Alash is a trio of masters of Central Asian throat singing (xöömei), an ancient technique that allows the vocal apparatus to produce multiple sounds simultaneously. Bady-Dorzhu Ondar, Ayan-ool Sam, and Ayan Shirizhik grew up in Tuva, a region now part of the Russian Federation, and trained in the late 1990s at the Kyzyl Arts College.
In their work, the group blends the ancestral heritage of their homeland with contemporary influences and instrumentation, in line with the principles of world music, advancing their artistic exploration while never abandoning their roots.
Invited to the United States in 2006 by the Library of Congress’s Open World program, Alash subsequently embarked on international tours—including a U.S. tour with the American group Béla Fleck and the Flecktones—and developed collaborations spanning jazz to beatboxing. Alongside their concerts, they promote workshops and educational activities, spreading Tuva’s culture and throat singing around the world.
