Jamila & The Other Heroes have released their new single and an accompanying music video for “LAYLA (ليلة).” Following their latest album "Bazaar Bizarre فلسطين وين انا؟" the song carries both the weight and the joy of resilience. Öykü Naz Gümüş spoke with lead singer Jamila Al-Yousef about the journey behind the song and what it means to make resilient music about painful narratives.
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.
The Berlin-based festival for new Anatolian music, İÇ İÇE lost their funding as part of the massive budget cuts imposed by the German government. Now, the festival needs donations to take place this year. Author Öykü Naz Gümüş wrote about the importance of preserving a festival, which has become a unique meeting-point for queer and BiPoC people in Berlin.
The Berlin-based singer Anika released "Abyss", a record oozing with urgency and the need to make one's voice heard. Following her solo albums "Eat Liquid" (2023) and "Change" (2021), she now reinvents her signature post-rock sound for the current state of the world and to deliver a gut-moving live show. Nadia Says spoke to the singer about the societal inspirations for the record's themes and whether music can be a driver for change.
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 Berlin-based singer Güner Künier is about to release her new record "Yaramaz". On the album, the artist embraces her heritage, singing in Turkish for the first time, and rejects societal expectation of women. Author Anna Grubauer spoke to Güner Künier about what's behind "Yaramaz".
The Berlin-based RnB and soul singer King Josephine just released her debut EP "Note to Self". In conversation with our author Svenja Isabel Hudson, she talks about finally gaining the confidence to release music at 37 and processing anger and loss through song.
The Moroccan-Yemeni artist AŸA is about to release her debut live album “AŸA - Live in Berlin”, allowing us to relive her iconic 2023 concert at Kesselhaus. Opening the door to an enchanting world where music meets fashion and gymnastics, AŸA escapes reality through pop and R&B melodies. Here is what she told us about the journey that took her there.
