In the midst of a chaotic period in Istanbul, Danûk emerged in 2015. The group, consisting of graduates from Syria’s finest music and fine arts programs, had fled the war in their home country and turned to street performances in Istanbul as a means of survival. They were soon discovered by a social enterprise and hired to compose scores for films and radio.
On their debut album, Morîk, Danûk seeks to revive a collective consciousness of the importance of homeland through the rediscovery of ancient sounds. The band taps into archived phonograph recordings of Kurdish folklore and wedding songs, which have been preserved on wax cylinders and discs for over a century in The Berliner Phonogramm-Archiv and The Phonogrammarchiv of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Danûk transforms these recordings into phenomenal auditory icons that celebrate the profound cultural heritage and identity of their people.
Morîk is a rhythmic tribute that brings to life a cherished past in the present and future. The album features sounds captured by Austrian and German explorers in the early 20th century, including a Syrian priest singing in Jerusalem (“Axir Zemana”, “Lo Lo Li Mino”), Kurdish shepherds’ songs, and locals singing Kurdish folklore in Sendshirli excavated sites (present-day Turkey) (“Xelîlo Lawo”, “Lê Lê Mi Go”). Danûk reinterprets these recordings, breathing new life into the multicultural sounds and aesthetic of that era.
The album features four songs adapted from wax cylinder and disc recordings, as well as five traditional Kurdish folklore and wedding songs (“De Çêkin”, “Finciko”, “Şewqo”, “Girê Sîra”, “Lo Şivano”). The music resonates with inflexible symbolism and embodies the band’s discovery of light and meaning in what might have been forgotten. Morîk, which means pearl, reflects the band’s journey to revive the value of homeland through the timeless and melodramatic sounds of Kurdish traditions.
Ferhad Feyssal (Syrian-Kurdish/vocalist), Hozan Peyal (Syrian-Kurdish/buzuqi), Yazan Ibrahim (GholanHeights/guitarist), Tarik Aslan (Turkish-Kurdish/deff, erbane), Michael League (bass), and Ronas Sheikhmous (Syrian-Kurdish/mey, bilur, zorna) collaborate to transform the music of Mesopotamian Kurds into a celebration of enduring sounds. Morîk, Danûk’s labor of love, is set to release on May 19, 2023, via Omni Sound.
Regarding how the album was produced, Michael League from Snarky Puppy shared more insights. According to League, the making of Morîk was a highly exceptional experience. In addition to the historical and cultural significance of capturing songs that had never been recorded using modern methods, it also held a personal meaning for him. Being able to share the journey with a talented group of musicians and individuals was a pleasure. Tarik, one of his closest friends and mentors for several years, and Ferhad, also a friend of many years, had the opportunity to showcase Kurdish culture uniquely, which was a great honor for Michael. He hopes that the music resonates with the listeners as much as it has with him.
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.