Stories

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.

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.

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.

What happens when the human voice is manipulated through electronic drone sounds? The London-based choir project NYX is experimenting with collective singing and digital production creating a unique soundscape on their self-titled debut. Nadia Says spoke to founder and musical director Sian O’Gorman about the power of the collective voice and the joy of playing with manipulation and distortion.

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.

OFFKEY editor Felicia Aghaye spoke to London's own Greentea Peng about her newest project "Tell Dem It's Sunny". Embarking on a journey to the self, the new record sees the singer turning inward, moving away from the outward reflections her debut "Man Made" featured, and instead, explores the cycles of growth, identity, and acceptance.

On "The Breeze Grew A Fire", the alternative R'n'B artist Mereba celebrates the more tender, emotional relationships in life, sharing stories of family, friendship and spirituality. Felicia Aghaye talked to the multi-faceted artist about motherhood, transformation and the gentle power of a breeze.