Mamer

Originating from Xinjiang, the remote western province of China, Mamer is a singer and songwriter devoted to contemporary folk music performed in the Kazak language, with his first international album arriving in 2009. After relocating to Beijing, he had earlier mastered the dombra, the region’s indigenous instrument, while absorbing the area’s folklore and traditional songs. In the capital he joined the band IZ, whose repertoire consisted of Kazak-language material delivered in a strictly traditional manner. His solo debut, Eagle, took shape through a partnership with Robin Haller and Matteo Scumaci between 2006 and 2007 and appeared on the British imprint Real World Records in 2009. The recording attracted attention for its Kazak vocals set within a modern folk approach, and it includes a contribution from Béla Fleck on the track “Celebration.”