Biography
Okna Tsahan Zam («The white road»), aka Vladimir Kharouev, was born in 1957 on the long road used by the Kalmyk people when returning to their own land after deportation to Siberia by Stalin. «The White Road» is the road that leads to Joy and Happiness. Okna belongs to an ancient Baatud tribe.
According to the legend this Mongolian tribe was founded by the second son of Doa-Sokhor the Cyclops. After a series of dreams, Okna Tsahan Zam gave up his engineering career and devoted his life to Throat Singing (Khoomei), the Mongolian vocal technique of his ancestors. This vocal technique is very spectacular : it allows the singer to sing two or more voices at the same time.
Today this unusual and impressive personality is the #1 "Khoomei" soloist in the world. He's given concerts on Moscow's Red Square, Japan and the US… He is an absolute must in all major Khoomei events.
His first tour in Europe was in 1991 for the «Silk Road» Festival. He then followed up with other Festivals in Paris («Epic poetry from central Asia», «Tribute to the Horse»). All his concerts at the «Théâtre de la Ville» in Paris were sold out. (1998 / 2002)
After he met Claude SAMARD (French musician-producer) he was invited to open with him for Roger Hodgson (ex-Supertramp) at the prestigious Paris Olympia Theater. This first fusion attempt was a great success. Then Claude introduced him to Alan SIMON, the creator and producer of the «GAIA» project. Alan offered him the opportunity to sing a title on the studio album where he shares the bill with the very best in pop and world music: Cesaria Evora, Manu Dibango, Anguun, Supertramp, Zucchero, Midnight Oil to name just a few. He then played at the «GAIA» night (Palais des Festivals) for the 2003 MIDEM where he impressed the audience and his peers as well.
He composed the movie sountrack for «Shimkent Hotel» (2003), a film by Charles de Meaux starring Romain Durys and Melvin Poupeau, that received critical acclaim.
· National Kalmyk Epic Singer (Djangartchi)
· Member of the Union of Russian Writers
· Winner of «The Russian Soul contest» 2002(Award in Traditional category)
· Distinguished Member of the Academy of Nomadic Cultures (Mongolia)
· «Golden microphone» 2002 (Song of the Year) for his recording of “Edjin Duun”.
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