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Alison Stewart
This is all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. Tuvagan is a Mongolian and American folk fusion group. They make what they call modern nomadic music which blends Mongolian instruments and vocal styles with bluegrass elements and even some rock. The band will perform at Flushing Town hall in the afternoon of May 17 and also lead a workshop on Mongolian music. Band members Tamir Hargana, Nysel Hargana and Brett Roman are here with me in studio and they're going to play a few songs. First of all, thank you for coming to wnyc.
Brett Roman
Thank you so much.
Alison Stewart
So what is the first song we're going to hear?
Tamir Hargana
First song we're going to play called Hongorai, which is the. We're also all living in Chicago right now. Chicago is famous for blues. So this is the traditional Mongolian folk music combining with like blues style.
Alison Stewart
Let's listen.
Tamir Hargana
Wa. Sam.
Alison Stewart
Oh, you were listening to Virgin Band, a Mongolian folk fusion band from Chicago. They're performing at Flushing Town hall this Sunday, May 17th in the afternoon for an all ages concert and a Mongolian folk music workshop. Tamir, I'm pretty sure that's the first time that we've ever had throat singing on this show.
Tamir Hargana
Wow.
Alison Stewart
Could you tell us a little bit more about the way you sing?
Brett Roman
Yeah.
Tamir Hargana
Great honor to be here. First time showing through. So through singing, basically one person can do two or three notes at the same time. It's all about nomad people who start imitation of the surrounding area, such as we will imitate the animals or we will imitate like landscape, such as river or like the sky landscape. So it's all about imitation. And one person can do like 2, 3 notes at the same time and has like lower grounding sound and higher, really high pitchy sound and mid level sounds too. Yes.
Alison Stewart
Nysel, how do you think about the voice as an instrument when you're performing?
Nysel Hargana
So like he explained to you, like his singing style is imitation of the sky, imitation of the mountain, imitation of the yak. So on this instrument too, it's called marenghor in Mongolian and in English it's called horsehead fiddle. So you can see horsehead on top of this instrument. And then we have a lot of traditional tunes like imitating daily life movement as a dance. Also like we imitate horses running and camel running, like those kind of pieces on this instrument.
Alison Stewart
Now Tamir and Nysel are brothers. How did you get involved with the group?
Brett Roman
Brent? Yeah, it's funny, they have the same last name, they're from the same village, but they're Actually, not brothers. They're not brothers, but we're brothers in arms. Brothers in musical arms. Yes. Far.
Nysel Hargana
Far relative.
Brett Roman
Yeah, Far. They come from the same tribe.
Alison Stewart
Okay.
Brett Roman
Yeah. I got linked up with these guys, actually. You know, everything about our music is about horses. All the music is about horses. The culture is about music, the horses. The iconography is about horses. And so, of course, where did we meet? We met in Kentucky, where all the horses are in the United States. And so we met through a professor that we all shared at one time or another. He introduced us to each other, and they ended up going back to school in Chicago, outside of Chicago, where I went to school, and we all ended up around the Chicagoland area, and we started doing music together and just thought, hey, let's. Let's make a band. This sounds great.
Alison Stewart
What kind of instrument are you playing? It's kind of like a lute. Tamir.
Tamir Hargana
Yep. So this is called Dosplor. It's a Tuvan instrument. Basically, you can have three instruments. And this actually is using a letter skin mostly. It has a really lower sound. It's mainly for accompanying singing, or, like, storytelling.
Alison Stewart
And in front of you, it looks like a didgeridoo.
Unidentified Band Member or Announcer
Brent.
Brett Roman
Yes. Yeah, we're gonna feature that on our second song today. It is a didgeridoo. This is a telescopic didgeridoo, so I can change the fundamental pitch while I'm playing. That's kind of fun. But, yeah, I thought that, you know, when we first started out, before I started singing with the guys, I thought, wow, that low voice quality that he has, it really reminded me of didgeridoo playing. And we had never seen the didgeridoo and throat singing put together before and thought that would be a really great match. So it worked out well.
Alison Stewart
Let's hear that second song. What are we going to hear?
Tamir Hargana
Yeah, the second song is called Mongolian Boots.
Brett Roman
Sam.
Tamir Hargana
Sari mahal. Ram.
Unidentified Band Member or Announcer
Nam.
Tamir Hargana
Ram. Sa. Jim.
Alison Stewart
That was Two Virgin Band. They'll be performing at Flushing Town hall this Sunday, May 17th in the afternoon. We've been talking a lot about Montgomery in folk music and culture. But you also blend it with Western musical traditions. Nazelle. Why did it make sense to put
Nysel Hargana
them together so we both like? For myself, I majored in composition in my undergrad and also in piano, too. I play piano, too.
Alison Stewart
Oh, my gosh.
Nysel Hargana
Yeah. And then in my masters, I learned world music and ethnomusicology, so that turns into, like, I can learn lots of different music from all over the world, so why not combining all of them.
Alison Stewart
Makes sense. Tamir, you're going to be performing at Flushing town Hall at 2:15 on May 17. What's the plan for the show?
Tamir Hargana
As usual, we're going to like make audience dance. We're always having like horse music. Our music like often like really groovy. People really dance because all the rhythm is about horses. So be ready for dance.
Alison Stewart
And you're also going to have, I think, is it Ling Tang who's gonna perform with you?
Brett Roman
Ling Tang? Yes. She's gonna be there. Yeah, yeah. She's one of the artists in residence at Flushing Town hall, does classical Chinese dance. But for this program she's doing some Mongolian dances as well and using props and teaching the audience about the dancing. And then on Monday we're going to do some outreaches with kids. That should be a lot of fun as well.
Alison Stewart
How does it feel to have to sort of tell people or teach people about your music, Tamir?
Tamir Hargana
Well, I always feel like honored. I mean we were really fortunate to be living like this. You know, we can share our music through all the friends people. And then Monday, Sunday we're gonna doing workshop for the kids, children as well, also adult. And every time when we do workshop, people always like really participate because our workshop is kind of like really more engaging because you ask them people to like sing along, do throat singing or learn how to try to play the instrument. And always like a lot of interaction. So it'll be great.
Alison Stewart
Excellent. They're playing at Flushing Town hall this Sunday, May 17th. Let's try to get one more song in. What are we going to hear?
Tamir Hargana
Nice. So the last song. We're called Drinking Song.
Alison Stewart
Oh, this is to Virgin.
Brett Roman
You got something to drink there on the top of the.
Alison Stewart
I do. I have a cup of tea. Thank you so much. Thank you for joining us by the way.
Tamir Hargana
Thank you.
Brett Roman
Thank you so much.
Tamir Hargana
Sa.
Brett Roman
Sam.
Alison Stewart
Sa.
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Unidentified Band Member or Announcer
1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4. Give me a break. Give me a break Break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar. Gimme a break. Give break, Break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar the chocolate crispy taste going to make your day and wherever you go you hear the people say Give me a break, give me a break Break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar have a break, have a Kit Kat.
Podcast Summary: "Mongolian Throat Singing with Tuvergen Band"
All Of It with Alison Stewart (WNYC) – May 15, 2026
In this engaging episode, host Alison Stewart welcomes the Tuvergen Band—an innovative Mongolian-American folk fusion group—into the WNYC studio. The conversation explores the origins and artistry of Mongolian throat singing, the blending of Eastern and Western musical traditions, and the band’s mission to share their unique sound with wider audiences. The episode features live performances, insightful commentary on culture and tradition, and an introduction to the instruments and voices that define the band’s style.
“So through singing, basically one person can do two or three notes at the same time...It’s all about imitation. And one person can do like 2, 3 notes at the same time and has like lower grounding sound and higher, really high pitchy sound and mid level sounds too.”
“On this instrument too...we have a lot of traditional tunes like imitating daily life movement as a dance. Also like we imitate horses running and camel running, like those kind of pieces.”
“Everything about our music is about horses. All the music is about horses. The culture is about music, the horses. The iconography is about horses. And so, of course, where did we meet? We met in Kentucky, where all the horses are in the United States.”
Showcasing Traditional and Unexpected Instruments:
(07:54) Tamir Hargana: “This is called Dosplor...mainly for accompanying singing, or, like, storytelling.”
(08:11) Brett Roman: “This is a telescopic didgeridoo...when we first started out...that low voice quality...really reminded me of didgeridoo playing. And we had never seen the didgeridoo and throat singing put together before and thought that would be a really great match.”
Song 2 – "Mongolian Boots"
(12:53) Nysel Hargana: “For myself, I majored in composition in my undergrad and also in piano, too...in my masters, I learned world music and ethnomusicology, so that turns into, like, I can learn lots of different music from all over the world, so why not combining all of them.”
(13:35) Tamir Hargana: “We're always having like horse music. Our music like often like really groovy...So be ready for dance.”
(13:52) Brett Roman: “Ling Tang? Yes...does classical Chinese dance. But for this program she's doing some Mongolian dances as well and using props and teaching the audience about the dancing.”
(14:20) Tamir Hargana: “We can share our music through all the friends people…our workshop is kind of like really more engaging because you ask them people to like sing along, do throat singing or learn how to try to play the instrument. And always like a lot of interaction.”
(15:05) Alison Stewart: “Oh, this is to Virgin.” (15:06) Brett Roman: “You got something to drink there...”
(15:12) Tamir Hargana: “Thank you.” (15:13) Brett Roman: “Thank you so much.”
“Through singing, basically one person can do two or three notes at the same time...It's all about imitation.”
“Everything about our music is about horses. The culture is about music, the horses. The iconography is about horses.”
“I can learn lots of different music from all over the world, so why not combining all of them.”
“We can share our music through all the friends people...our workshop is kind of like really more engaging...a lot of interaction.”
The episode maintains an inviting and celebratory spirit, characterized by Alison Stewart’s warm curiosity and the band’s openness. The mood is energetic, rooted in deep respect for culture and a desire for community connection through music.
This summary captures the vibrant cross-cultural conversation, educational insights, and dynamic performances of the Tuvergen Band, offering a rich understanding for listeners new to Mongolian throat singing and its contemporary evolution.