Ruken Yılmaz – Sê Çiya (self-release, 2022)
“Sê Çiya” is the new album by Ruken Yılmaz, one of the most talented vocalists in Turkey’s Kurdish music scene. Indeed, Ruken Yılmaz is a talented songwriter, musician and singer, with a captivating, lovely vocal style.
The new album includes a beautifully arranged mix of traditional and original songs deeply rooted in tradition, featuring a combination of traditional Middle Eastern and western classical instruments.
Ruken Yılmaz was born in 1990 in Istanbul, although her family has roots in the Siirt/Eruh region, which is a Kurdish region within Turkey.
Ruken started singing and playing the guitar at a young age. She joined the Marmara University Music Teaching Department in 2008 and began performing music at the MKM (Mesopotamia Cultural Center) during that time.
Prior to her solo career, Ruken Yılmaz was a member of several ensembles and projects. She released her debut solo album, Zelî, in 2016 under the direction of Genco Arı. After that, she released several singles, and in 2022, she published her second solo album, Sê Çiya, directed by Nurhak Kılagöz.
Lineup: Ruken Yilmaz on vocals; Özgür Taş on drums; Cem Dinler on piano; Eren Turgut on bass;
Barış Cem Songur on percussion; Tarık Caliskan on stringed instruments; Serkan Yildirim on kaval; Özgecan Günoz on violin; Yilmaz Biser on cello; Mert Can Selcuk on clarinet; Tarık Caliskan on lafta; Mizgin Ayaz on rebab.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.