Nomadic chant

Anda Union will start its national tour after its two-month tour in the United States. The band includes Biligbaatar, Saikhannakhaa, Nars (above) and Urgen.

"It doesn't matter that people do not understand the language," says Tim Pearce, a British filmmaker, who became the band's manager after watching their performance in Shanghai in 2006 and has toured with the band in the US and UK.

"Their music is truly universal and there is no other band presenting Mongolian music as they are."

In 2009, Pearce traveled with the band to the grasslands of Inner Mongolia, where they discovered old songs and a fast-changing society. After three months of filming and a year of editing, the documentary Anda Union From the Steppes to the City was released in 2011.

One of the band members, singer Tsetsegma, who specializes in performing urtin duu, or long songs that are traditional chanted, joined Anda Union in 2006.

He says every member of the band has a distinct performing style onstage and uses singing techniques and instruments to bring out the full range of Mongolian music.

"The Mongolian culture offers us endless inspiration. We learn about legends of Genghis Khan, Mongolian ethnic tribes and folk tales about love, brotherhood and courage," says Tsetsegma.

In 2016, the musicians of Anda Union were hired to teach at Inner Mongolia Arts University, training young people to play the instruments, and learn songwriting and singing.

"We hope the younger generations, who grew up under the influence of Western art forms, such as hip-hop and rock, will see the beauty of Mongolian music, which is a huge wealth," says Nars.