A collective of musicians from Turkey and Europe have banded together to bring a series of traditional and original tunes to life, lovingly crafting arrangements that highlight both their sensitivity and their virtuosity. Ceren Kaçar (TR, vocals), Gabriel Meidinger (FR, violin), Ozan Demir (TR, kaval, zurna, oğur sazı, guitar, vocals), Jonas Pour Mozaffar (SE, Bulgarian tambura), Toby Kuhn (FR, cello) and Kerem Can Aslan (TR, percussion, davul) wrote, arranged and recorded during a residency in Istanbul in March 2021 eight tracks’ worth of acoustic traditional and traditionally-inspired music, resonating to the themes of sea and migration, pain and joy, through struggles both mundane and extraordinary, with an unbreakable bond to the natural world. Teaching each other by firelight, sharing tunes, stories and ideas with enthusiasm, transcending both borders and genres, Seyyah delivers a performance that will leave no-one behind.

The album features six songs, mostly in Turkish but also in Kurdish and Greek, interspersed with two original instrumental numbers. The influences are Anatolian, Balkan, and Nordic, and more besides. Kaçar’s delicate yet powerful voice weaves magic while the instrumentalists surround her with a combination of virtuosity, care and exuberance, giving life to old traditions and forging their own in an album that brings their travelling souls together into a unique sound.

Vocals: Ceren Kaçar
Oğur Sazı, Kaval, Zurna, Vocals: Ozan Demir
Cello: Toby Kuhn
Violin: Gabriel Meidinger
Bulgarian Tambura: Jonas Pour Mozaffar
Percussion: Kerem Can Aslan

Producers: Toby Kuhn, Ozan Demir
Recording, Mixing & Mastering: Ozan Demir

Video Director: Stephan Talneau

English Translations: David Mus