Month: July 2024

A snippet from Oidopuaa Vladimir Oiun’s outsider release at his Bandcamp site:

“Oidupaa spent 33 years of his 55 years of life in prison – in fact, this album was recorded in prison. Oidupaa himself claimed that his conflicts with Soviet legislation were slander, which often happened with other Tuvan artists of that time.

During his imprisonment, Oidupaa Vladimir became a believer and glorified God through his songs, thereby creating an unprecedented combination of Tuvan throat singing and Christian tradition: “With all my voice, throughout the whole universe, I glorify you, my Heavenly Father – among distant people, among near people, through the channels mass media, through the TV screen, through a cassette recorder, in prisons and camps, I glorify your name, my Heavenly Father!”

Oidupaa’s style is pure freedom of creativity and self-expression. His style of unconventional performance of throat singing delights both professionals and musicologists, as well as the common listener. Often living on the road, he found listeners and admirers everywhere. Performing at train stations among crowds was his distinctive feature. In the early 90s, thanks to a caring fan from Japan, the artist gained some fame and gave concerts in Sweden and Switzerland. After returning from Switzerland he was arrested and imprisoned for 15 years. During this prison time, according to Oidupaa, he achieved true mastery. He claimed to have brought his music to total perfection, in a way that no one would be able to copy his style in the next hundred years. In prison his mastery in musical performance and immersion in faith and revelation of the spirit were fused. It was in prison where he recorded his nowadays iconic album.”