Kazakhstan’s sought-after producer Imanbek wins Grammy for SAINt JHN’s ‘Roses’ remix

Kazakhstani producer Imanbek has scooped a Grammy Award for his viral remix of “Roses” by American-Guyanese rapper SAINt JHN.

The 20 year-old artist first stumbled upon “Roses” in 2019, three years after its commercial release. Imanbek originally made the remix illegally, turning the slow-creeping single into a bouncy dance track. Within just a few months of posting his version on VKontakte, “Roses (Imanbek Remix)” became an internet sensation, paving the way for Imanbek’s stardom: after signing a contract with Russian label Effective Records, he was able to release the track as an official collaboration with SAINt JHN.

The producer’s life has rapidly changed since the release: Imanbek gave up his job at a local train station to concentrate on music, and now divides his time between Moscow and his home village of Aksu in Kazakhstan. He has followed Roses with a string of star-studded collaborations, working with the likes of David Guetta, Rita Ora, Marshmello, Goodboys, and others.

In his Grammy acceptance speech, streamed live from Moscow, Imanbek thanked his parents, his label, and the award committee. “The best thing for a musician is to get a Grammy, we made it!” Imanbek wrote on Instagram.