Karjam Saeji (full name, Karsangjamtso Saeji) grew up in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. His parents are nomadic herders of yak and sheep. Finishing high school he spent a year in a special school for performers at the behest of the troupe that had scouted him. This troupe was the most prestigious performance troupe in the Tibetan part of China and he began performing as a dancer with a grueling schedule of practice and performance starting in 1991. They performed around China and the Tibetan regions, although Karjam took time off to study Tibetan Literature.
He has traveled in China, Korea, India, Nepal and moved to America in March 2007.
His music reflects his deep Buddhist belief, most songs are in Tibetan though he has an original English song and can also sing popular Tibetan songs in Chinese. The subject of the songs he writes center on his own life-- his Buddhist pilgrimage walking 2,600 kilometers on the Tibetan Plateau in the summer of 2006, his marriage, his family. He also has set poems to music, including a poem by the sixth Dalai Lama. Other songs include songs written by friends and traditional folk songs which he has re-arranged. Through his music he wants to communicate with other Tibetans and to teach western people more about Tibetan culture. He also has a strong interest in preserving Tibetan performance traditions and old recordings.
On his CD "Pilgrimage" the strongest influence outside of Tibetan tradition comes from Ralf Illenberger who played music for, produced and mixed the album.
