Be The Ocean

Tenzin Choegyal’s talent as a singer-songwriter has earned him a Grammy nomination and established him as one of the most significant Tibetan performers on the world stage.

A son of Tibetan nomads, Tenzin feels a particular connection to the music of the Himalayan plateau. He plays dranyen (Tibetan lute) and lingbu (bamboo flute) but is best known for his extraordinary vocal ability and performance of droklu, the nomadic music of his parents.

At the same time, he effortlessly embraces diverse musical styles both in the studio and on stage, along with an international cast of collaborators including Philip Glass and Laurie Anderson.

Tenzin’s major work, Songs from the Bardo, is a contemporary interpretation of the Tibetan Book of the Dead. The latest version, recorded with US collaborator Laurie Anderson, was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2021. “It’s a really beautiful ancient text”, he says, “and this work is a fusion of age-old wisdom with a very contemporary sound”.

Tenzin’s most recent album Yeshe Dolma, is dedicated to his late mother and is the result of a long-term collaboration with Queensland’s celebrated string ensemble, Camerata.

Tenzin’s powerful vocals and connection with his audiences have established him as a favourite on the world music scene. Through his music and warm explanations, he delights new audiences and loyal fans alike, taking them on a musical journey with soaring vocals, sublime flute pieces, sacred poetry and playful folk tunes, even inviting them to join him in lively singalongs and meditative mantras. His message is uplifting and his obvious joyfulness is infectious.

Tenzin has been on a life-long musical pilgrimage since his early years in Dharamsala, a refugee village in India. He sees music as a universal form of communication and a powerful medium for cultural exchange. "Music is like drifting clouds that fly freely over the man-made geographical borders in this infinite space of possibilities", he observes. For Tenzin music is life, no matter where he is. "My music has evolved through my own journey from Tibet to India to Australia and around the world. But wherever I am in the world, my music also connects me to my homeland of Tibet."