Ilo Toerkell

The Berlin-based rapper Sorah uses her music to fight racism, sexism and homophobia. Performing at demonstrations in Berlin, her double-time grime and drill-inspired verses are echoed by a crowd that challenges unjust societal structures. Ilo Toerkell spoke to Sorah about making political music and why she also started releasing more personal songs.

Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek recently released their new record "Yarın Yoksa". The album follows the acclaimed releases, "Dost 2" (2022) and "Kar Yağar" (2019), and was recorded in New York City. Ilo Toerkell met Derya Yıldırım and Helen Wells from the group to speak about working with Anatolian classics, folk music as resistance and the bağlama in Germany.

The Palestinian-American alt-pop artist Lana Lubany just released her new EP "YAFA", named after her hometown. It follows the acclaimed "The Holy Land", which garnered the singer international attention. Ahead of her headlining show in Berlin, Lana Lubany shares her thoughts on "YAFA", the meaning of community and how she found anger to be a useful source of power.

The acclaimed singer Ganavya Doraiswamy, also known as ganavya, releases the new record "Daughter of a Temple". Raised in Tamil-Nadu the artist draws on South Asian devotional music as well as the legacy of Alice Coltrane. The album, recorded in just one week, assembles multiple voices, among them ganavya's parents.

Melike Şahin releases her sophomore record "AKKOR" meaning glowing or burning in Turkish. With catchy melodies and the occasional disco-inspired song, the artist sings about her personal experiences of survival and how they are connected to collective survival. In conversation, Melike Şahin dives into what's behind her new release.

Men Seni Suyemin is the electronic project of artist and producer Minona Volandova. With a background in classical training on the guitar, Volandova quickly fell in love with electronic and rave music. Her debut record "Believe" unites the two influences. We spoke to the artist about her practice, honoring roots, and organizing the first rave in her hometown.

The alternative RnB artist and actor Dua Saleh just released their new LP "I SHOULD CALL THEM". The record explores existential themes of love and environmentalism while also not taking life too seriously. We spoke the singer and self-declared meme lord.

Based between Cairo and New York City, Felukah incorporates the essence of both cities in her sound bending hip hop, RnB, dance music and Egyptian classics to her liking. Her effortless flow in Arabic and English, reminds of the sail boats on Nile River from which Felukah takes her artist name. Ahead of her "Before the Sun" tour, we caught up with the artist.