David McAlmont and Michael Nyman perform ‘The Coldest Place on Earth’, a new song written specially for Paul Morley’s Showing off…

“So here we have That Instrumental from the movie The Piano (you know the one) overlain with David McAlmont’s new, exquisitely sung lyrics inspired by the extremely chilly Siberian city of Yakutsk. Genuinely lovely.” That’s what I found at Metro.co.uk together with the last rumours about Lady Gaga. Fantastic! Read the rest of this entry…

Kounney. 2010 Etigen Khomus Music Award. Photo by LARA.

The last Sunday in Yakutsk was remarkable with 2010 Etigen Khomus Music Award Ceremony. Etigen Khomus is Yakutia’s annual award granted to singers (variety performers) for their achievements in the course of the past year. This time for 2009.

The Etigen Khomus Award Ceremony is held at the end of February or in the beginning of March. It is always a big event. The fantastic show arranged and organized by the Yakutsk Radio Station “Viktoria.” It’s very hard to get entrance tickets.

Take a look at LARA’s award ceremony pictures. Read the rest of this entry…

Saina, a Yakutsk-based ethno singer

Think no need to present Saina. She can do it herself. Listen to her audio presentation track with different songs. I can say only that she started as a Yakutsk-based pop singer. Now she prefers to sing songs of northern peoples living in Siberia’s Yakutia. That’s really great. Read the rest of this entry…

A Black Crane is a new Sakha Theater play premiered on Feb. 20, 2010. Director is Ivan Gogolev. By the courtesy of the Sakha Theater administration. Read the rest of this entry…

Hannes, many thanks for sharing with the slideshow video, and it’s really great to hear that you liked the the journey to Oymyakon, the Pole of Cold.

Read the rest of this entry…

Famous Yakut singers and musicians, Legentej, Klavdia and Guerman Khatylaevs, Albina Degtyareva, Ayarkhaan and others, decided to support the Olympic Games movement. They performed Scorpions’ hit “We are the champions!” in the Yakut (Sakha) language. The video was shot in the ice tunnel “The Kingdom of Everlasting Permafrost” in Yakutsk, Yakutia/Siberia in January 2010.

Hope YouTube Read the rest of this entry…

I have an US-based friend on Facebook. His name is Sid Korn. A few days ago he informed me that he created the slideshow using my pictures of the recent road trip to Oymyakon, the Pole of Cold. Here it is. Read the rest of this entry…

Shaman music of Siberia meets Western Club Music

No.3 at World Music Charts Europe 2001
Nominated “Best of WMCE 2001″

Intensive interpretation of shamanistic singing from Sakha (Siberia), combined with todays western club-culture | from tradtional and mystic essays, ritualistic ceremonies to modern urban forms .. with shamanistic singer Stepanida Borisova from Siberia.

 …………………………………………………….

“It’s mystical, it’s modern, it’s low beat danceable, it sounds sacred and at the same time sounds urban…. it’s great!!!” (DJ Tonyy Sao Paulo).

“The music of Sakha (Yakutia) originates 3000 Years before Christ. It has relations with Sankrit music from India , which is thought of as one of the earliest musics of this earth.” (P. Amrod/N.Y.C.)

“THROAT SONGS OF THE SIBERIAN SHAMAN – This is a unique opportunity to gain some insight into this ancient and powerful means of vocal expression and to receive training from a performer of renown in both the folk and theatre worlds.” THROA

…………………………………………………….

Read the rest of this entry…

Stepanida Borisova, shamanistic singer from Siberia

Shamanistic singer Stepanida Borissova was born in 1950 in the District of Megino-Khangalaas in the Siberian Republic of Yakutia. After her studies at the famous Shepjin School of Acting, she started in 1974 an acting carrier at the Ojunski-Sakha-Theatre.

She received, as well, the Ojunsky prize from the USSR and is a celebrated actress since this time. As a singer and performer Stepanida mastered many different styles of the traditional Sakha singing.

In the entire Russian Federation and abroad, Stepanida Borissova won her special place in the world of music mainly as a singer of “tojuks” (improvised, epic songs). Stepanida sings “ugadan kurduk” as a shaman. In Kamlania female shamans are considered more powerful than male shamans. Though it is difficult to prove, it is said that her voice has healed people

Read the rest of this entry…

103 is a Pokrovsk-origin rock band, that applies Yakut ethno tunes in its performance. 103’s salt is the use of a khomus (Yakut Jew’s harp). Amazing sound! Local experts say these guys may repeat Cholbon’s success and world crusade. Good fellows, indeed. Maybe, anyone wish to help and support them? Kidding, but, nevertheless, consider this chance.

103 is a must to see for live music fans. In Yakutsk you can catch them in the rock bar “Garage.”

P.S. Video was shot and uploaded two years ago. The performance took place in a village. Don’t remember the name of the settlement.