Aynur

Kurdish songs with international appeal Aynur is a key figure in contemporary Kurdish music. She draws on traditional folk songs and the dengbêj singing style, but places them within an open sonic landscape that also incorporates jazz, classical music and other Western influences. As a result, her music appeals to both a Kurdish audience and listeners with a broad, international taste. She has collaborated with artists such as Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, Riccardo Muti and Kayhan Kalhor, and has appeared in documentaries by Fatih Akın and Morgan Neville. In 2021, she received the WOMEX Artist Award. During Istanbul Ekspres, the voice takes centre stage: clear, powerful and direct, supported by musicians who leave room for nuance and improvisation.