Kazan singer hits right notes with Chinese folk song

KAZAN, Russia — In a small studio in Kazan, the capital of Russia's Tatarstan Republic, the air was filled with the melodious strains of the famous Chinese folk song Jasmine Flower (Moli Hua in Chinese).

This impressive rendition of the iconic Chinese song came from an unexpected source: Saida Mukhametzyanova, a 23-year-old Tatar singer who has developed a special affinity for Chinese music.

Her endeavor at Chinese folk music began over a year ago, driven by her curiosity and love for exploring music from different cultures.

On hearing Jasmine Flower for the first time, she perceived its striking similarities to the Tatar folk song, Galiyabanu, and was captivated by its beauty. Both songs feature a pentatonic scale and share flowing melodies and themes about the pursuit of love.

"That's why I had the idea of blending these two beautiful folk songs," she says.

Later, she discovered a seamless and natural way to blend the two songs, alternating between Chinese and Tatar lyrics while combining their melodies.

To perfect her performance of the Chinese portion, she dedicated herself to learning the language, focusing on every detail of the tone and pronunciation.

When she released this cultural mashup online, it garnered significant attention, with listeners praising the fresh take on both traditions.

This experience with Chinese folk songs has opened up more opportunities for her to perform at various China-Russia cultural exchange events, including one during the Games of the Future, a national event held in Kazan earlier this year.

Her keen apprehension about Chinese music has profoundly influenced her artistic vision. "Chinese culture often draws parallels between people and nature, which captivates me because it brings us closer to nature," she says.

"The melody is beautiful, everything in it is harmonious, and it touches the soul. I told my parents that I need to focus my creativity and resources on China and Asia," she adds.

She has embarked on a project to create an album featuring both Chinese and Tatar folk songs, which she hopes will serve as a musical bridge between the two cultures.

She also dreams of visiting China, a country which she has yet to gain firsthand experience of. "I've sung Chinese songs, but I've never been to China," she says. "It has such a rich culture that has preserved its uniqueness for thousands of years. I want to see it with my own eyes."