The phenomenon of Anatolian psychedelia broke into wider circles more than a decade ago, groups like Baba Zula made it popular among music connoisseurs, the Dutch sensation Altin Gün took the Turkish psychedelia of the sixties straight into the mainstream. The Hamburg-born Derya Yildirim and her group Grup Şimşek seemingly belong to a similar category, yet they come at it from a completely different angle. She sees her dance groove production as a fusion of soul and folklore, but most importantly, in addition to interpreting period hits, she also explores her own songs and themes. Derya Yildirim & Grup Şimşek will make their Czech premiere at this year's Colours of Ostrava.
They are anything but revival. The international line-up, which includes Frenchmen Axel Oliveres and Antonin Le Gargasson as well as South African drummer Hellen Wells, may be schooled in the practices of traditional Anatolian rock, as is also suggested by the traditional Turkish bağlama lute, virtuosically wielded by Yıldırım herself, but they've added a full handful of spice to their unique style in the form of soul, indie and funk. Although Derya Yıldırım greatly admires the famous Turkish singer Selda Bağcan, from whom she has taken social and feminist themes, she is similarly aware of her roots. "I know people think we play retro music, but I don't come from Turkey and I don't want to do the same thing as the musicians there 50 years ago. I'm German," she told The Guardian magazine, and that confidence is evident in the sound of her band's albums.
Read moreThey were still searching for certainty on their first album Kar Yağar (2019), but the two parts of the linked opus DOST from 2021 and 2022 already capture a totally confident and sovereign group that has acquired a completely unique expression thanks to the homogeneous incorporation of more modern trends into traditional rhythmic and melodic structures. And at the same time, somehow naturally close and open, perhaps for the reasons the band talks about in the press release for the second record: 'DOST stands for the connection that keeps this life and world meaningful and equal. A connection that maintains respect, tolerance and moments of love and peace. That we continue to grow and learn from each other and allow ourselves and others to live life on our terms."