"I would tell little Ozoda to start a family and live in peace." Ozoda Nursaidova on her life depicted in her music video, her regrets, and her Arab fan

“I would tell little Ozoda to get married and live a peaceful life.” Ozoda Nursaidova on her life depicted in her music video, her regrets, and her Arab fan

Honored Artist of Uzbekistan, pop singer Ozoda Nursaidova gave an interview to instablogger Maryam Tillayeva. During the conversation, she spoke about how she never imagined becoming a singer in her youth, how the events in her music video, which became a hit across Central Asia and the CIS countries, were taken from her own life, and how she sometimes wishes to give it all up and live in peace.

“In my childhood, I dreamed of becoming a prosecutor”

— In my childhood, I grew up with big dreams. I wanted to be a lawyer, even a prosecutor. I never thought I would become a singer or a creative artist. After finishing school, I couldn’t get into university; I failed the exam. The following year, an event occurred that changed everything in my life. Even now, when I think about it, it feels like a fairy tale.

I had a friend who sang. Together with her, we used to go to a vocal teacher. One day, while I was waiting for my friend, her teacher asked me if I sang. When I said no, he said, "Maybe you should try." I replied that I didn't sing at all and didn't even understand it. Then he said, "Come on, sing a little before your friend arrives, let me listen." I started to sing. He accompanied me, and I followed him. Then he said, "You have talent, you could be a singer." I was surprised and said, "What are you saying, are you in your right mind?" He said it was indeed true. At first, I thought he was laughing at me. But his words that I had talent stayed in my mind.

Three months later, I entered the preparatory course of the Maqom department at the Conservatory. After studying for two years in the preparatory course, I was admitted to the first year. That was when my life changed in a completely different direction. I was a girl who wanted to be a lawyer. And today, here I am, says Ozoda Nursaidova, recalling her childhood.

“Mother, you will never feel ashamed because of me”

This is a very difficult path. You have to fight for it. I fought too. My mother dreamed of me becoming a nurse. She used to say a lot, "I don't want you to be a singer, an artist. I will marry you off." But I always said, "Mom, I will become such a person that you will be proud of me. You will never feel ashamed because of me." I even promised, "No one will ever come to our doorstep and make you feel ashamed because of me." I kept that promise.

My female colleagues who have gone through this path also know very well what it is like. In the past, society also oppressed female artists. Good families did not want them as daughters-in-law. Now, the situation has changed a lot. Today, it is becoming normal for daughters-in-law to be bloggers or artists. Because now this is not only creativity, but it has also turned into income and business, says the singer.

“My song ‘Ko‘k jiguli’ and its music video are taken from my own life”

This is my childhood, my youth. When I was 16, I was dating a guy. We used to go to the cinema together. There was a summer cinema on the street where we lived, and they showed Indian films there. We would go there and watch movies.

His father had a blue "Jiguli". Just like we showed in the music video, that guy would sneak the car out of the house. Therefore, almost all the events in the music video are taken from my life.

Even when we were shooting the music video, we kept recalling those times. He has his own family now, but sometimes when we meet, we reminisce about those days, saying, "Do you remember how we used to go to the cinema in the 'Jiguli'?" Both the events in the song and the details in the music video are from my life. Even the smallest details are real, says Ozoda Nursaidova about her famous music video.

“Young people thought I was a new singer”

— When I released the song "Ko‘k Jiguli", young people thought I was a new singer. A friend of mine told me: "My grandchild said a new singer has come out, she sang a song called 'Ko‘k Jiguli', please play it for me." When the grandchild asked for the singer's name, she said, "Ozoda." Then my friend said, "This singer used to sing when I was young too. How can she be new?"

I am talking about the younger generation. They think I am a new singer because when I stepped away from creativity for a while, they did not know or see me. Now, we have to work differently. When we started our creative work, it was a completely different generation. Their values and tastes were different. The views and interests of today's generation have changed significantly. Therefore, we are also trying to adapt to the times. We study their interests and harmonize them with our work. Of course, we will continue to search for this, she says.

“My stylist selects my clothes for a month”

The singer also spoke about the designers and stylist who work on her outfits.

— I have a stylist. He sometimes comes and makes a schedule of my outfits for a month. In daily life, I sometimes choose my clothes myself. They prepare the clothes and hang them on hangers, and I choose the ones I like. If I don't like something, I decide myself. What I wear for weddings and my looks for photo shoots are also chosen by separate specialists. But still, everything comes from my own desire.

For example, if I want to shoot a music video, I already have some image in my mind beforehand. And they make this image even more perfect.

Professionals work on my stage image. I have been cooperating with them for three years. I worked with stylists before too, but later I changed my style. Now I am working with specialists in Europe. And now I also want to work with Suhrob Muratov. Negotiations are underway in this regard, and if all goes well, we will start cooperating next year, says Ozoda Nursaidova about her designers.

If you met little Ozoda now, what would you say to her?

— "Hey, little girl, go, get married, live a peaceful life," I would say. Of course, this is a joke. But sometimes, looking back at my life, there are times when I feel none of this was necessary. At the same time, I do not regret the path I have traveled. It's just that sometimes I want to give up everything and live peacefully. If there were such an opportunity, I would tell little Ozoda, "Go, get married, live a peaceful life," says Ozoda Nursaidova.

“An Arab border guard told me he was my fan”

— The most unexpected person who told me he was my fan was an Arab border guard at Dubai airport. One day, when I was passing through the Dubai border, the border guard stopped me, looked at my passport, and asked, "Are you Ozoda Nursaidova?" I said, "Yes." At that moment, I got scared, thinking they were going to lock me up.

Then, with a serious face, he asked, "Are you a singer?" I said "Yes" again. Then he said, "I love your songs." I was in shock. Saying "I love your song," he even sang two or three of my songs. He liked my song "Sevgilim" the most. To be honest, I didn't even know what to say in that situation, the singer recalls the unexpected situation.