Everything about "THE HU" Band from Mongolia

Many would probably never have thought that a Mongolian folk and heavy metal band would fill entire halls in worldwide. But they probably didn't count on The Hu. Because when the group was founded in 2016, their two singles "Yuve Yuve Yu" and "Wolf Totem" followed immediately two years later, which both went viral immediately and thus immediately gained greater awareness outside of Mongolia. And that, although she sings exclusively in Mongolian language!

The Horse-head fiddle

But whether you understand the language or not doesn't really matter. The unique style that The Hu create with their combination of classic rock, folk, heavy metal and traditional Mongolian music certainly has no counterpart in the Western world! This is because the music of the band from the landlocked East Asian country uses traditional Mongolian instruments such as the horse-head fiddle or the “Tovshuur” Mongolian guitar.

The Tovshuur as we known mongolian guitar

Another unique selling point of the band is the fascinating undertone singing, which results from the use of the larynx and creates a mysterious and captivating sound all its own. In fact, this particular vocal technique is incredibly difficult to learn, even though it shows musical parallels to the classic "growl" in metal.

Their two songs "Yuve Yuve Yu" and "Wolf Totem" were then followed by her spectacular debut album "The Gereg" in 2019. A year later, a deluxe version of the album with many additional songs was also released. The name of the album can be traced back to the time of the Mongolian Empire under Genghis Khan, where "Gereg" was used to describe a kind of passport.

The Gereg

Also, the name of the band is a clever combination of Mongolian tradition and Western rock music. Because "Hu" simply means a person, and it is also a homonym for the band "The Who".

The band consists of Gala and Jaya (vocals), Temka on the Mongolian guitar and Enkush with the Mongolian horsehead fiddle and undertone vocals. They are also joined by songwriter and producer Dashka, himself a big star in the East Asian music scene. The four members of The Hu Gala, Jaya, Temka and Enkush, all have completed their musical studies at the Mongolian State Conservatory. Jaya even teaches there today. Be it their incredible musical expertise, their unique style or their exotic ways. Either way, The Hu have managed to become a big name in the metal and folk scene within a short period of time. For example, the band is now signed to the Eleven Seven Records label, where groups like Five Finger Death Punch and Mötley Crüe are also signed.

The GEREG (The first Album)

The Rumble of Thunder (The second Album)

For fans of Star Wars, or rather the video game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, the band might also be a household name. Because there they were even responsible for the main song of the game. Also on the Metallica tribute album, "The Metallica Blacklist" The Hu is represented with a track. 

Now they are on the road all over Europe for their "Black Thunder Tour" until the end of the year. The tickets are available: 

https://www.thehuofficial.com/