Mention 'The Silk Road' and you conjure up all kinds of romantic images – Alexander The Great met Roxanne on it, Marco Polo explored its length and wrote of his fabulous adventures on it, across the 19th Century The Great Game was played out along it between Russian and British military intelligence forces. And, now, with the collapse of Soviet communism the region is opening up to the world again. Surely the most enduring wonder of the The Silk Road is its music. Music that has a history and traditions stretching across thousands of years.
Traditionally along the Silk Road a female singer and instrumentalist epitomised high culture. Today, with Sevara Nazarkhan, we have the latest in this ancient line of female singers from Central Asia. Sevara is from Uzbekistan, a nation that attracts little attention in the UK. Sevara's music epitomises not the enduring grace and beauty to be found in this ancient Islamic culture. And on her debut album Yol Bolsin (Real World) she effortlessly mixes traditional songs and instrumentation with contemporary Western production.
In Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital, she is a pop star. Her first group in 1998 were, apparently, the Uzbek answer to The Spice Girls. And anyone who has seen the dimunitive Ms Nazarkhan on stage at this year's Womad Reading festival knows that the feisty singer can rock the microphone with a confidence Geri and co' would envy. Sevara's father is a noted singer of European classical music and her mother teaches traditional string instruments. When Sevara met noted French producer Hector Zazou they began working on the first fusion of Uzbek and Western musical culture. Yol Bolsin was recorded in Tashkent and Paris and its subtle grace marks Sevara out as a very special singer.
"Traditional music will always be with me. This in turn enables me to go further and experiment with other sounds."
Garth Cartwright, October 2003
 Read other peoples comments
Gairat
l like the songs Sevara Nazarkhan.l Think she's wurthy for this award
Thu Aug 25 11:20:29 2005
Aziza
She is an awesome and talented singer. I'm very proud of her even in the U.S because we love her music here.
Mon Dec 27 19:45:01 2004
mirkhan sultnova
sevara is one of my favourite singers. i am so proud of the fact that i am from tashkent...an reading this kind of news about my country singers :-). at the moment i live in turkey ...studying at the university in izmir ...i would love to have her last album. blessings, mirkhan
Mon Apr 12 10:51:13 2004
JAnn
Great.... more like this
Tue Feb 3 02:01:59 2004
Natalia
She has it!!!
Thu Jan 29 09:16:45 2004
rick heritage
stunning!
Wed Jan 28 15:16:52 2004
Bulut from Madison, WI USA
Amazing. Uzbek does sound abit like Turkish. I recommend that people who speak Turkish should check this out.
Mon Jan 26 21:57:53 2004
James
She is the future star of the East
Sat Jan 24 10:51:11 2004
Uzgirl
Astonishing,you are the best :)!!!I think all uzbek people are proud of you.
Fri Jan 23 19:37:40 2004
khamida
I think Sevara Nazarhan did a great job,she's the BEST!!!!!
Fri Jan 23 19:33:14 2004
Ulugbek
Sevara you've done very well. I respect you.
Fri Jan 23 15:53:48 2004
United Kingdom
Very nice voice, no just amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fri Jan 23 09:35:51 2004
Monika
She is amazing! God bless the day I have discovered her music. Thank you Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ...
Wed Jan 14 20:13:28 2004
Berush
She is a star of the future
Thu Jan 8 13:16:21 2004
Uzbek
She Rocks!
Mon Jan 5 16:43:57 2004
Sada
Brilliant!
Mon Jan 5 14:11:57 2004
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