SongS Band blends Mongolian traditional music with rock to tell stories of Inner Mongolia, bringing the sounds and spirit of the grasslands to a new generation.
SongS・令 (hereafter SongS band), an Inner Mongolian rock band, blends traditional Mongolian music with rock to tell stories of today’s Inner Mongolia, where nomadic traditions continue to influence modern life.
There are no flashing lights or roaring crowds inside the SongS band’s rehearsal studio in Xilinhot, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
Instead, guitars rest against the wall. A morin khuur stands in one corner. Between rehearsals, the five band members discuss melodies, lyrics and upcoming performances. Days earlier, they had performed at Xilinhot Grassland Night, where the audience sang along with their songs. Now, back in the studio, they are focused on something else: telling the stories of the grasslands through contemporary music.
For the SongS band, every song begins with home.
Home
The band’s identity starts with its name.
“SongS” is derived from the Mongolian word sons, meaning “to listen.” Beyond its literal meaning, the name evokes a desire to listen, connect and share stories through music. In English, the plural form also suggests a collection of songs and voices celebrating the band’s hometown and the nomadic civilisation that has shaped it.
The Chinese character Ling (令) was also used in ancient Chinese musical terminology, while carrying meanings related to commands and expression. For the band, it symbolises music as both a personal voice and a message carried from the grasslands.
The SongS band’s logo centres on the image of a traditional Mongolian yurt. It symbolises the belief that their music is born there before travelling beyond the grasslands.
That sense of home also inspired one of the band’s signature songs, Xilinhot.
Most of the members have lived and worked in the city for years. However, they say the song is not simply about a place.
Instead, it portrays a modern grassland city where urban life and the prairie coexist, and nomadic traditions continue alongside contemporary life.
“There are grasslands, there is wind, and there is a sense of belonging,” the band says. “It is about the emotional bond people have with this land.”
The grasslands also shape their everyday lives.
“They are not just scenery,” the band says. “They are the cultural foundation of our lives and shape the way we see the world.”
Identity
SongS band combines Mongolian music with rock and pop elements. Yet the band says the goal is never to mix styles for the sake of novelty.
“Our principle is simple,” they say. “The mood comes first. Form comes second.”
For the band, traditional Mongolian music provides the emotional core of each song. Rock gives them another way to express those emotions.
They do not simply place the morin khuur or long-song singing atop rock arrangements. Instead, every musical choice serves the story they want to tell.
“When a song calls for openness and distance, traditional melodies take the lead,” they explain. “When it needs power and release, rock drives the rhythm.”
The band has also drawn inspiration from Nordic folk metal bands and world music artists. They admire how those musicians bring local traditions into contemporary music.
At the same time, they see a clear boundary.
“Techniques can be learned,” they say. “But cultural identity cannot be copied.”
For SongS band, their roots remain firmly in Inner Mongolia’s nomadic culture. Their goal is to develop a rock language that belongs to the East Asian grasslands.
Journey
The band’s upcoming album looks beyond the landscape itself.
Some songs look back on the long history of the grasslands and their nomadic traditions. Others focus on today’s young people on the grasslands as they stay connected to their hometown while pursuing their dreams on bigger stages.
The band sums up the album with four words: perseverance, courage, home and the road ahead.
Meanwhile, they have noticed growing international interest in music from Inner Mongolia.
Many overseas listeners associate the region with traditional folk melodies. SongS band hopes their music offers a broader picture.
“Grassland culture is diverse,” they say. “It is gentle and vast, but it is also passionate, resilient and full of strength.”
If the band has the chance to perform in Europe, Xilinhot would be their first choice.
” It represents who we are,” they say. “The song shows today’s Inner Mongolia, where grasslands and cities grow together, and where traditional culture continues alongside modern life.”
The band also hopes their music encourages people to experience Inner Mongolia beyond its famous attractions.
“We hope people can spend a quiet evening on the grasslands,” they say. “Listen to the wind. Enjoy the sunset. More importantly, we hope they can understand the respect for nature, openness and resilience that lie at the heart of nomadic culture.”
“That is the grassland we hope people will discover through our music,” SongS band says.
If you like this article, why not read: Anda Union Brings the Sound of Inner Mongolia to London
