When Georgian electronic producer kordz rediscovered the music of his childhood, one song in particular caught his imagination: Mtvareo, performed by Georgian legend Nani Bregvadze in the 1973 film Veris Ubnis Melodiebi. For years, he experimented with reinterpreting it in different styles. The chance to take the idea further came unexpectedly, when Nani’s grandson invited him to collaborate with her. kordz recounts the creative journey that followed: sessions in Nani’s living room, the “last stand” when he finally showed her one of his Mtvareo sketches, and how their partnership blossomed into a live performance at the Tbilisi Open Air festival and a hit music video.
kordz’s story explores what it means to create something new from an existing musical work. Reinterpreting a song can involve , and or rights—and may require permission from the relevant . kordz reflects on the questions producers face: “As producers, we often run into questions—what is legal? Who do we have to ask?” For him, the starting point is personal: he chooses to work with music he feels a genuine connection to. His collaboration with Nani became both a meeting of generations in Georgian popular music and a meaningful memory for the two artists.
As producers, we often run into questions—what is legal? Who do we have to ask?