The HU took the stage at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on Monday 26th October, performing at Pump Up The Volume For Peace and announcing a donation to the organisation, backed by their global fanbase. The night put living heritage, dialogue and intercultural understanding at the centre of a show from a band already named UNESCO Artists for Peace.
In Room I, the Mongolian quartet played songs from their third album, HUN, released on 24th July through Better Noise Music. The 11-track record connects Mongolian culture with care for the natural world and a spiritual connection with the earth. It reached number 10 on the UK album downloads chart.
Lead throat singer and morin khuur player Galaa said: “We are very grateful to be donating back to UNESCO with the help of our fans and promoting peace in our messaging.”
He added: “On this event, we hope to not only inspire people to keep their history alive by using their ancient instruments to create depth but also hope to promote peace across the world in this tumultuous time. Everyone’s voice matters and we want every one of you to use your unique voice to inspire others and promote peace.”
UNESCO billed the evening as a celebration of music’s power to promote peace, cultural diversity and mutual understanding. The programme included remarks from the band on Mongolia’s intangible cultural heritage and traditional instruments. The fan-supported donation is meant to help protect tangible and intangible cultural traditions for future generations. No figure for the gift has been published.
The Paris show lands as The HU close the Warrior Chant Tour, a run they say has taken them through 22 cities in Europe and the United Kingdom. The UK and Ireland stretch ran from O2 Academy Glasgow on 29th September to Norwich UEA on 11th October, with stops in Bristol, Bournemouth, Newcastle, Belfast, Dublin, Birmingham, London’s O2 Academy Brixton and Manchester’s O2 Apollo. Skáld were special guests. Earlier in the summer the band joined Iron Maiden at Knebworth.
Founded in Ulaanbaatar in 2016, The HU built Hunnu Rock by folding heavy metal and rock around Mongolian instruments and vocal techniques. Performances draw on Khöömei throat singing, the tsuur flute and the morin khuur (horsehead fiddle), all inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The name comes from the Mongolian root word for human being.
In November 2022 they became the first rock band named UNESCO Artists for Peace, recognised for carrying Mongolian heritage to an international audience and for backing UNESCO’s values of dialogue and mutual understanding. The members are also Cultural Envoys of Mongolia and recipients of the Order of Genghis Khan, Mongolia’s highest state honour. Through their lyrics they have pushed environmental protection, respect for diversity, gender equality, cultural identity, and the survival of regional dialects at risk of disappearing.
The line-up is Galaa (morin khuur, throat singing), Jaya (tumur khuur, tsuur, throat singing), Enkush (morin khuur, throat singing) and Temka (tovshuur, throat singing). HUN follows 2019 debut The Gereg and 2022’s Rumble of Thunder. UK audiences already know the band from a Sunday set at Glastonbury in 2023, a booking at Download Festival, and the European INCARNATION tour.
More on the band is at thehuofficial.com, with music on Spotify and updates via Facebook, Instagram and X.
Image credits: MANON VIOLENCE
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