If you’ve listened to Mongolian singing before, chances are it involved the typical male vocals for which the culture is famous: raw, hypnotic guttural sounds. But now please turn your attention to Enkhjargal Erkhembayar, better known as Enji. Born in Ulaanbaatar and raised in a yurt, this Mongolian singer showcases a very different, delicate side of the culture. Enji sings silkily, sometimes whispering, on top of engaging jazz compositions. On her latest album, Ulaan, she sings in her native tongue and is accompanied by a band from several continents. Enji sometimes puts her winding scats and melodically elongated vocals in a Brazilian guise, for example. But there is no clear stamp on her work; it is completely unique, rooted in both Mongolian folk music and the vocal jazz tradition.
