Rising Stars: Meet Omar Zhumashev of Astana

Today we’d like to introduce you to Omar Zhumashev.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My story with music started at the age of four. I still vividly remember sitting at our family’s piano for the first time and picking out the melody of “Lily Was Here” by ear. Seeing this potential, my father—a musician himself—enrolled me in a music school. By age five, I was already immersed in the world of classical piano. For years, my life was defined by the complex works of Chopin, Liszt, and Beethoven. But while I respected the masters, my heart was always tuned to the sounds of the radio. At ten years old, my father brought me a synthesizer from his tour in Germany, and that changed everything. I started recreating pop hits by Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez, eventually earning my first “commissions” by creating karaoke tracks for my classmates’ singing competitions.

As I grew older, a second passion emerged: technology. I eventually made the pivot from classical music to IT, graduating as a programmer in 2010. For over a decade, I navigated the professional world of television as an IT administrator. However, the music never stopped; it just evolved. I spent my nights mastering software like Reason, Cubase and Logic Pro, eventually finding a successful niche in creating music for audio stocks under the moniker MARSTEREON. Whether it was deep house, ambient, or cinematic trailer music, I was constantly honing my sound at the intersection of my two worlds—IT and Art.

The real turning point came in recent years. In 2022, I began officially releasing my tracks on streaming platforms, and by 2023, a collaboration with Magic Records label (specifically A&R manager Amal Simakin) propelled my work to a global audience. Today, I’ve found my home in genres like Deep House, Afro House, and Tropical House. What started as an internal tug-of-war between being a “tech guy” or a “musician” has resolved into a unified identity as an electronic music producer.

As of 2024, music is no longer a side project—it is my life and my business. With over 600,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and a rapidly growing audience, I am incredibly grateful to provide for my family through my craft. My philosophy is simple: music should be an experience of beauty and relaxation. I strive to create melodic, diverse soundscapes that allow the listener’s mind to rest, recharge, and find inspiration. It’s been a long “voyage” from that first piano melody to the digital stages of today, but I truly believe that everything happened exactly as it should have.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a straight line to success. While the passion was always there, the road was paved with both internal and external challenges.

For a long time, I lived a double life. By day, I was an IT professional dealing with the rigid structures of television networks. By night, I was a music producer. The biggest struggle was the “internal tug-of-war” between these two identities. There were years when I wondered if I was just an IT guy with a hobby or a musician who was “stuck” in tech. Breaking through the mental barrier—believing that I could merge my technical skills with my creative soul and make it a primary career—took a lot of discipline and a shift in mindset.

Coming from a strict classical background was a blessing and a hurdle. In the classical world, everything is written on the page. Transitioning into electronic music meant learning to “unlearn” some of those rigid rules and master complex software like Cubase, Reason and Logic Pro. It took years of trial and error, working on audio stocks, and producing music in various genres before I finally found the “MARSTEREON” sound that resonates with people today.

Building a monthly audience of over 600,000 listeners didn’t happen overnight. There were long periods of sending tracks to labels and receiving no response, or seeing very slow growth on streaming platforms. Staying committed to the routine—practicing, producing, and refining my craft every single day, even when the “results” weren’t visible—required a Stoic-like persistence. I had to learn to love the process more than the applause.

In the end, I wouldn’t change a thing. The technical background in IT gave me the precision I need for electronic production, and the classical training gave me the melodic foundation. Every struggle was just a necessary lesson in preparation for where I am now.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As an electronic music producer performing under the name MARSTEREON, I specialize in creating atmospheric, melodic soundscapes within the realms of Deep House, Tropical House, and Afro House. My work is defined by a balance between technical precision and emotional depth. I don’t just create beats; I craft auditory environments. Whether it’s a high-energy dance track or a relaxing chill-out piece, my focus is always on melody and a sense of “musical flow” that allows the listener to both escape and find inspiration.

In the digital space, I’ve become known for tracks that resonate on a global scale. My music currently generates an average of ten million streams per month, a milestone that reflects the deep connection listeners have with my sound. My work is frequently featured in major curated playlists on YouTube and Spotify, and I’m often humbled to hear my tracks being played on the radio and in various venues, from beach clubs to urban lounges. Being a consistent part of people’s daily “soundtrack” is what defines the MARSTEREON brand today.

I believe what truly sets me apart is my “hybrid” DNA. My foundation is built on years of rigorous classical piano training, while my professional background is rooted in high-level IT and programming. This combination allows me to approach electronic music with a unique perspective: I have the soul of a composer and the mindset of an engineer. While many producers rely solely on loops and samples, I focus on complex melodic structures and technical optimization, ensuring that every sound serves a purpose.

Beyond the millions of streams and the chart placements, I am most proud of the fact that I’ve built a sustainable, independent career doing exactly what I love. Transitioning from a stable IT career to becoming a full-time artist was a leap of faith, and seeing that leap result in a global community of listeners is my greatest achievement. I am proud to show my family and my children that with discipline, technical mastery, and a clear vision, you can turn a lifelong passion into a worldwide reality.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I like best: The Creative Gravity
Even though I haven’t had the chance to walk the streets of Los Angeles yet, I feel its energy every single day through my work. To me, LA is the heartbeat of the global creative industry—a “Mecca” where the most talented minds gather to define the future of art and music. What I love most is this unique atmosphere of limitless collaboration. Some of my most successful tracks were born from working remotely with incredibly gifted songwriters and vocalists based in LA. There is a specific “Los Angeles standard” of quality and passion that inspires me to push my boundaries. It’s a city that creates what the rest of the world enjoys, and being digitally connected to that epicenter is a constant source of motivation.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marstereon
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCumwrXEW2ygMpb_ZdndCp2Q
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7jEVO7yGtLTH2UsMcuA8Ap?si=bE1j-ByAT069tv2WDi6NRw