Sultan Laguchiev's Journey from Village to National Fame
His voice breaks social media. His accordion weeps at every Caucasian wedding. His songs are played by truck drivers on long night trips from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok. Sultan Laguchiev is the most in-demand singer from the Caucasus in Russia, the author of that very «Bitter Taste.» But his own story is far from the gloss of show business. It is a story about how childhood ended at ten years old. How the very first fee of 500 rubles (about $5 at current rates), given to his mother, meant more than subsequent millions. And how a bouquet of shashlik (kebabs) became a sign that talent was recognized by those for whom this voice sounds. A correspondent from 26.RU spoke with Sultan about what his path to fame was like.
Childhood Ended at 10 Years
Kubina, Karachay-Cherkessia (a republic in Russia«s North Caucasus). 1995. Here, time is counted not by calendars, but by natural phenomena: when avalanches come down, when rhododendrons bloom, when rams roar on the pasture. The Laguchiev house was like dozens of others: stone walls, carpets, the smell of tea. Here Sultan was born, and he had ten years of happy childhood. But one day everything changed.
«Father passed away early. And childhood in the usual sense ended», Sultan says calmly, even matter-of-factly. — «The moment came: when you are now responsible for everything in the house.»
At ten years old, he became the support of the family. School, household, caring for his younger sister — life narrowed to a simple, heavy routine. Mother became everything at once: both mother and father, and an example of strength without loud words.
«She never said it was hard. She just did. And my sister and I learned from her — to do, not to complain.»
There was strictness. But not cold, out of love. And youthful liberties happened, where would we be without them, but respect for mother remained unconditional.
Football or Accordion
If life had gone differently, Sultan could have become an athlete. Football was his passion, wrestling — his character.
«I lived for football. My legs carried me to the field on their own. Mother quietly but persistently insisted: «You have a voice, son. Sing.» And I brushed it off. What singing, when you need to score goals?»
The turn happened unexpectedly when an old national accordion came into his hands. Sultan took the instrument — and something inside clicked, he wanted to learn to play, but he didn«t go to music school. And so, he studied like everyone — »averagely.« His favorite »subject« was wrestling in the schoolyard and hikes in the mountains.
«Childhood in the mountains — it«s a special time. We have very rich nature, what more do you need. I»ve been to summer camp, with it are associated warm memories and first love. And all this later went into the songs.»
And the accordion didn«t let go. From age 19, he began to pick up melodies in secret, then play in a local ensemble, perform at weddings. The first fee — 500 rubles (about $5 at current rates) — he brought to his mother.
«She silently took it, nodded. And in her eyes was everything at once: pride, anxiety, hope. Then I understood: music for me could become something more than just a hobby.»
The first competition in 2012 — a republican festival, where Sultan took third place.
«For the world — nothing. For me — Olympus. The certificate was hung on the wall in the room, and it proved: my path is here.»
«Bitter Taste» Changed Everything
The path from a wedding musician to the main voice of the region, sounding across the country, was thorny. He recorded songs on a simple microphone, uploaded them to the Internet. Popularity came suddenly with the track «Bitter Taste,» which literally exploded social media in 2021. Sultan was only 26 years old at that time.
«It happened in one moment. The song just flew. I started to be recognized on the streets, the first concerts were explained, interviews. And I was stunned by all this. And after the release of the song «We are Abazins,» old men approached me, shook my hand, thanked me. Then I understood: your word now carries weight. And that is a huge responsibility.»
The first large fee — 500,000 rubles (approximately $5,000 at current rates), and Sultan spent it not on luxuries for himself.
«I gave the money to my mother. We started repairing the house. Foundation, roof, windows. It was my best financial lesson, we invested everything in the improvement of our home.»
Fame also brought amazing moments. Once he asked his fans not to give him flowers — saying, upbringing doesn«t allow it. At the next concert, fans came to him… with a bouquet of shashlik (kebabs).
«I really said once: «Don»t spend on flowers — I feel awkward accepting them, upbringing doesn«t allow it.» And thought that was it. And at the next concert, a delegation of fans comes to me with… a huge bundle of shashlik, wrapped in foil and tied with a ribbon. Smoke was rising, the smell filled the whole stage! I laughed to tears. It was brilliant. They didn«t just hear — they felt it. I very much respect and appreciate my fans!»
This is precisely the recipe for success from Sultan Laguchiev: to be honest, surround yourself with good people, and work hard.
«I Relax on the Football Field»
First popularity was hard. It«s cool when the audience lifts you to the top, but staying there isn»t so easy. The singer admits, there were nights when he refreshed the page with his track in a music service almost every minute, to monitor if listens were growing or not. He was upset, seeing a drop in the charts.
The singer admits, coping with this was difficult. «Earlier I lived by stereotypes: if you«re in first place, you should always be there. If activity in social media fell — for me it was a tragedy.»
And from overload, and from unnecessary thoughts, sport and home save him. As Sultan says, his outlet isn«t clubs or restaurants. Football and boxing.
«I relax on the football field — I play always when free time comes up. And also boxing for releasing the head and body. As they say, two favorite sports have been with me since childhood. No thoughts about contracts, releases. Only you, breath, and the punch. And then — home. And a little daughter, who is different every day. To catch these moments, to see how she learns the world, and to share these instants with my wife — this is real life.»
«Hooligan»s Love«
The most personal track — «Hooligan»s Love.«
«There I am real. And sincerity — is the only thing that lives forever.»
Plans include new songs, collaborations, a first album in acoustic sound, which will be released in February and will be the culmination of a big stage.
«I always have many new songs in the working process: in the stage of arrangements, in sketches. In February, my first album will be released, in which I have collected the most popular tracks over the past years. They will be in new, unusual acoustic processing. This album will be a line, the result of a certain segment of my creative activity.»
In ten years, he sees himself in stadiums. But he dreams of something else, of what is truly important.
«I want a school or competitions of folk music in my homeland. So that children remember the language, the accordion, the roots. I want to be a bridge between tradition and modernity.»
