About This Event
Shows Are Standing Room OnlyDerya Yıldırım is singing the song her grandmother used to sing an old Anatolian folk standard called HopBico, which roughly translates as Hop Around Bico. But the version Deryas grandmother sang was different shed put her own slant on it. And Deryas is different still brought into the 21st century with a slowpsychedelic twist and her own hypnotic vocals. This is by design. Derya insists that if youre going to play an oldfolk song then you have to contribute something new, otherwise you might as well just put the old record on.Born in Hamburg, Germany to Turkish parents, she grew up influenced by her familys Anatolian backgroundand the myriad of cultures in the city. Deryas musical roots started at home playing folk music with familymembers. Her father pushed her to learn various instruments, beginning with the bağlama, a seven stringedTurkish lute. Then she picked up the guitar, piano, and saxophone.Although she is a multi-instrumentalist, Derya always felt drawn to the sound of the bağlama - theres justsomething very magical about it. With her band Grup Şimşeks forthcoming album Yarın Yoksa, whichtranslates to If Theres No Tomorrow, Derya continues her journey revitalizing Anatolian folk music andinstrumentation by infusing timeless melodies with a modern psychedelic flair.Ten years ago, while participating in a community theater project, Derya met French musicians GrahamMushnik and Antonin Voyant from Catapulte Records and formed the band Grup Şimşek with Helen Wells, adrummer from Cape Town, South Africa joining in 2021. While the band is truly international, they eschew theterm world music, preferring instead outernational which they say suggests a sound thats more inclusive orbeyond borders. DY You need a groove and a melody, andeverything around it is free. Its this ethos that guides the bands songwriting and the way they take onAnatolian folk standards. I believe the melodies shouldnt be changed because we are responsible to preservemusic in the correct way. Our versions respect the roots. Its the same lyrics and melody, but it has a differentsoul maybe. While its easy to think of folk music as a music of the past, she insists its just as important today.Some of these poems were written hundreds of years ago but theyre still relevant. This music is so importantbecause it remains the voice of the people, the minority, and the oppressed.After self-producing multiple albums, they signed with New Yorks Big Crown Records in 2024 and teamed upwith Grammy-nominated producer Leon Michels (El Michels Affair) for Yarın Yoksa. The new album embodiestheir balance of preservation and innovation across nine original compositions and three traditional folk songs. Itis a record that will enchant any listener regardless of language barrier with Deryas passion and authenticityfront and center and music too moving to deny. Yarın Yoksa is sure to captivate the hearts and minds of allthose who hear it, and just wait til you experience them play it live.
