This week, editor Yousef Bardouka and culture and features editor Xandie (Alexandra) Kuenning took over the Caucasus Digest to speak with Kordz, a Georgian musician and producer, about his work, the making of his last album with his mother, Tamriko Kordzaia, and the cancellation of his concert in Gori following a smear campaign by the ruling Georgian Dream party. Read more: Kordz concert cancelled over ‘security concerns’ after smear campaign by Georgian Dream Here's a video of the Artarea show Kordz performed and said was one of his earliest performances. Recommendations from Kordz, Yousef, and Xandie: Kordz has recommended that listeners check out Goat Niko , a young freestyle rapper from Georgia who regularly posts videos on TikTok. Yousef has recommended the album ‘ Nejeguje ’ by Circassian multi-instrumentalist Astemir Marshenkulov. Xandie has recommended Aka Morchiladze’s 2007 novel, ‘Of Old Hearts and Sword’, which she recently reviewed a new 2025 English translation of for OC Media’s culture section. Songs featured courtesy of Kordz: Kordz, DRO, Dilla of KayaKata — ICO Kordz — AntiGeorgianDreamAnthem Kordz & DRO — Shish Kebab Requiem If you enjoyed this episode and would like to hear more culture on the Caucasus Digest, we’d love to hear from you! Please e-mail us at podcasts@oc-media.org . And don’t forget to sign up for our Culture Dispatch , a bi-weekly newsletter with book, film, and music recommendations from the Caucasus. Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: Join today .