Zhang Tianran: Mongolia takes root in metal

The Tengger Cavalry performs in New York. PHOTOS PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY

 Zhang said the biggest change in himself after moving to New York has been that he has become more and more like a Mongolian.

“I like the feeling of freedom here, everything seems acceptable here,” said Zhang.

“Artistic creation needs freedom, if there is no freedom, there is no art.”

His band, Tengger Cavalry, was created in 2009 in Beijing with Chinese members. Tengger is the name of the sky god of the Mongolian grasslands. When he moved to New York, he reformed the band with American musicians.

The lineup includes bassist Alex Abayev, a half-Jewish half-Russian from Uzbekistan (which was once Mongol Empire territory); drummer Yuri Liak from Ukraine (which was also once part of the Mongol Empire); and fiddle player Robert McLaughlin, an American with a great interest in Mongolian culture.

“My band is just like a miniature of Genghis Khan’s troops in the 13 century, which was comprised of warriors from different areas in Central Asia when there was no conventional Mongols,” Zhang said. “That shows Mongolian Spirit.”

“To us, Mongolia is a kind of culture, a kind of spirit and a kind of faith, which reaches far beyond race and lineage,” Zhang said firmly.

After releasing four albums in Europe and the US, Tengger Cavalry has become known as one of the most unique and innovative metal bands in Asia.

Zhang said he would never use Mongolia just as a hashtag to attract eyes but really to make some good music that lets the audience hear and see Mongolia, a culture with a brilliant history.

To ensure the quality of his music, Zhang insists on touring the Mongolian prairies to get inspiration before making an album.

For his next album, he hopes to also include some of the spirit of the US with more American music elements, since he has gained more life and musical experiences in the states.

“The future is full of uncertainty,” Zhang said. “What I can do is accept the changes and enjoy.”

xiaohong@chinadailyusa.com