OUTERNATIONAL COLLECTIVE DERYA YILDIRIM & GRUP ŞİMŞEK COMBINE ANATOLIAN FOLK & MODERN PSYCHEDELIC FLAIR ON THEIR LATEST SINGLE “CEYLAN”
ALBUM YARIN YOKSA OUT MARCH 14 ON BIG CROWN RECORDS
Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şi̇mşek release their new album Yarın Yoksa on March 14th via Big Crown Records, Throughout the album, produced by Grammy-winning Leon Michels (Clairo, Norah Jones), the show-stopping intensity of frontwoman Yıldırım is on display along with the psychedelic soul of Grup Şi̇mşek. Yarın Yoksa (translation: “if there is no tomorrow”) delves into deeply personal pain and collective resistance with a central thread of loss, longing and hope for change running throughout. Today, the group shares the latest single from the album, “Ceylan” – listen below or HERE.
With psyched out synth lines, bouncing drums and beautiful bağlama melodies. Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şi̇mşek put their inimitable touch on their version of the Neşet Ertaş original (lyrics by his father Muharrem Ertaş). The ceylan (deer) symbolizes tenderness and fragility, and represents the human soul facing unavoidable dangers and challenges in life. Throughout the song, Derya paints vivid imagery of hunting and loss that resonates deeply with Anatolian traditions, where nature and its creatures are often used to express human emotions and suffering.
Born in Hamburg, Germany to Turkish parents, Yıldırım grew up influenced by her family’s Anatolian background and the myriad of cultures in the city and plays the bağlama – a seven stringed Turkish lute – throughout the album (“there’s just something very magical about it”). She also sings in her parents’ native Anatolian with lyrics that are poetic with symbolic language, metaphors and storytelling. Together, Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek have created a memorable and emotional record that challenges genre while having broad appeal and a powerful message.
Most recently, the band shared “Direne Direne,” an anthemic protest song urging people to come together and resist oppression. “Direne Direne” was preceded by tracks “Hop Bico” – an old Anatolian folk standard brought into the 21st century with a slow psychedelic twist and hypnotic vocals, and whose lyrics are a call to action, urging celebration while embracing life through dance and movement; and “Cool Hand,” a beautiful juxtaposition of intensity and lightheartedness with lyrics that explore the depths of unrequited love.
Ten years ago, while participating in a community theater project, Derya met French musicians Graham Mushnik (keyboards) and Antonin Voyant (guitar/bass) from Catapulte Records and formed the band Grup Şimşek with Helen Wells, a drummer from Cape Town, South Africa joining in 2021. While the band is truly international, they eschew the term “world music,” preferring instead “outernational” which they say suggests a sound that’s more inclusive or “beyond borders.” Together, they embody what defines Anatolian folk music – “You need a groove and a melody, and everything around it is free,” notes Derya. It’s this ethos that guides the band’s songwriting and the way they take on Anatolian folk standards. “This music is so important because it remains the voice of the people, the minority, and the oppressed.”
After self-producing multiple albums, they signed with New York’s Big Crown Records in 2024 and teamed up with Grammy-nominated producer Leon Michels (El Michels Affair) for Yarın Yoksa. The new album embodies their balance of preservation and innovation across nine original compositions and three traditional folk songs. It is a record that will enchant any listener regardless of language barrier with Derya’s passion and authenticity front and center and music too moving to deny. Yarın Yoksa is sure to captivate the hearts and minds of all those who hear it, and just wait til you experience them play it live.
Tour Dates
2/20 Diest, Belgium – C-Mine Festival
2/21 Dortmund, Germany – Konzerthaus Dortmund
3/13 Hamburg, Germany – Elbphilharmonie Grosser Saal
3/14 Copenhagen, Denmark – Alice
3/15 Aarhus, Denmark – Turkis
3/18 Manchester, UK – The Deaf Institute
3/19 Bristol, UK – The Jam Jar
3/20 London, UK – Scala
3/21 Norwich, UK – Norwich Arts Centre
3/22 Glasgow, Scotland – Stereo
3/23 Newcastle, UK – The Grove
3/25 Paris, France – Theatre Zingaro
5/08 Antwerp, Belgium – De Roma
5/09 Liège, Belgium – Uhoda Jazz à Liège
5/11 Bern, Switzerland – Bee Flat
6/27 Salzberg, Austria – Jazz It
Artist Links
Background Photo Credit: Philomena Wolflingseder
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