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.
The Berlin-based rapper Ebow just dropped an extended version of her 2024 album "FC Chaya". The re-release includes four brand-new songs and comes with a glitter edition of the vinyl. The artist, who is a well-known queer and Kurdish voice in the German rap scene, gives us some insight into what the songs are all about.
Parallel to the film festival, Berlinale, several local organisations are organising a counter-program. Falastin Cinema Week is hosted by Refuge Worldwide, AL.Berlin, Jewish Bund, Diaspora Rising and many others. From 17 to 21st of February, you can experience film screenings, talks, and art exploring Palestinian histories and decolonial narratives.
The artists Najib and Ahmed Eid collaborated with several other musicians on the release of "Spirit Of the Soul روح الروح". The song pays tribute to the recently killed Palestinian man Khaled Nabhan and his granddaughter Reem. Proceeds from this soli release will go towards supporting humanitarian efforts in the region.
Berlin-based singer AKA Kelzz just released their debut record, "Odyssey". On it, they break boxes and express themselves authentically. Author Anna Grubauer met the artist to talk about their musical journey, the importance of talking about mental health struggles, and how they danced and cried throughout the recording.
