"not a performer. a man who sings." - damon, on how he wanted to be described
biography written by ruslan based on conversations with damon over tea (he doesnt drink coffee, he says coffee is "for people in a hurry")
THE EARLY YEARS
Damon was born in Mongolia. He does not say exactly where because he says "the mountains know and that is enough." From what I understand he grew up with horses and eagles and his grandfather who taught him to sing in a way that makes two sounds at once. I have heard him do this in person. It is not normal. The whole room vibrates. My tea rippled.
Damon was born in Mongolia. He does not say exactly where because he says "the mountains know and that is enough." From what I understand he grew up with horses and eagles and his grandfather who taught him to sing in a way that makes two sounds at once. I have heard him do this in person. It is not normal. The whole room vibrates. My tea rippled.
ruslan's note: i asked damon what kargyraa means and he said "the voice of the chest" and then demonstrated. my radiator started making a sympathetic noise. i am not exaggerating.
His grandfather died when Damon was young. He does not talk about this much but when he does his voice changes in a way that is hard to describe. Quieter but heavier. He said his grandfather told him the voice carries the dead and when you sing they get to speak through you. I am not a spiritual person but when damon sings in the apartment the room feels different, like there are more people in it than you can see.
THE TRAVELS
Damon left Mongolia in his early 30s. He worked in Korea, Germany, and then America. He does not like talking about this period in detail. He said "I worked. I learned. I survived. Write that."
Damon left Mongolia in his early 30s. He worked in Korea, Germany, and then America. He does not like talking about this period in detail. He said "I worked. I learned. I survived. Write that."
ruslan's note: he originally said something longer and more interesting but when i read it back to him he said "thats too many words. people dont need to know all that." so we are going with the short version.
He came to the northeast United States in the 1990s. Met his wife Saran. Got a job mopping floors at a hospital. He says the hospital taught him about death "better than the steppe did, because on the steppe death is honest. In a hospital it fills out forms."
❝ I mopped around more grief than most people feel in a lifetime. The floor cleaner smell still gets me. Not sad. Just heavy. Like the building remembered what happened on those floors even after I cleaned them. ❞
- Damon, over tea, jan 2003
- Damon, over tea, jan 2003
THE MUSIC
Damon started singing again at 42 after not singing for many years. He says he was not ready before that. He says the voice "came back different. Better. The cracks were in the right places." He does not perform much in public. He sings in his apartment, mostly at night, mostly after Saran goes to sleep. The neighbors have mixed feelings. Mrs. Chen downstairs says it gives her strange dreams. Mr. Kowalski next door says he doesnt mind because "at least its not a drum set." (Note: Damon also has a drum. Mr. Kowalski does not know this yet.)
Damon started singing again at 42 after not singing for many years. He says he was not ready before that. He says the voice "came back different. Better. The cracks were in the right places." He does not perform much in public. He sings in his apartment, mostly at night, mostly after Saran goes to sleep. The neighbors have mixed feelings. Mrs. Chen downstairs says it gives her strange dreams. Mr. Kowalski next door says he doesnt mind because "at least its not a drum set." (Note: Damon also has a drum. Mr. Kowalski does not know this yet.)
ruslan's note: i have been in the apartment when damon sings. it is unlike anything i have experienced. the walls shake, but gently, like the building is breathing. his wife sleeps through it, which tells me either she is a very deep sleeper or this is just normal for them.
His music is throat singing mixed with what he calls "city sounds." You can hear the apartment in every track. The radiator. The rain on the windows. Distant traffic. He says he doesnt add these sounds, they just show up because the microphone doesnt lie.
DAMON TODAY
Damon lives in the same apartment with Saran. He has children and grandchildren. He will not say how many because "the internet doesnt need to know my family." He cooks Mongolian food in an American kitchen with a cast iron pan he is very protective of. He watches the news and gets angry. He reads but wont say what. He walks the same route through the neighborhood every morning. He does not own a computer. He has a cell phone which he uses for calls and nothing else. This website exists because he believes "people should be able to find the music" and because I owed him money.
Damon lives in the same apartment with Saran. He has children and grandchildren. He will not say how many because "the internet doesnt need to know my family." He cooks Mongolian food in an American kitchen with a cast iron pan he is very protective of. He watches the news and gets angry. He reads but wont say what. He walks the same route through the neighborhood every morning. He does not own a computer. He has a cell phone which he uses for calls and nothing else. This website exists because he believes "people should be able to find the music" and because I owed him money.
❝ I dont need people to understand me. I need people to hear what im saying. Those are different things. ❞
- Damon, when I asked how he wants to be described on the bio page
- Damon, when I asked how he wants to be described on the bio page
THINGS DAMON WANTED ME TO INCLUDE
He gave me a list. I am including it exactly as he gave it to me, written on the back of a hospital supply form:
● he is not a performer. he is a man who sings
● do not describe him as "exotic" or "mysterious." he says he is "a man who lives in an apartment"
● the leather jacket is from Korea. he bought it in 1989. it still fits
● the silver pendant is from his grandfather. do not describe what it means. "people can look at it and decide"
● he does not have a manager. do not email asking about management
● he does not do collaborations. "my voice does not collaborate"
● the music is free. if someone wants to pay for it they can buy him tea. he drinks oolong
He gave me a list. I am including it exactly as he gave it to me, written on the back of a hospital supply form:
● he is not a performer. he is a man who sings
● do not describe him as "exotic" or "mysterious." he says he is "a man who lives in an apartment"
● the leather jacket is from Korea. he bought it in 1989. it still fits
● the silver pendant is from his grandfather. do not describe what it means. "people can look at it and decide"
● he does not have a manager. do not email asking about management
● he does not do collaborations. "my voice does not collaborate"
● the music is free. if someone wants to pay for it they can buy him tea. he drinks oolong
he changed 11 things and removed 3 paragraphs.
the version you are reading is version 6.
i am not writing a version 7.