Silk Road Secret Agents is Discotchari’s monthly debriefing of music that highlights the fusion of musical movements around the world and throughout the ages with ethnic identities rooted in the diverse Silk Road region. We also dive deep into the history of artists whose life stories and music evoke dramatic cinema fit for Tarantino, Kiarostami, Wong Kar-Wai, Youssef Chahine and other legendary directors. These artists often times relied on their musical talent to navigate complex social structures, unite people from different backgrounds, and preserve their ethnic roots by reimagining them in new forms: inspiring the name “Silk Road Secret Agents”.

The basis of the Silk Road’s influence was local demand and appreciation for foreign supply of spices, materials, knowledge and all other tangible forms of culture. Alongside our radio show, we bring these values into the real world by playing and promoting live events featuring local talent who collectively embody the second metaphor of “Silk Road Secret Agents”: music selectors and artists acting as ambassadors and creators of international dance and roots music that is embedded with traditions catering to multinational audiences commonly found in cities with rich social fabric.

One of the lesser-known clubbing destinations in the South Caucasus, Yerevan is home to a rich spectrum of electronic talent that often goes overlooked as international headliners dominate the spotlight. I’ve been part of the city’s electronic music scene since late 2000s, first as a devoted clubgoer, and later as a DJ, witnessing firsthand the rise and fall of venues and promoters, the shifting eras of sound, and the deeply human stories unfolding along the way. Within this close-knit underground community, I’ve seen couples meet and part, friendships evolve, and entirely new families form on dance floors and in afterparties. For some, this scene is a second home. For others, it’s a rare space of release, a place to momentarily escape the weight of everyday life. This series is dedicated to highlighting the artists who are shaping the distinct character and evolving sound of Yerevan’s electronic music landscape.

– Anaïs Gyulbudaghyan (PAWS)