feet in applause. It was an unforgettable moment—hearing Dimash sing live was simply breathtaking.”

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In 2017, a demo version of the song was sent to Walter Afanasieff for production. Years passed, and both the song and Dimash himself evolved. We asked the creators if the final version differs from the original concept.

“Flavien and Dominique shared their initial idea with me back in 2017, but over time, many things changed—the sound, the arrangement, the harmonies. The song took on a whole new shape. Finally, Devon Graves wrote the lyrics, and that’s how the song became what it is today,” said Walter Afanasieff.

“The song evolved over the years. Maestro Walter Afanasieff wanted to make changes to the chorus, and he also composed a stunning bridge,” added Flavien Compagnon.

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Three years later, in 2020, amidst global challenges, the orchestral recording took place at La Seine Musicale in Paris.

When asked about the genre of Love’s Not Over Yet, Walter Afanasieff categorized it as pop-classical.

Authors also shared insights into the orchestration process:

“I always create an orchestral demo before we move on to the actual recording. I first had my own version of how I envisioned it. Then, my arranger, Dmytro Gordon, transcribed it into a proper score for the orchestra to play.

Due to the pandemic, it was difficult to arrange a live recording, but Flavien and Dominique coordinated with the Paris Opera to make it happen. We recorded remotely via Zoom—I was in Los Angeles, and they were in Paris—but the results exceeded my expectations. I love how it sounds.”

Flavien Compagnon added:

“Walter created breathtaking orchestral arrangements! The pandemic made it difficult—every musician was wearing a mask. It was a unique and challenging experience for all of us.

Walter supervised the recording remotely, while the orchestra was conducted by Brice Davoli, a renowned French composer. Dominique and I were overjoyed that we managed to organize these orchestral recordings. It was a magical moment that will stay with us forever.”

Dmytro Gordon:

“I had been familiar with the song from the very beginning since I was working with Walter in Los Angeles in 2017. One day, Walter told us that an extraordinary singer from Kazakhstan with a one-of-a-kind voice would be joining us.

When he played S.O.S. D’un Terrien En Detresse, we were all left in awe. Then Dimash arrived, and he and Walter performed a snippet of the new song together.

In 2020, I was involved more on the technical side, assisting Walter with the arrangement. The orchestral parts had already been written, and my role was to adapt them for a live orchestra and make sure they sounded exactly as the composer envisioned.”

The lyrics for Love’s Not Over Yet were written by Devon Graves, who worked with the finalized music. Flavien Compagnon shared how it all came together:

“Seven years ago, when Dimash came to perform at a UNESCO event, I had the chance to book a studio to record a demo of the song with his voice. But there was one problem—I had no lyrics.

The night before the session, I called my friend, songwriter Devon Graves. She had written for various artists and, without hesitation, agreed to help.

The next day, Dimash recorded the demo, and it was a remarkable moment. We were in the studio of my friend Florent Bidoyen, who works with many artists, including the famous tenor Vincent Niclo. Florent gave us access to his studio on incredibly short notice. It was a true last-minute operation, and I’m deeply grateful to my friends for their support—without them, this song might never have seen the light of day.

Years later, Walter asked Devon to make some lyrical adjustments, and the song took its final shape.”

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Considering Dimash’s deep involvement in the creative process of every song he performs, we asked Walter Afanasieff about the final recording session in Los Angeles during Dimash’s creative residency.

“Working with Dimash was incredibly smooth. He understood exactly how to deliver the song. He is a perfectionist and captured my vision flawlessly. He handled it brilliantly.

Of course, there were some challenges since English isn’t his first language. Pronunciation was crucial for this song, so we worked on that extensively.

We have written one of the most beautiful yet incredibly difficult songs to perform. Dimash is literally the only singer who could pull off Love’s Not Over Yet. He delivered it masterfully—absolutely outstanding! Bravo, Dimash, you are the best!”

Dmytro Gordon was present at Dimash’s vocal recording session. Around the same time, the team was also working in Los Angeles on Dimash’s original compositions, some of which have already been released.

When asked which of Dimash’s songs resonate with him most as a composer and arranger, Dmytro replied:

“As a child, I loved classical crossover music, so Love’s Not Over Yet is exactly the kind of song I would have listened to back then. Today, I work across multiple genres as a composer and producer.

I was fortunate that Dimash entrusted me with producing three of his songs: When I’ve Got You, Smoke, and Fire. They are all very different—experimental, unlike the rest of his repertoire.

I find Dimash fascinating in every aspect. I believe he embodies the very best of what music has to offer, regardless of genre.”

In conclusion, we asked Flavien Compagnon if anything had changed since he first met Dimash in 2017 until their recent meeting in Paris. After all, eight years have passed…

“For me, Dimash is still the same — my brother, as he calls me. We’re like two brothers. I’ve always tried to support this incredibly talented musician, and I can’t wait to see him perform our song live after all these years of waiting! I truly hope that after this, we’ll have the chance to work together again and release more music,” the composer shared with eager anticipation.

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2025… After a long journey and gaining countless fans from the very start, the song “Love’s Not Over Yet” is finally ready to meet the world. This grand piece, carrying all the hallmarks of a cinematic masterpiece, naturally couldn’t go without a music film inspired by its stunning soundtrack.

On March 7, “Love’s Not Over Yet” will be released on all music platforms, and the premiere of Dimash Qudaibergen’s new music video will take place on his official YouTube channel.
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