02 April 2007

Dear Friends,

We are writing you today from Moscow with good news: our 2007 USA tour has begun! We arrived in Moscow on the 31st after the four-day train ride from Tuva, and inaugurated our tour by playing a small concert that night at a club here in Moscow called "Shtopor." We had our interview at the American Embassy today and will be receiving our visas tomorrow, and then on April 4th it's off to America. It's interesting to note that our U.S. tour last year ended on the 3rd of April, and this one begins on the 4th, so we're taking that as a good sign to pick up where we left off with the good work in North America.

Take a look at the schedule to see when we will be in your area. We are constantly adding tour dates, and will be doing so especially once we reach the states. We see it this way - what we do, play music, is something people enjoy, and it's our job to get it out there. The thing is, the music we play is from Tuva, which is fairly far away from America. We really appreciate all the fan support and are hoping to add some more stops to the tour. The thing about Tuvan music is, way we see it, is that it's different from most other music, especially with the throat singing and the igil and byzaanchy etc., so it's not like you could just replace it with some third-rate karaoke or something. People like it, heck, if you didn't like it you wouldn't be reading this newsletter. The group is young, full of energy and talent, and we're dedicated to the craft and beauty of our music.

Anyway, we'll be having our new studio CD on sale at the concerts and through alashcd@gmail.com, starting in mid-April. This is exciting. For those of you who have the Enchanted Garden CD the interesting thing is that there are a couple of new songs that we didn't play on the tour last year, plus a twelve-page booklet of liner notes. Sean wrote them, and they include song translations, information about Tuvan music and instruments, and a word or two on Tuvan music from his point of view as an American-2orn Tuvan resident. They are fairly interesting for those who don't live in Tuva but would like to know more about it. Plus, if you bought a live CD (we know who you are) we are giving a discount on the studio CD.

And now for a little personal news! Ayan-ool turned 24 on December 18th, and Sean turned 29 on March 17. Ayan's son Tumetei turned 3 on March 12. Mai-ool's youngest daughter, Saizanak, had her first birthday on the 30th, while we were on the train. While we are on tour, Mai-ool will turn 25 on May 1st and Bady-Dorzhu turns 24 on the 9th. And the most exciting news - Ayan's wife gave birth to a daughter at 3 kg on January 12, and then on March 16, while the boys were on tour in the regions of Tuva with the Tuvan National Orchestra, Ayan-ool's wife Alimaa gave birth to a girl at 3.5 kg. When they got back on the 17th, Sean's birthday, Sean's wife, Sveta, gave birth to a girl at 3.1 kg at five in the evening. Ayan's daughter has been named Dang-Haya, which means Dawn, Ayan-ool's daughter has been named Sygyrga, a beautiful singing bird, and Sean's daughter has been named Shonchalai, after the first flower of spring.

Well, enjoy the new album, come to the concerts - keep checking the website, wish us luck, we'll see you soon.

Alash