Tu Gulî – Olcay Bayır
Tu Gulî (You are a Rose) is the latest album from British/Kurdish-Alevi singer Olcay Bayır and will be released on ARC Music, 24th May 2024.
Olcay Bayır delves deeply into the very roots of her life and heritage, proudly displaying her reverence for the magnificent multitude of influences that make up the colourful Anatolian culture. This album is a powerful, emotional, and diverse musical journey.
Giving voice to the women who came before her, Bayır explores the memories, stories, and sounds of the past and honours the bold people of Anatolia who continue to preserve their rich cultural heritage. These tales are conveyed through Bayır’s hauntingly beautiful, evocative vocals and are delivered in an inimitable style that reflects her complex background.
Traditional Anatolian melodies, drawn from the region's many cultures, are respectfully reimagined, blending with the sounds of Bayır’s adopted home – cosmopolitan London. “One of the finest, most intriguing singers on the British world music scene....” - Robin Denselow, The Guardian, 2019.
Olcay's personal touches and artistic flourishes give new life to these revered compositions. The innumerable influences of the album trace us across Anatolia and touch upon its history and the lives of its people. The song Edlê – releasing as a digital single on May 3rd – is an up-tempo Kurdish wedding dance full of vigorous instrumentation and vibrant vocals.
Setero, sung in the local language of the Dersim region, Zazaki-Kurdish, is a moving reflection on the horrors of war, and the classic Kurdish love lament Ay Dilberê is performed in the traditional singing style of Dengbêj. Hunsa – a song that holds a poignant place in the artist’s heart as it was often sung by her grandmother – tells the tale of a young girl forced to marry. An experience shared by Olcay’s grandmother and many women throughout Anatolian history. This theme is explored further in Ağ Elime Mor Kınalar Yaktılar, a Turkish song that bleeds inspiration from a sad truth.
Once more, we hear of a young girl, just 12 years old, admitted into matrimony and sent away from her loved ones to begin a new life far from the one she so cherished. Turkish influences are further displayed with Ötme Bülbül and Daha Senden Gayrı Aşık Mı Yoktur? The lyrics of which were inspired by notable Alevi poets. We also visit Armenia with the traditional tunes Nare Nare and Tal Tala, and the sombre sounds of Adana offer a contemplation on one of the most devastating events in Armenian history – the "Medz Yeghern (Great Crime)”. Revelling in inspiration from Anatolia’s creative minds and spirits, she explores its history and the lives contained within. Bayır boldly highlights the social struggles of her sisters, echoing their stories that have been told through time in her own formidable fashion.
An exploration of composite cultures and complex histories and an acknowledgement of the indomitable spirit of Anatolia and its people, Olcay Bayır invites you to experience Tu Gulî.
For further information please contact Amelia Zimmatore | amelia@arcmusic.co.uk | +44(0)1342 770478
ARC Music Productions Int Ltd, PO Box 111, East Grinstead, RH19 4FZ, UK | www.arcmusic.co.uk