Tibetan singer Yungchen Lhamo is as dedicated to her native country as she is to her music.
"Music is my main focus," Lhamo said during a telephone interview from her home in New York. "But I do have a goal. I want to show Tibetan situations that a lot of people don't understand."Lhamo will perform at the University of Utah's Behavioral Sciences Auditorium on Thursday, Jan. 21, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the House of Tibet, 145 E. 1300 South. Tickets can also be reserved by calling 487-8930.
"Many people read about some of the problems in Tibet in books," Lhamo said in her soft-spoken accent. "But they don't know the heart of the problems."
Lhamo, 28, has seen those problems firsthand. Tibetans have suffered much persecution from the Chinese, she said.
"I have seen two of my brothers die of malnutrition," Lhamo said. "My grandmother was in prison since I was 5 years old, and she was abused and tortured. This is what is happening, not only to my family, but to my people."
Lhamo was lucky, she said. She fled Tibet in 1989 and made a trek over the Himalayas to India, where she met the Dali Lama. He encouraged her to spread her message with her music.
She has since released two albums -- 1997's breakthrough "Tibet, Tibet" and her most recent, "Coming Home."
"I am an independent artist who wants to write good music that will touch and inspire people," Lhamo said. "I want my music to benefit and help my people, because I'm also Tibetan."
The concert, which is a benefit for the Tibetan Children's Village Schools, will be mostly a cappella, Lhamo said. But there will be some musicians on Tibetan instruments who will accompany her on a few selections.
Lhamo's music combines dreamy lilts and Buddhist chants that have been a part of her heritage. Her name literally means "Goddess of Song." A Tibetan monk gave Lhamo that name, and because of that, the singer believes she is divinely called to spread her message.
"Everyone has a spiritual side," she explained. "And I hope when people hear my music, they will follow what their hearts want them to do."
Lhamo has sung all over the world. While in India, she spent time at a Tibetan performing arts school. In 1993, she found herself in Australia, where she recorded "Tibet, Tibet" and met her husband, Sam Doherty.
Since then, she has toured with the Beastie Boys' Tibetan Freedom Concert, and she was recently part of the Lilith Fair (though she did not appear with the tour at the Canyons last summer). She has also performed twice at Carnegie Hall, the London Royal Festival Hall with Philip Glass and Lou Reed and many churches and theater venues in more than 70 countries.
Lhamo said that while touring is exhausting, it is also wonderful. "Many of my people (Tibetans) don't know what is happening outside our country. I've seen many other countries and cities. I would like to take that information back to Tibet and give my people more hope."
Later this year, Lhamo will be part of Peter Gabriel's WOMAD (World of Music Arts and Dance) Festival.
"I'm very excited," she said, nearly squealing. "When I perform, I feel strong, because I get strength from the audience."
Although things are going well for Lhamo, she says there are many things she still needs to overcome. "First, hardship is the music industry. There are not many Tibetan singers. I have to make a road for the others who will come after me. And I'm happy to do that. My mission is to work for my country."