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🌐 Disco 🅧 Քոչարի 🧿
Modernizing ancient roots w/ music you’ve never heard and timeless lifestyle products. Come kef with us!

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27/08/2024

We want to give our deepest thanks to everybody who has been a part of Silk Road Secret Agents this past year one way or another; whether you’ve been listening to our radio programs, attending our live events, or sharing your personal journeys of discovery with us, we owe a lot to you sharing the passion with us for underexposed dance music from the crossroads of the world.

Our next SRSA set will be live today at 10:00 from the studio and dedicated to contemporary SWANA artists you should know about. Take notes - you just might see these artists at a SRSA event near you in the future!

23/07/2024

Tune into today at 10:00am PST for a very special episode of Silk Road Secret Agents: environmental, experimental, and electronic Japanese ambient imports - with the obi sleeves!

Speaking of obi sleeves, the commercial head-rush of city pop music in Japan was naturally followed by a musical movement emphasizing balance and harmony with natural surroundings; guided by the ancient Japanese principle of “nagomi”. This show highlights the influences of 80s environmental music on the full scope of electronic genres that emerged in Japan throughout the 90s; produced by industry legends, political activists, and future stars from the underground. Listen in for a tour through all of Japan’s unique soundscapes, from lush forests and crashing waves to imposing skyscrapers and rhythmic metro lines.

04/07/2024

Ruben Bedrosov, a prominent Armenian artist, specialized in ex libris, an ancient graphic technique involving wood engraving. He created over 100 bookplates, some of which are held by the National Gallery of Armenia and the State Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow. Bedrosov's work often included elements of Armenian folklore, blending mythological creatures with contemporary themes. His works often featured national Armenian motifs, including ornaments and landscapes. The illustrations here are from his work on the 1962 book "Matenadaran" where he combined traditional ex libris techniques to replicate the original miniatures from Matenadaran 📜✨⚜️

24/06/2024

Low stock alert 🚨 🚨 Our “Something Different” 45rpm EP from John Bilezikjian & Raja Zahr is almost sold out! Don’t miss your chance to grab this limited edition gem before it’s gone. Hurry and secure your copy now! 🏃‍♂️💨

28/05/2024

Tune in to today at 9am PST for the next episode of Silk Road Secret Agents 📻

The 90s/00s were a renaissance for global dance music as international stars enjoyed mainstream success and pop artists such as Sting made ethnic collaborations into chart-topping hits. Parallel to the growing internet and a more globalized world, fusion genres such as “goa trance” and “world beat” emerged as beacons of the next millennium and, for better or worse, a new chapter for the human race. This set captures the blossoming electronic inspiration of the Y2K era from producers all over the world, imagining the future by synthesizing the past with the present.

08/05/2024

Recap of our all-vinyl, all-night-long extravaganza at last week, special thanks again to and .wav for dropping some true gems from around the world and thanks again to our incredible community ✨

The next Silk Road Secret Agents rendezvous will be in August and well worth the wait! Stay tuned….

29/04/2024

Armenian records from around the world 🇺🇸🇦🇲🇺🇾🇱🇧🇫🇷 Dig these international rare grooves and more at our next Silk Road Secret Agents event this Friday: an all-vinyl, all-night-long extravaganza at alongside fellow vinyl connoisseurs and .wav ✨ Prepare to be taken on a magic carpet ride through legendary trade routes of cultural exchange via the most irresistible dance music that has stood the test of time 🗺️

28/03/2024

Two more days until our epic afters set at .nyc Nowrouz this Friday at 🎉 Here’s more Persian-Armenian inspiration courtesy of Sarkis Katchadourian’s illustrations to accompany the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam! These paintings from Katchadourian were commissioned by Grosset & Dunlap for their English translation of The Rubaiyat by Omar Khayyam in 1946, and their corresponding quatrains are provided below:

1: #12
“A book of Verses underneath the Bough,
A Jug of Wine, A Loaf of Bread - and Thou
Beside me singing in the Wilderness -
Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow!”

2: #35
“Then to the Lip of this poor earthen Urn
I lean’d, the Secret of my Life to learn:
And Lip to Lip it murmur’d - “While you live,
Drink! - for, once dead, you never shall return.” “

3: #50
“A Hair perhaps divides the False and True,
Yes; and a single Alif were the clue -
Could you but find it - to the Treasure-house,
And peradventure to The Master too;”

4: #67
“Heav’n but the Vision of fulfill’d Desire,
And Hell the Shadow from a Soul on fire,
Cast on the Darkness into which Ourselves,
So late emerged from, shall so soon expire.”

5: Biography of Sarkis Katchadourian

6: Cover of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, Grosset & Dunlap (1946)

27/03/2024

SAVE THE DATE 🗓️ The next Silk Road Secret Agents rendezvous is Friday, May 3rd at and it’s an all vinyl - all night long extravaganza with two of LA’s most distinguished record collectors 🪩

For over a decade, Bei Ru has been a multi-genre producer, composer, DJ and vocalist supporting DIY and A-list talent, inside and out of the Armenian diaspora. His 2010 mixtape debut “Little Armenia” gained a cult following soon after release and he received his first film credits in 2014 for the score of “A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night”; in the same month of the film’s premiere he released his highly anticipated follow-up to “Little Armenia”; a concept album as a live recording from a nightclub in another dimension called “Saturday Night at The Magic Lamp”. Since then, Bei Ru’s discography has encapsulated all of LA’s cultural influences from independent hip-hop and immigrant communities to “canyon sound” pop music, realizing these aspects through sequel concept albums (recently “Diaspora Dreams”) and sharpening his idiosyncratic style in the 7-volume “Good Hummus” mixtape series. Walking his own path, he’s lended his skills to Roc Marciano, Krista Marina, Seven Davis Jr., Sebu Simonian and many more.

Passionfruit is more cultural steward than music producer; she is a music history authority and, alongside her practice of engaging people with compelling selections she’s produced conferences and festivals for blue-chip companies from Google to Apple and progressive organizers including Afropunk and SXSW. Her modus operandi is creating spaces for connection, and her ability to knock down social barriers matches her song curation; sewing common qualities and unique nuances of artists all over the globe and throughout the ages into a vibrant cultural fabric. Her global music investigations can be read in her articles for and heard on her .fm radio show “Wabi Sabi”.

Tickets now available through link in bio, meanwhile don’t forget your Nowrouz tickets for this Friday with .nyc

26/03/2024

Our next SRSA guest mix comes from music journalist, podcast producer and archival DJ: Jackson Allers
An alumnus of the Dublab community, Jackson produced a variety of independent programs and events throughout Los Angeles for six years before moving to Beirut, where he contributed his rogue industry knowledge to create a thriving music community interested in Lebanon’s local sounds from past eras. Over a decade, he was a core member of alongside archivist selectors and , using music as a means to liberate and unite Lebanese citizens against state oppression. His unceremonious exile from Lebanon a few years ago brought him back to the United States, where he re-established himself in Houston, TX and continues to produce a variety of media on his own terms. He currently runs an independent radio station “Ice House Radio” that meanders throughout Houston via van, broadcasting curated airwaves in pop-up formats. Today he brings us a guest mix of songs that are connected to his personal travels and tribulations, many from records that he was forced to leave behind in Lebanon and physically replace through new adventures thousands of miles away.

Tune in today at 10:00 AM PST on 📡

15/03/2024

General Admission (Advance) tickets are sold out! Limited DAY OF SHOW tickets available currently on for those who didn’t get the chance to get them yesterday 🎟️

Thanks everyone for your support & see you all tonight ✨

08/03/2024

“Something Different” 45 RPM is now in select retail stores and more than halfway sold out! Get your copy now before these original mint pressings of 1970 psych-rock from Armenian and Lebanese artists are gone for good 🚀

.la

27/02/2024

Tune in to at 10:00AM PST for the next episode of Silk Road Secret Agents: Inspirations & Espionage in Jazz 🎶

The Middle East and North Africa have served as a backdrop in all prominent contexts of American jazz music, including film scores, bebop, Latin, spiritual, exotica, acid, fusion, and complete cultural crossover. Whether for pure entertainment or total sensory immersion, these recordings emulate the mystery and riches of the region; a stereotype that has been cultivated by genuine intrigue and geopolitical interests over hundreds of years. From stately ballrooms and intelligentsia cafés to ascetic studio sessions and study abroad, American jazz artists have laid the Silk Road’s austere veil of grandeur onto their listeners by means of fictional fantasy, ethnomusicology, and real-life espionage objectives. 🎷🕵🏻‍♂️

16/02/2024

Huge announcement 📢 We are going full Tehrangeles mode at the on March 29th for .nyc ’s Nowrouz party! This will be a party you absolutely don’t want to miss bring out the best of LA’s diverse communities for a night of camaraderie on the dance floor.

Come witness an unbelievable live show from local Pan-Latin supergroup Buyepongo and their music full of percussion, guitars and synthesizers that draw from South American chicas, African highlife and belly dance pop. Heater DJ sets from yours truly and local selector are guaranteed to make you wish you told your family that you already ate and weren’t hungry!

Tickets on sale now through .nyc link in bio!

31/01/2024

Today we want to feature something dear to our heart, our friends’ project in Yerevan that is representing a dynamic collective of creative minds spanning film directing, art, design, music, and fashion, dedicated to crafting compelling and shareable content. With a mission to foster connections within the creative community, they offer contemporary solutions through collaborations between businesses and local talents. Through unconventional visuals and narratives, they spotlight visionaries and unite diverse industries with social activists, redefining cultural dialogues. Dasein thrives on collaborations, bridging local and international talents, and aims to represent both established and emerging creatives investing in Armenia’s vibrant creative landscape.

24/01/2024

Join the Silk Road Secret Agents on March 15th for a very special rendezvous at where we will be gathering for a night of solidarity accompanied by roots music of the Near East. Opening vinyl set by Discotchari, followed by live performances from and 🪕

Tickets coming soon 🎟️

is a Palestinian oud virtuoso and composer from who has recorded with various contemporary artists including Ali Gatie and Elyanna. A student of Simon Shaheen and Charbel Rouhana, Clarissa is carrying traditional Arabic music into the future, and their artist collaborations are known for integrating classical maqams (scales) and taksims (improvisation) with various genres from hip-hop to electronic. Their label is a label and music publisher that represents a diverse roster of talent from the Middle East, North Africa and diaspora whose music can be heard in the award-winning Netflix series like “Mo”, Hustlers on HBO, Ubisoft video game “Assassin’s Creed Mirage” and elsewhere in entertainment media. Additionally, Levantine Music is a leader in the Middle East and North Africa new age genre, creating wellness music with middle-eastern elements.

are an Armenian folk ensemble visiting from Boston, Massachusetts – where one of the first Armenian-American diaspora communities was created in the late 19th century. In the spirit of other East Coast artists like John Berberian and Artie Barsamian, their music is a time capsule from the Ottoman Empire: a former melting pot of Armenian, Greek, Assyrian, Kurdish, Turkic and other origins. Their performances revive the historical Western Armenian character; transcendent rhythms and melodies personified through a unique dialect influenced by cultural exchange. This event will be their first live performance in Los Angeles!

🇵🇸

18/01/2024

This Tuesday tune in to at 10:00am for a very special guest mix from , a multi-instrumentalist specializing in Armenian woodwinds, who brings forth the entire range of his cultural identity through these instruments. As a person of mixed heritage, blending East Mediterranean and Armenian cultures, his music is always a fusion and an ongoing experiment. It is never complete, constantly evolving, always searching for something new and consistently surprising.

21/12/2023

To prioritize new releases and live events in 2024, we’ve made the difficult decision to part ways with our record pop-up inventory. We’re grateful to have had such a unique collection of records from all over the world with Tanzanian oud to Puerto Rican folk and other sounds that deserve much more attention, and thank all of you for coming out to meet, support and stay in touch with us since then.

The good news is that our formerly “World Famous World Section” can now be found at one of our favorite indie music shops in LA: ! We’ve found plenty of wantlist material from them over the years and like us they have a commitment to obscure global sounds. We’re confident that these records will make their way to a permanent home sooner and that some of them have already flown off the shelf so don’t sleep on and go pay them a holiday visit!

15/12/2023

Last Smorgasburg of the Year! We’ll be offering some great deals on records from all over the world and for a limited time we’re bringing back the Bilezikjian bundle, featuring John Bilezikjian’s “Merry Christmas” record with recordings of holiday music from the last 500 years 📜

13/12/2023

Is it us or is New Year’s always the same in Los Angeles each year? That’s why we couldn’t say no to bringing you one more night of global grooves that lead you through space and time and bring people together from the furthest corners of the Old World 🗺️ We cordially invite you to the last Silk Road Secret Agents rendezvous of the year at featuring special electronic sets from guest DJs from Armenia .ezzu and 🇦🇲

Early-bird tickets will be available soon 👀 Our last SRSA event reached full capacity an hour after opening doors so don’t sleep on tickets! Attire for all levels of espionage is encouraged and there is only one rule: to not sabotage your fellow agents in the collective mission of musical liberation for all 🪩

05/12/2023

Thank you for an amazing feature 🥁

“Something Different” EP is available for sale on our website

02/12/2023

Big day today! Selling records at the super-cozy and then bouncing to the other side of town for an all-night-long set at 💃🏻🪩🕺🏻This will most likely be our last hurrah until 2024 so come enjoy all the best hits of this year’s radio show episodes, previous sets, and more! Thanks to all of you for bringing us this far - we aim to keep bringing you the grooves that deserve the most attention 🚨

28/11/2023

Tune in tomorrow 10am and travel faster than the speed of sound on a two-hour magic carpet ride from Tokyo to Tangier, and listen to the syncretic beauty of deep folk traditions fused with global dance music trends of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s ✨

21/11/2023

Next Saturday! We will be playing ALL NIGHT LONG at the and it’ll be the perfect opportunity to hear some Armenian dance staples alongside other deep cuts and electronic fusion from all over the Silk Road. Free entry! Come for the music 🎛️ stay for the arcade machines 👾

20/11/2023

We owe this action-packed year to all of you for supporting our radio shows, live events, pop-up markets, and first release for the label. Meet us at next Saturday in Inglewood where we’re going to offer some great deals on international records and kick back with some delicious food and drink.

17/11/2023

“Something Different” has arrived in Yerevan! There are plenty of reasons to love .yerevan from the top-notch selections of Soviet Armenian and Diaspora records to their inspiring studio space where they also procure unique refreshments and lifestyle essentials like workwear and film from local small businesses. It’s one of the few places in the world where you can enjoy the sounds of an estradayin record while also savoring small-batch, juniper-infused lemonade, and also meet people to share these delights with.

15/11/2023

Thank you for the mention! Read the full article through the link in our bio 🤳

09/11/2023

Thank you .mag for the amazing coverage! Read the full article on POW Magazine 🫰

03/11/2023

Our first label release is officially out on all streaming platforms and the original vinyl from 1970 are now shipping in brand-new jackets, graced by John Bilezikjian and Raja Zahr performing as the dynamic duo Something Different.

Join us tonight in celebration at for a Silk Road Secret Agents rendezvous with Bollywood-meets-Balearic reissue label .beat and special guest DJ from Armenia .music 🇦🇲 Come get carried away to irresistible rare grooves cultivated from all over the world’s greatest multicultural exchange 🗺️ and support threatened communities by offering them your most impressive dance moves 🪩

10:00pm - 2:00am
21+, free entry

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Ofelya Hambardzumyan started off her career by singing in youth folk ensembles, and gradually achieved great success on the big stage, when she sang Sayat-Nova’s songs that were usually sung by men. She went against this tradition and presented “Yes Kanchum Em Lalayin”, “Chka Kizi Nman” and other songs that require a singer to also master the art of performance in order to properly emulate medieval “ashughs”. The song “Yegheg” written by Khachatur Avetisyan is one of her most captivating performances that shows off the full range of her majestic voice and stage presence. #ofelyahambardzumyan #armenia #armenianmusic #armeniansinger #հայ #հայաստան #հայերգիչներ #հայերգչուհիներ #հայկական #discotchari

Yesterday we spent the afternoon with Johnny Bilezikjian, who shared with us stories, pictures and instruments from his late father (John Bilezikjian, Sr.)’s life. We’ve talked about John Sr.’s illustrious career and film credits before, but talking to Johnny for a few hours was more enriching than any internet deep dive available. John Sr. was a true virtuoso, learning to play violin at age 3 under the tutelage of Jascha Heifetz. Although his website biography claims John Sr. spoke 10+ languages (Spanish, Arabic, Persian, French, German, Greek, English, Russian, Turkish and Armenian), Johnny remembers growing up he only spoke Armenian and Turkish in their house. He was especially close with the Lebanese drummer Raja Zahr and personally a big fan of Omar Khorshid’s carpet-ride guitar playing. In addition to more of these stories, we look forward to sharing something special from the Bilezikjian vault very soon, stay tuned! #armenian #armenianmusic #arabicmusic #bellydance #bellydancemusic #johnbilezikjian #oud #oudplayer #oudinstrument #oudist #armenianinstruments #armeniandiaspora #armenianculture #armenianmusician #rajazahr #omarkhorshid #raregroove #neareast #jaschaheifetz #musicinstrument #musicinstruments #armenia #armeniansinlosangeles

From the highlands (of Yerevan) to the valley (of LA), Araksia Varderessian is more well-known for her public appearances on television than her recorded music, with which she brought an undeniably 80’s vibe to many “standards” such as “Du Im Yerkn Es” popularized by Robert Amirkhanian of the Soviet era. When she wasn’t on television she was consistently working as a public servant of the Glendale and Pasadena Armenian communities. No matter where she puts her time in, her style and star power are always on-point ✨ #yerevan #armenia #armenian #armeniansinger #armeniansong #araksiavarderesyan #araqsyavarderesyan #losangeles #armeniandiaspora #robertamirkhanyan #glendale #pasadena #հայ #հայկական #հայաստան #հայեր #հայերեն

Did somebody say encore? Maybe not but we are just as mindblown as you are about discovering the wizardry of Sourig Mehrabian, so we uploaded a 30-minute music video of this very special 1992 television performance recorded by Parseghian Records to our channels! Wherever you are going this weekend, Discotchari via Sourig is ready to soundtrack your epic journey 🌍 #armenianmusic #sourigmehrabian #armenian #armenia #armenianartist #musician #guitar #guitarist #90s #parseghian #parseghianrecords #discotchari

The aesthetic: 50% Saturday Night Fever 50% French cabaret. The song: 100% gold 🏆 Manuel Menengichian, our all time favorite 60s legend, is one of the most talented Armenian singers and actors. You can clearly see the influence Charles Aznavour had on him as his mentor and teacher by the way he sings and acts on the stage 🕺🏻✨ #manuelmenengichian #մանուել #armenia #armenian #armeniansinger #chanson #frenchchanson #armenianmusic #armeniandisco #armenianculture #discotchari #disco #cabaret #funky #vintagemusic #retromusic #80smusic #80s #armenianaesthetic

Reminiscing about the past with Narine and her long lost hit "Years". Born in Soviet Union Narine moved to US in the 90s and quickly jumpstarted her musical career with her deep voice and elegant looks. She traveled the world with her music having had shows in Italy, France, London and performed alongside Mireille Mathieu, Enrico Macias, Michel Sardou. As renowned singer Maurice Chevalier once said: "Narine is one of those miracles which come along once in a lifetime. She is mad with talent and more gifted than any human being should be permitted to be." 🌹 #narine #narineshahbazian #armeniansinger #armenianfemalesinger #armenia #armenianmusic #armenianestrada #armenianpopmusic #armenianculture #armeniandiaspora #MireilleMathieu #EnricoMacias #MichelSardou #MauriceChevalier #frenchchanson #frenchsingers #vintage #retro

‼️Attention DJ’s‼️ You can download our Discotchari Edit of Soode Soode by Marten Yorgantz for free! Hit our linkin.bio and get the WAV file through the SoundCloud upload on our page 🎛 Oghi khmenk! 🥛 #armenia #armenianmusic #armeniandj #discotchari #martenyorgantz #raregroove #freedownload #funky #groovy #armeniandisco #disco #armenianpopmusic #armeniansinger

Travolta has nothing on Pamboukjian when it comes to line-dancing. WARNING: This shirt may give you an urge to break into the middle of the circle and own the floor. Available on discotchari.com and through our link in bio! #haroutpamboukjian #harout #saturdaynightfever #kef #wheredoyougo #armenian #disco #kotchari #kochari #discotchari #lorke #yerevan

TODAY IS THE DAY! The main label behind the vinyl release YERAZ @chezcritique is having its first label night at @patternbar and we’re so excited to be there! Don’t miss this one of a kind opportunity to get to know the label and its artists but also come and say hello to @anaispaws celebrating her B-Day tonight 🥳 Critique is bringing out @jinnsandtonic from NY for this very special occasion, tonight is your chance to see him before he flies back in the morning for another gig in NYC! #critique #chezcritique #losangeles #dtla #la #downtown #downtownla #downtownlosangeles #patternbar #housemusic #housemusicdj #housemusiclovers #electronicmusic #electronicmusicproducer

Tuesday grooves for all the Garineh’s out there from Yeghia Papazian 🎸 We don’t know much about this song other than it was released through cassette in 1994; an album full of Dick Dale-inspired riffs and proto-house drum machines. While we’re on the subject, did you know Dick Dale (real name Richard Monsour) was Lebanese? People of the SWANA region deserve all the credit for birthing the “surf” genre of music in the 60’s. #discotchari #garineh #inspiration #cassette #armenia #armenianusic #armenianjazz #groovy #1994 #dickdale #swana #surf #surfmusic #60s #armenianculture #armenianvinyl #armenian #armenianrock #traditionalmusic #armenianfolk

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