Today the journey goes to Turkey, with music by Zeyn’el and Mehmet Polat.
Zeyn’el.
Divan & Divine is a selection of troubadour poems from the 14th to 16th centuries about historical injustice, as well as Zeyn’el’s own compositions that reflect similar issues that are still relevant today. The result: a synthesis of Western tones and Turko-Anatolian motifs that communicate issues of great ethical significance and convey the messages of his highly honored ancestors. Zeyn’el is versatile in many instruments including ukulele, banjo, merlin dulcimer and guitar; he modified these instruments to make them more suitable for Anatolian music.
CD. Divan & Divine – Zeyn’el.
LABEL: Arc Music (2023), code: EUCD2962. VIDEO
Mehmet Polat.
Mehmet was born in Sanliurfa, Turkey in 1981. He started his musical career with the Turkish folk instrument “baglama” when he was 5 years old. From this age he practices Turkish-Alevi music and traditional folk music from the city of Urfa. At the age of 17 he moved to Istanbul and studied Turkish music and oud. Due to a continuous search for new possibilities and deepening, influences from Turkish folk, Arabic music, music from Azerbaijan, Persia, but also from Spanish Flamenco and jazz can now be found in his playing. In 2007 he moved to the Netherlands.
CD. Desire – Mehmet Polat.
LABEL: RMP (2011), code: 8060. Website
Thanks to:
Arc Music UK and Muziekweb Rotterdam.
