Derya Yıldırım for NDR Kultur
"She is a singer and multi-instrumentalist, but her most important instrument is the bağlama, a lute with centuries of tradition, inextricably linked to Anatolian folk music. Derya Yıldırım grew up in Hamburg, has Turkish roots, and naturally combines cultural influences in her pieces. She studied classical music, played the piano, and immersed herself in Beethoven, Bach, and Schubert. Today, she and her band Grup Şimşek represent modern “Anadolu Rock,” a musical style that combines Turkish folk music with Western rock, among other influences. The band is currently on tour in Europe with their new album."
Watch the interview -> here <-