UUHAI is a spiritual exclamation in Mongolian, intended primarily to generate positive energy within a group and awaken the spirits. The Mongolian band not only named themselves after a term rooted in tradition, but also embody these traditions in their music and connection to heavy music. We talk to drummer Otgonbaatar Damba not only about their debut album “Human Herds,” but also about Mongolian traditions, balance in the modern world, philosophical thoughts, and what UUHAI want to achieve with their artistic expression.
UUHAI were formed in Ulaanbaatar in 2020 – at a time when Mongolian music was gaining increasing international attention. How did you come together as a band, and what was the shared impulse to pursue exactly this musical direction?
UUHAI came together in Ulaanbaatar in 2020 as the result of a long held vision by our founder, band leader, and producer, Ombo. This was not driven by trends or by international attention around Mongolian music at the time. It was the moment when a dream he had carried for many years finally became reality.
For a long time, Ombo had imagined a band that could unite traditional Mongolian music, throat singing, morin khuur, and the spiritual depth of our culture with the power and intensity of rock and metal. That idea lived in his mind and heart well before UUHAI existed. In 2020, he decided it was time to stop imagining and start building. He gathered musicians who shared the same respect for tradition, the same hunger for heavy music, and the same belief that Mongolian culture could speak strongly on a global stage.
Each member came from different musical paths, some rooted deeply in traditional training, others shaped by modern rock and metal, but all were connected by the same purpose. From the very beginning, the direction was clear. UUHAI was not an experiment and not a reaction to the outside world. It was a deliberate artistic decision to express Mongolian spirit, philosophy, and identity through powerful music.
The shared impulse was simple but strong. To honor our roots, to speak in our own voice, and to carry Mongolian culture forward with confidence, sincerity, and strength.
Many fans immediately think of THE HU when it comes to the combination of Mongolian music and metal. In your view, where do the similarities lie, and in what ways do you clearly distinguish yourselves from THE HU?
It is natural that people make that connection, because we all come from the same land and share deep respect for traditional Mongolian music. The similarities lie in our roots. We all draw from throat singing, traditional instruments, history, and the spirit of the steppe. That cultural foundation will always be present when Mongolian artists step onto a global stage.
Where we clearly distinguish ourselves is in our musical direction and intention. Our music leans strongly toward a raw rock and metal energy, combined with a spiritual and philosophical message about humanity, nature, and responsibility. We focus less on spectacle and more on atmosphere, ritual, and emotional depth, creating music that feels like a call, a warning, and a connection at the same time.
We also approach our storytelling differently. Rather than retelling history in a literal sense, we use ancient symbols, ancestral voices, and traditional sounds to speak about the modern world and its challenges. For us, tradition is not something to display, but something to live through sound.
We respect what others have achieved and feel proud whenever Mongolian culture is heard worldwide. At the same time, UUHAI stands firmly in its own identity, with its own voice, its own weight, and its own path.
The band name “UUHAI” is deeply rooted in Mongolian culture and stands for a collective call, for strength and unity. How does this concept reflect your own identity as a band – both musically and on a human level?
The word Uuhai is more than a name for us. It is a shared breath, a call that has carried through generations. In Mongolian culture, Uuhai is shouted in moments of strength, celebration, courage, and unity. It is a sound that connects people instantly, without explanation.
Musically, this reflects who we are as a band because our music is built on collective energy. Throat singing, morin khuur, drums, and guitars all move together as one voice rather than competing for attention. Every song is shaped around the idea of unity, where individual parts exist to strengthen the whole. When the audience chants Uuhai with us, the band and the crowd become one body and one rhythm.
On a human level, the meaning is just as important. UUHAI is about standing together, respecting one another, and remembering where we come from. We come from different backgrounds, but we share the same responsibility to carry our culture with honesty and humility. The name reminds us that strength is never individual. It comes from connection, from shared purpose, and from moving forward together.
That is why Uuhai is not only our identity. It is our message.
Many international listeners experience Mongolian music as something “exotic” at first. How important is it to you to present your heritage not as a stylistic device, but as a lived reality – and where do you see the line between cultural representation and misunderstanding?
This question is very important to us. We understand that for many international listeners, Mongolian music may feel unfamiliar at first and is sometimes labeled as exotic. For us, this music is not a style or a decoration. It is our everyday reality, our history, and our way of understanding the world.
Our goal is not to present Mongolian culture as something distant or mysterious, but as something human and alive. Throat singing, morin khuur, and our language are not elements we add for effect. They are the natural way we express emotion, memory, and belief. We live with these sounds. They are part of our families, our landscapes, and our inner lives.
The line between cultural representation and misunderstanding appears when tradition is treated as a costume or a surface image. We are very careful not to turn our heritage into something that loses its meaning. That is why our music always carries context, emotion, and intention. We want listeners to feel the spirit behind the sound, not just admire its uniqueness.
If someone hears our music and feels curiosity, respect, or a sense of connection, then we feel we have done our job. We are not asking people to fully understand our culture in one song. We are inviting them to listen with an open heart. When that happens, the music stops being exotic and starts being shared.
Throat singing and the Morin Khuur are central elements of your music. How did you find the balance between integrating these traditional forms of expression into a modern rock and metal context without stripping them of their depth or spiritual meaning?
For us, the balance comes from respect and understanding. Throat singing and the morin khuur are not tools we place on top of rock music. They are the foundation of how we think about sound and emotion. Because these traditions live inside us, we do not need to force them into a modern context. We allow the rock and metal elements to grow around them naturally.
We never try to modernize these traditions by simplifying them or changing their essence. Instead, we adapt the surrounding arrangement so the traditional voices can breathe. The rhythms, guitars, and drums are written to support the natural overtones of throat singing and the emotional weight of the morin khuur, not to overpower them.
Spiritually, this music already carries depth on its own. Our responsibility is to protect that meaning while giving it a new space to speak. When everything is done with honesty and patience, the traditional and the modern do not fight each other. They become one language that feels both ancient and alive.
Throat singing is often described as a technique – but in reality it also involves a strong inner attitude and breath control. What does this vocal tradition mean to you personally, beyond the stage?
For us, throat singing is not just a vocal technique. It is a way of breathing, listening, and being present. Beyond the stage, it represents a deep connection to nature, to our inner balance, and to the rhythm of life itself. The control of breath teaches patience and calm, while the inner focus required brings clarity to the mind.
This tradition comes from a way of life where people listened closely to the wind, the water, and the animals around them. When we practice throat singing, we are not only training our voices, but also aligning ourselves with that natural flow. It becomes a form of meditation, a grounding practice that reminds us where we come from.
Personally, it carries a spiritual meaning. It helps us stay humble and centered, especially when traveling far from home. No matter where we are in the world, this vocal tradition allows us to reconnect with our roots and with ourselves.
With „Human Herds“, you are now releasing your debut album worldwide. At what point did it become clear to you that this album should be more than just a collection of individual songs, but a coherent thematic whole?
Very early in the process, it became clear to us that „Human Herds“ could not be just a collection of songs. From the first ideas, there was a shared feeling that everything we were writing was connected by the same questions and concerns. Our relationship with nature, our responsibility as humans, our ancestors, and the direction the modern world is moving in. These themes kept returning naturally, without us forcing them.
As the songs developed, we realized they were speaking to each other. Each track felt like a different chapter of the same story rather than a separate statement. Some songs are more intimate and reflective, others are powerful and meant for collective energy, but all of them come from the same core idea. Humanity moving together like a herd, sometimes creating, sometimes destroying, always connected.
At that point, we made a conscious decision to shape the album as a journey. The order of the songs, the atmosphere, and the emotional flow were all carefully considered so the listener could move through reflection, warning, strength, and hope. „Human Herds“ became a single message told through different voices, not just a set of individual tracks.
The music video for „Khar Khulz“ was released almost two years ago. Over what period of time did the production of the entire album take place?
The work on the album took place over several years. The first ideas and early versions of some songs appeared around 2020 and 2021, including the initial form of „Khar Khulz“. From there, the album grew slowly and carefully as we continued writing, arranging, refining, and performing the music live.
Touring and playing shows helped shape the final sound, because we could feel how the songs lived and breathed on stage. That experience fed back into the studio process. Recording, revising, and finalizing the album was not rushed. We allowed the music to mature naturally until it fully reflected our vision.
By the time we completed „Human Herds“, it felt like the result of a long journey rather than a single recording period. The album carries the time, growth, and experiences we lived through while creating it.
The title „Human Herds“ leaves a lot of room for interpretation: community, movement, adaptation, perhaps even alienation. Which thoughts or observations about humanity today had the strongest influence on this album?
The title „Human Herds“ came from observing how humanity moves and behaves in the modern world. We see people gathering, migrating, consuming, protesting, and following patterns often without stopping to reflect on the consequences. Just like a herd, humanity can move with great power, but that power can either protect life or cause harm.
One of the strongest influences behind the album was the way modern society often becomes disconnected from nature. We build cities, chase speed and growth, and forget that the earth is not separate from us. At the same time, we see deep loneliness and alienation even though people are more connected than ever through technology. These contradictions shaped the emotional core of the album.
„Human Herds“ is not meant as judgment, but as reflection. We wanted to ask questions rather than give answers. Are we moving together with awareness, or blindly following momentum. Can we remember our responsibility to each other, to our ancestors, and to the land. The album invites listeners to pause, listen, and choose a more conscious path forward.
Are there songs on the album that play a particularly important role for you – emotionally, culturally, or compositionally – and that you see as key pieces for understanding UUHAI?
Yes, there are several songs on the album that feel especially important to us, each in a different way, and together they help explain who UUHAI is.
„Human Herds“ is central emotionally and philosophically. It carries the core idea of the album and reflects our view of humanity, our responsibility toward nature, and the choices we face as a collective. This song sets the tone and invites the listener into our world.
„Uuhai“ is key culturally and spiritually. It represents our identity as a band and as Mongolians. The chant connects ancestors, present listeners, and future generations in one shared voice. Understanding this song helps understand why unity and collective strength are so important to us.
„Khar Khulz“ plays a major role compositionally. It shows how traditional elements and modern rock can fully merge without losing depth. It is also a song that helped many people discover us, so it holds special meaning in our journey.
Finally, „Secret History Of The Mongols“ is essential for understanding our roots. It connects ancient wisdom with modern sound and closes the album by looking back in order to move forward. Together, these songs form the backbone of UUHAI and express our spirit, purpose, and voice most clearly.
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You are releasing the album through Napalm Records, a major international label, and addressing a global audience. How does it feel to send music with such clear cultural roots into a worldwide market?
It feels both humbling and meaningful. Releasing the album through Napalm Records and sharing it with a global audience is not about changing who we are, but about trusting that our roots can speak beyond borders. Our music carries a very specific cultural identity, and sending it into the world feels like sending a part of our home, our history, and our values with it.
There is pride in knowing that something deeply Mongolian can be understood and felt by people from different cultures. At the same time, there is responsibility. We are careful to stay honest and respectful, because we are not representing a concept or a trend. We are sharing something that is lived and inherited.
Working with an international label gives the music a wider path, but the heart of it remains the same. When people in different parts of the world connect with our songs, it reminds us that culture does not divide when it is shared with sincerity. It creates understanding.
How are you perceived in Mongolia, and how does the reaction of the domestic audience differ from the international response?
In Mongolia, the reaction is very personal. People listen with a sense of recognition because the language, the sounds, and the emotions come from a shared memory. Many listeners connect to the music through family traditions, landscapes they know, and stories they grew up with. The response at home often feels quiet but deep, rooted in understanding rather than surprise.
Internationally, the reaction is different in a beautiful way. Many listeners encounter these sounds for the first time, so the response is often immediate and emotional. There is curiosity, excitement, and strong energy, especially at live shows. People may not understand the words, but they feel the intention, the rhythm, and the spirit behind the music.
Both reactions matter equally to us. At home, we feel understood. Abroad, we feel welcomed. Together, they remind us that music can belong deeply to one place while still speaking honestly to the world.
You will soon be touring Europe. What expectations do you have of European audiences, especially in countries where Mongolian culture is still relatively unfamiliar? And how did the seemingly unusual combination with the fun-loving chaos of NANOWAR OF STEEL come about?
We approach European audiences with openness rather than expectations. In countries where Mongolian culture is still unfamiliar, we do not expect people to understand everything immediately. What we hope for is curiosity and openness. From our experience so far, European audiences listen with their hearts. Even if they do not know the language or the traditions, they feel the rhythm, the energy, and the intention. When people respond honestly, that is more than enough for us.
Live shows are where this connection becomes real. The moment the audience starts chanting with us, moving together, and sharing the energy, culture stops being distant. It becomes something shared. We believe that sincerity travels further than explanation, and European crowds have shown us great respect and enthusiasm.
The connection with NANOWAR OF STEEL came about very naturally. On the surface, our approaches seem very different, but underneath there is a strong common ground. We both value live energy, audience interaction, and creating a memorable experience. Their humor and chaos meet our seriousness and ritual, and together it creates a balance that feels refreshing rather than conflicting.
This combination shows that metal has many faces. It can be heavy, spiritual, playful, and powerful at the same time. Touring together allows both bands to reach new listeners and to show that different expressions can stand side by side with mutual respect and shared passion for live music.
Live concerts are often where music unfolds its strongest impact. What do you want people to take away from a UUHAI show – musically, emotionally, or perhaps even intellectually?
From a UUHAI show, we want people to leave feeling connected. Musically, we want the sound to stay with them, the deep vibrations of the morin khuur, the power of the drums, and the voices that feel both ancient and alive. We want them to feel that the music is not only heard, but experienced physically.
Emotionally, we hope people leave with a sense of unity and strength. When everyone chants together, moves together, and breathes together, something simple but powerful happens. It reminds us that we are not alone, that we belong to something larger than ourselves.
On a deeper level, we hope the music encourages reflection. About our relationship with nature, with each other, and with the world we live in. We do not try to teach or explain on stage. We invite people to feel and think in their own way. If someone leaves a UUHAI show feeling grounded, inspired, or even slightly changed, then the music has done its work.
To close, we would like to do our Metal1 brainstorming with you. What comes to your mind when you think of the following topics:
Traditions:
Living memory. Traditions are not something frozen in the past for us. They are practices, sounds, values, and ways of thinking that still breathe today. Tradition is what keeps our identity strong while the world changes around us.
Home:
Home is where the land, the sky, and the people meet. It is not only a place, but a feeling of belonging. Wherever we travel, home lives inside us through our language, our music, and our connection to nature.
Religion:
Respect rather than doctrine. A deep spiritual relationship with nature, ancestors, and balance. It is about harmony, humility, and understanding that humans are only one part of a much larger world.
The state of the world:
Fast, divided, and often disconnected from nature. But also full of people searching for meaning and unity. We believe the world needs more listening, more care for the earth, and more respect for one another.
Germany:
Strong audiences, deep music culture, and great respect for live performance. Germany feels like a place where heavy music and meaningful expression are truly understood and welcomed.
UUHAI in 10 years:
Still honest, still rooted, and still growing. We hope to continue carrying Mongolian spirit to new places, creating deeper music, connecting with people across cultures, and staying true to why we started. Wherever we are in ten years, UUHAI will remain a shared voice calling for unity, respect, and balance.
Thank you very much for your time, and all the best with „Human Herds“ and the upcoming tour. Is there anything you would like to add?
Thank you for the thoughtful questions and for taking the time to listen to our story. We are grateful for the support, the curiosity, and the openness we have felt from listeners and media around the world.
We would simply like to say that our journey is still unfolding. „Human Herds“ is an invitation to listen, to reflect, and to reconnect with what truly matters. We are excited to meet people on the road, to share this music live, and to continue building bridges between cultures through sound.
We are always open to new conversations, new stages, and new opportunities worldwide. If our music reaches you, we hope it gives you strength, calm, and a sense of connection.
Take care of the earth. Take care of each other. We will meet again under one sun and one moon.
24. Januar 2026 Stefan Popp
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