'Like' us on Facebook - Facebook.com/balconytv
Follow us on Twitter - Twitter.com/balconytv
BABAZULA - BUTTERFLIES BIRDS (KELEBEKLER KUSLAR)
PRESENTED BY RISHI MAJUMDER
Born in Istanbul in 1996, Baba ZuLa features founding members Levent Akman (spoons, percussions, machines, toys), Murat Ertel (saz and other stringed instruments, vocals, oscillators, theremin), as well as darbuka and percussion player Cosar KamÁi who replaced original member Emre Onel in 2005.
Baba ZuLa go to great lengths to provide their fans with a unique live show experience. Their ritual-like performances are a mixture of disciplines of art, often featuring belly dancers, elaborate costumes, poetry, theatre and live drawing, delivering viewers a tantalizing audio-visual feast. By mixing oriental instruments such as the darbuka, electric saz, and spoons with electronics and modern sounds, BaBa ZuLa creates a sound all their own called istanbul psychedelia. While a ney can represent the past Sufi-Islamic tradition, and a clarinet is the symbol of the music of the Turkish gypsies-an electric saz together with a wooden spoon can serve as musical compass to Turkish musical roots going as far back as pre-Islamic, shamanic times, through Anatolia reaches all the way up to present-day Istanbul. Despite sounds that might initially come to mind when one hears a phrase like "Oriental Dub", Baba ZuLa's music is in fact psychedelic istanbul rock'n roll that rolls in a way that westerners haven't heard so frequently since the late '60s rock epoch.They are the unrivalled masters of 21st century Turkish psychedelic music Baba ZuLa share their legacy with us through their music, a music born out of Istanbul and influenced by the memories of Istanbul passed on to them from generations past.
BaBa ZuLa released their latest album Gecekondu last autumn. They are recording at their own studio in istanbul as always.
Baba ZuLa have composed several mood-setting pieces for the silver screen over the years, their most recent release is an original score for the film "Dondurmam Gaymak". The band also appeared in the Golden Bear award winning director Fatih Akinís film "Crossing the Bridge" that explores the sounds of Istanbul and also provided music for the film by recording with Einst¸erzende Neubauten's Alexander Hacke. Their albums have been chosen among the top 5 albums by prestigeous music magazines in turkey from 2003 on, the latest being Turkish BILLBOARD magazine awards for the last 10 years of Turkish music where they won 3 awards for the top ten instrumental albums and also topping the best film music award with their soundtrack album DONDURMAM GAYMAK They got many awards for the music they composed for films and theaters, the latest being the prestigious Ismet K¸ntay Award for the best theater music of the 2008 season.
Baba ZuLa have turned up the volume and energy levels at festivals and clubs such as the memphis in may festival(orpheum theater,memphis)3 times, Sofia Film Festival (Bulgaria) 4 times,? Taormina Film Festival, Berlinale,?Shibuya Club (Tokyo), Klinkende Munt Festival (Belgium), If Club (Ankara) numerous times, Ost Club(Wien) 2 times, Venn Festival (Bristol), Arezzo Wave Festival (Italy), Sodren Theatern (Stockholm)2 times, Images of Middle East (multi-city Denmark tour), Peyote Club (Istanbul) numerous times, Cologne Triennale (Germany), Gezici Film Festivali (Kars) 2 times, Wagenhalle (Stuttgart) 3 times, Printemps de Bourges (France), Junges Theater (Bremen) 2 times, La Mar De Musicas Festival(Cartagena), Simdi/Now Festival (Berlin) 2 times, the Boost Festival ( Amsterdam) , Paradiso (Amsterdam), Fabrik (Hamburg), Theatre de Chatelet (Paris), Bee Flat (Bern) Mediawave Festival, (Hungary), Universiade 2009 (Belgrade) ?the Venice Biennial (italy), Berlin Zoo (Berlin), Roskilde festival(Denmark), Vega(Copenhagen) Crimson Club (Kadikˆy) numerous times, Gypsy Festival (Drom,New York), Chicago World Music Festival (Martyrs-Chicago), Carling Academy (Islington-London), the Cedar Club ( Minneapolis), Babylon Club (istanbul) numerous times, Kumanova Jazz Festival (Macedonia), Half Note Club (Athens) 7 times, Vooruit (Gent) 2 times, New Morning Club (Paris), Karaburun Festival (Izmir) 2 times, Haci Bektas Festivali (Nevsehir) 2 times?, Rock Tatili (FoÁa) 2 times, Roll Performance (Diyarbakir), Babylon (Istanbul), many many others
http://www.babazula.com
An Oijo! Production
Sound - Kavi Bhansali/Raghav Suthaud
Special Thanks - Amarass Records - http://www.amarrass.com/
Tune in again to BalconyTV //
