Following the release of their fantastic new album ‘Kar Yagar’ on Swiss label Bongo Joe last year, Dümtek presents the record release concert of Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek this May for a concert at Gretchen in Kreuzberg.
Grup Şimşek is a fresh and modern super-quartett which performs an electrified and highly danceable set of music from Turkey. It combines Anatolian folk and modern grooves, often contaminated by hints of pychedelia, jazz and funk. Led by Derya Yıldırım’s hypnotizing saz and vocals, Grup Şimşek deliver their own interpretation of Turkish jewels (by artists such as Selda Bağcan, Mahzuni Şerif, Özdemir Erdoğan), but also draw their originality from beautiful compositions and a fantastic ability in improvising.
Two years after the success of ‘Nem Kaldı’, outernational psych-pop sensation Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek delivered their debut album, ‘Kar Yağar’ – and it was worth the wait! Over the course of 12 tracks, the powerful sound of the bağlama (Turkish lute) and Derya Yıldırım’s stunning vocals, build and unravel stories together with the guitars, organs, drums, flute and bass. Kar Yağar (which translates as ‘Snow Falls’) has the dynamics of an epic journey through the Anatolian highlands; where deep-rooted folk effortlessly switches to sparkly improvisation or dancy pop tracks. The album was self produced at their studio in the French Alps, and the band’s tour de force resides in their ability to develop their personal sound and approach whilst keeping their heart tuned to Derya Yıldırım’s Anatolian roots.
The line-up: talented Turkish singer and multi-instrumentist Derya Yildirim; 3 musicians from London/France-based collective Catapulte Records (Andrea Piro, Graham Mushnik and Antonin Voyant from l’Orchestre du Montplaisant); and Greta Eacott, British composer and percussionist (G-Bop Orchestra, One Take Records). The 5 musicians met thanks to music antropologist, DJ and friend Sebastian ‘Booty’ Carrell (B-music), who was musical coordinator for the New Hamburg festival – where the quintet performed live for the first time (as Intercommunal Orchestra). When the Hamburg project came to an end, they were sure of one thing: the band must live on! Grup Simsek gathered again in 2015 in London and in France; worked on new material and performed live a number of times.In 2016, Grup Simsek met again to play more shows, and recorded their first EP: Nem Kaldi, released early 2017 on Catapulte and Bongo Joe Rds. In Spring / Summer 2018 they will be touring in UK, belgium, france, portugal, germany, poland… catch them live wherever you might be!
Gözen Atila aka Anadol will be warming up the vibe of the night.
Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek + Ipek LIVE
Saturday, 30th May 2020 | 20:00 CET
Gretchen | Obentrautstr. 19-21 | 10963 Berlin-Kreuzberg
Grup Şimşek | Club Gretchen | Event @ Facebook
Photo © Laurent Orseau
