“DJing is my hobby.” First Deputy Minister of Education on his interest in electronic music

“DJing is my favorite hobby.” On the First Deputy Minister of Education's interest in electronic music

After Oybek Yuldashev was appointed as First Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on October 20, his 2024 performance at the "Stikhiya" electronic music festival sparked widespread discussion on social networks. Many welcomed his interest in DJing positively.

In an interview given to a Gazeta reporter on October 27 following the opening ceremony of the InnoWeek-2026 international week of innovative ideas, he talked about how his interest in electronic music began, his DJing activities, and how much time he will be able to dedicate to this hobby in his new position.

Oybek Yuldashev's interest in electronic music began in 1997 with the track "9 PM (Till I Come)" by German DJ Andre Tanneberger, performing under the alias ATB, and his 1999 album Movin' Melodies. At that time, a music compilation brought by his cousin introduced him to the trance genre.

"At first, listening to trance music, I gradually began to collect my own collection. Over time, I realized that this was not just music, but a separate world with its own culture, aesthetics, and inner logic," Yuldashev says.

During his master's studies in England in 2001–2002, his musical interests expanded further. Meeting students from different countries allowed him to discover house and other genres of electronic music.

The work of DJs such as Paul Oakenfold, Sasha, John Digweed, Hernan Cattaneo, Dave Seaman, and Nick Warren, as well as compilations from Renaissance and Global Underground, influenced the formation of his musical taste.

"During that period, I began to understand a DJ set not just as a sequence of tracks, but as a complete musical journey with a beginning, development, and climax," he says.

Yuldashev began learning to DJ during his studies in England. In 2001, his Greek friends bought him a six-channel mixer and taught him how to use it. Connecting a Walkman CD player and a music system to the mixer, he practiced beatmatching tracks.

Later, his interests broadened from trance to progressive house, techno, minimal, and electronic music with a deeper atmosphere. He also began searching for music not only through artists, but through labels that shaped specific genres.

Labels such as Bedrock, Sudbeat, Selador, Lost & Found, Anjunadeep, Mango Alley, and Balance, artists like Guy J and Quivver, as well as projects like Kiasmos and Apparat, influenced his musical taste.

"For me, it is important not to be limited to one genre, but to search for my own unique sound and mood at the intersection of progressive music, electronica, and deep techno," he says.

Yuldashev does not consider himself a professional DJ. He engages in independently searching for, collecting music, and preparing mixes at home. In English, this format is called a bedroom DJ.

"To be honest, I don't consider myself a professional DJ. I am more of a person who sits at home, searches for electronic music, collects it, and independently learns DJing. This is a serious hobby for me," he said.

In 2024, Yuldashev was invited to perform at the "Stikhiya" festival. According to him, this invitation was an opportunity to test himself.

"I would like to express my huge gratitude for inviting me and showing trust. For me, the most important thing is to share the new music I've found, tracks that others haven't heard yet, with people," he says.

Besides the festival, Yuldashev also plays music at various events at the invitation of friends. Music for him is not only a way to relax, but also a tool for concentrating and recharging. In his opinion, DJing experience is also useful in professional activity: in both, one needs to properly organize the process, feel the time, and be able to highlight key points.

Yuldashev does not aim to turn DJing into a profession. For him, the main essence of this activity is to introduce listeners to new music.

"A DJ's job is not just to play popular tracks, but to open up music to people that they haven't heard yet. If a listener discovers new music during a set, then that in itself is a great result," he says.

Following his appointment as First Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, new tasks appeared before Yuldashev. He stated that how much time he will be able to dedicate to his hobby will depend on the workflow and family circumstances.

"We have just started work. There are many tasks ahead of me, and I am grateful for the trust shown. As for how much I will be able to engage in DJing, we will see depending on work and family circumstances," he says.

During the interview, he was also asked about another piece of information circulating on social networks — his relation to the poet Gafur Gulyam. "I am the son of Gafur Gulyam's youngest daughter, that is, his grandson," says Oybek Yuldashev.

As a reminder, prior to becoming First Deputy Minister, Oybek Yuldashev worked as Director of Public Sector, Infrastructure, and ESG Consulting Practice at PwC Uzbekistan.