Artist Profiles: Yalla

Yalla is one of the leading popular music groups in the former Soviet central Asian republic of Uzbekistan. The band is from Tashkent the capital of Uzbekistan one of the independent states that came out of the former Soviet Union. The group whose name is an Uzbek word for a song accompanied by dancing has become a popular icon in Uzbekistan frequently serving as cultural ambassadors to international festivals or meetings abroad.

The members of Yalla are graduates of the Ostrovsky Theatrical Art Institute and the Ashrafi State Conservatory in Tashkent. They are not Russian, but Uzbek, a Turkic nationality from the crossroads of the ancient Silk Road. Their music incorporates traditional ethnic folk tunes and poetry of Uzbekistan and other Central Asian and Middle Eastern cultures along with contemporary pop and dance influences into a unique international blend. They perform songs in more than 1 languages including Arabic Farsi Hindi Nepalese and French as well as Uzbek and Russian.

Formed in the early 197s Yalla has appeared on Soviet national television as well as performing in Moscow and elsewhere in the Soviet Union and on concert tours in Europe Africa Asia and Latin America including featured appearances at the “Voice of Asia” festival.

Members of Yalla:

Farrukh Zakirov, artistic director composer vocals; Rustam Iliasov, arranger, vocals, bass, guitar; Abbos Aliyev, arranger, national instruments (tan-buzuk, rubab ud), vocals, keyboards; Javlon Tokhtayev, vocals, guitar; Alishier Tulyaganov, vocals, percussion, national drum instruments (doira, tabla); Ibraghim Aliyev, percussion, national instruments (darbuka, kairok-tosh); Tulkin Isakov, bass, guitar.

Discography:

Учкудук – Три Колодца – Uchkuduk – Three Wells (1982)
Музыкальная Чайхана – Musical Teahouse (1990)

Author: Angel Romero

Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.