Albert Kuvezin, a founding member of Huun-Huur-Tu and leading figure in Tuva’s music scene, launched Yat-Kha during 1991. The project takes its name from the string instrument central to its arrangements. Blending khoomei—the renowned Tuvan ultra-bass, polytonal throat-singing—with both high-tech and homemade instruments, Yat-Kha shapes a neo-traditional sound. After making its concert debut at WOMEX 1992 in Berlin, the group issued Antropofagia in 1993, Yenisei Punk in 1995, and Úlai Beldiri in 1999. Worldwide critical praise has carried Yat-Kha across continents, including appearances at Austin’s SXSW festival as well as engagements in Hong Kong and Europe, where it earned the Brian Eno Special Prize at the Voices of Asia festival and the Grand Jury Prize at Radio France International’s Rock and Pop in the East. Following Paddy Moloney’s discovery of Yenisei Punk, the Chieftains’ leader signed Yat-Kha to his Wicklow imprint; the current lineup comprises Kuvezin alongside Aldyn-ool Sevek on kargiraa, khoomei, and sygyt vocals, Zhenya Tkachv as mystic drummer, and Alexei Saaia on bass shanzi and morinhuur.
