Peter Gabriel re-records ‘Biko’ for online event Playing for Change
The new version of the 1980 classic features 25 musicians, including Yo-Yo Ma and Angélique Kidjo.
Sat, 13 February 21
Yungchen Lhamo
The journey from Lhasa in Tibet over the high Himalayas to Dharamsala in India has got to be one the most testing and physically gruelling exploits that anyone can undertake and yet hundreds of Tibetans do just that each year in search of freedom.
Yungchen Lhamo walked this road to exile as a teenager back in 1989. Her musical gifts had already been recognised in Tibet where her name, which means ‘goddess of melody and song’ was given to her by a holy man.
Yungchen moved to Australia in 1993 where her first CD release Tibetan Prayer won an ARIA award and she has been touring the world ever since, sharing prestigious platforms such as the stage of the Carnegie Hall in New York and London’s Royal Festival Hall with rock stars and famous faces. She is now based in New York.
In later years she released three acclaimed albums on Real World Records, Tibet Tibet, Coming Home and, in 2006, Ama, which features duets with Annie Lennox and Joy Askew.
The diminutive and yet visually arresting Yungchen has a voice of astounding clarity and purity. Her songs are intimate tales of love for her homeland and her people and her story is an emblem of courage, perseverance, devotion and musical genius.
Releases
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Tibet, Tibet
This album is a rare insight into the heart of Tibetan spirituality through the devotional songs of Tibet’s most inspiring female singer. At 25, Yungchen Lhamo walked over the Himalayan mountains from Tibet to India, on a perilous journey to meet and receive the blessings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
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Coming Home
From Tibet's most exquisite voice in exile, this is a set of stunning contemporary songs of freedom and beauty in dedication to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
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Ama
On her third album for Real World Records, Yungchen again brings the voice of Tibet to songs infused with the quiet spiritual power of Tibetan Buddhism, but with a decidedly 21st century global feel. Trumpet, strings, African kora, Middle Eastern percussion and the even, sweet tones of a National Steel guitar are delicately woven around Yungchen's magical voice.
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videos
Further reading
Bab L’ Bluz’s Yousra Mansour guests on BBC Music Life podcast
Yousra discusses her creative processes with Derya Yildirim, Hasan Nakhleh, Merve Erdem.
Wed, 28 October 20
A New Year’s Resolution for 2021: Learn to speak another language
Why you should learn another language, and where to go to learn beginner Bambara, Swahili and Urdu.
Thu, 31 December 20
Nayda! Track by Track
Bab L' Bluz frontwoman Yousra Mansour talks us through their debut album.
Tue, 15 September 20