There are voices one wants to listen to with one's whole body. A low hum unfolds into overtones, strings weave into the rhythm, and the music acquires an almost tangible depth. In the sound of the Mongolian band The HU, throat singing, traditional instruments and the energy of rock come together.
On 26 October 2026, this musical world resounded at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris at an evening event Pump Up the Volume for Peace — “Let us raise the volume in the name of peace.”
A voice that holds many voices within
At the heart of The HU’s sound is throat singing, known as khoomei. Its characteristic feature is the work with overtones: above the low fundamental tone, another, higher sound line becomes discernible.
Alongside it sound the morin khuur — a bowed instrument with a horse’s head on its neck — and the tsuur flute. These traditions are inscribed on UNESCO’s lists of intangible cultural heritage. In the band’s music they meet heavy guitar timbres and an insistent rhythmic pulse. The musicians themselves call their direction Hunnu Rock.
Thus a recognisable sound space emerges. The sustained voice holds the depth, the strings add movement, the percussion gathers everything into a shared rhythm. Even without translating the words, a listener can respond to the timbre, the breath and the power of the performance.
A heritage that keeps on creating
The HU formed in Ulaanbaatar in 2016. In November 2022 the band received the title of UNESCO Artist for Peace — the Paris evening continued this collaboration.
For the musicians, the world audience’s acquaintance with Mongolian culture is bound up with curiosity and mutual respect. On their official website they explain: performances give people the chance to value their own heritage while at the same time discovering the heritage of other peoples.
This is especially interesting to hear in music itself. An old instrument can join a new ensemble. A vocal technique passed down through generations can become part of a contemporary song. From such an encounter, another way is born to express what is dear to the performer.
What did this event add to the sound of the planet?
One more opportunity to hear how many shades the common human voice has.
In the space of GAYA ONE there is room for every sound. Throat singing, rock, a quiet melody, an unfamiliar instrument — every encounter expands our perception and invites us to listen to one another more attentively.
A planetary symphony is born from this diversity. Each brings their own inimitable timbre, and the consonance opens the possibility of creating together what has never existed before.
