KZBlog

Thanks to J’s comment on an earlier post for this update on who freestailo is:

According to this YouTube Video:

His name is Ernar Kaldynov, was born in Karoi, small village in Western Kazakhstan.

in 2007 he took part as singer with dombra(Kazakh National Instrument) in SuperStar.KZ show (Kazakh version of American Idol), but did not progressed (sic) to the final stage. However he became popular after the video of his performance was posted on YouTube and millions of users became his fans.

He currently performs as a sole(sic) artist of an orchestra in a small town Kalbatau.

Ernar is married and is going to be a father of his first son in May 2010.

This video was recorded by local journalist from regional newspaper in Kazakhstan

And this entry on Youtube with the same video adds some details and gives a link to the interview:

Having done with a casting on teleproject “superstar” (Pop Idol in Kazakhstan) he returned back to his city Oskemen.. Later on when his videos began to roll wave on the youtube domestic producers became interested in him. He was found through local forum of his city where was written about him. Now he sings to reporters of this resource.

Ernar Kaldynov originally from village Karoy of Tarbagatay District, a graduate of the regional boarding school named after Zhambyl. Married in 2009, has a child and works in the district House of Culture as a soloist of Kazakh instruments.

They also link to an interview with him from the local Ust-Kammengorsk paper: http://yk.kz/news/show/6737

In any case here it is, Freestailo 2010:

So he is still alive, still making music, aware of his fame, and he is going to be a father soon. Congratulations Ernar and please make a techno-dombro album soon! Although if the interview is any indication, he seems content working for the local orchestra and doesn’t have any plans for a more ambitious career. Which is too bad. As one commenter on YouTube said, “I’ll gladly trade Lady Gaga for Ernar.”