Enter the immersive, storied world of Siberian indigenous music with Otyken, a collective that brings a rich musical legacy into a modern format. Otyken's performances introduce their listeners to their traditional vocal stylings and instruments, many of which fans may have never even seen before.
In this episode of Global Spin, Otyken performs "Genesis," a song they released in 2021. "Genesis" has some modern elements, but central to this song — and the rest of the group's work — is an evocative introduction to the music that has been coming out of the mountains of Siberia for generations.
Dressed in traditional outfits, Otyken perform in a log cabin-like setting, standing in front of a backdrop of large masks. Though many listeners won't be able to understand the words of the song (the group performs in Khakass and Chulyms, and sometimes Russian), the tone of "Genesis" feels celebratory, with a pulsing beat and joyful, emphatic lead vocals.
Otyken's performance puts a special spotlight on every element of their traditional offerings, including throat singing, a musical line that works as a counterpart to the breathy lead melody. The group also incorporates multiple instruments specific to their Siberian traditions, including a vargan (or jaw harp) and a morinhur (which they refer to as a "music skill") and leather drums. From: https://www.grammy.com/news/otyken-genesis-performance-video-siberian-indigenous-traditions-instruments-global-spin
