Ay Yola (Music Group)

Ay Yola is a multidisciplinary musical group that draws inspiration from the epic of Ural Batyr, structuring each of its works as a “chapter” of this ancient narrative. Ay Yola presents its performances as multimedia experiences, blending traditional Bashkir instruments—the kuray, kubız, and dombra—with electronic rhythms, guitar arrangements, and powerful beats to immerse the audience in the world of legend.

Objective and Mission

Ay Yola’s goal is to connect younger generations with Russia’s rich cultural heritage, bringing the epic of Ural Batyr to contemporary audiences while making visible timeless principles such as justice, family values, love of homeland, and tolerance through art. The group defines itself as a “bridge between past and present.”

Origin of the Name and Theme

The term “Ay Yola” in Bashkir means “universal laws, order, the rules of the cosmos” and emphasizes universal values such as “do not kill, do not steal, respect the elder, protect the young.” At the heart of the project lies the philosophy of Ural Batyr, which explores the themes of life and death, good and evil, and immortality through the stories of three generations of heroes. Each work reinterprets a chapter of the epic through contemporary dance production and original texts.

Musical Style and Staging

The oral and melodic tradition of Ural Batyr, historically transmitted by säsnä (bards), is continued in Ay Yola through a modern sonic universe. The music is woven together with synthesizers and guitar riffs, anchored by the kuray, kubız, and dombra; in some performances, the kyl kubız, keyboards, and bass guitar are also featured. The staging connects the epic’s chapters into a cohesive audiovisual musical experience. Through music, the audience witnesses Akbuzat’s descent, Ural Batyr’s battle against the serpent Ugez in the land of darkness, and journeys steeped in ancient Turkic motifs.

Members

Rinat Ramazanov: A renowned musician from Bashkortostan and founder and lead vocalist of the ethnic group Argymak. He conveys the project’s values and conceptual framework and carries forward the traditional core of its sonic world.

Adel Shaykhitdinova: Singer and songwriter. Plays the dombra and guitar.

Ruslan Shaykhitdinov (DJ Ruslan Sever): Producer. Plays keyboards, bass guitar, and kyl kubız. Responsible for the overall sound design of the project’s modern electronic and ethnic synthesis.