Known for albums such as Tortadur and Go'zal Dema, this Uzbek folk singer and songwriter gained an international following and was awarded a 2004 BBC Radio 3 World Music Award. She began her music career as a professional player of the doutar (an Asian lute). She went on to attend the Uzbek National Conservatory and released her acclaimed debut album, Yo 'l Bo lsin, in 2003.