Baba Zula (also stylized as BaBa ZuLa) is a

Turkish Turkish may refer to: *a Turkic language spoken by the Turks * of or about Turkey ** Turkish language *** Turkish alphabet ** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation *** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey *** Turkish communities and mi ...

alternative musical group, founded in Istanbul in 1996.Erich Kocin
''Psychedelische Klänge aus Istanbul in Wien''
Die Presse, 1 July 2007. Retrieved 2012-01-05. With a wide variety of influences and a wide range of instruments, they create a unique

psychedelic Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary states of consciousness (known as psychedelic experiences or "trips").Pollan, Michael (2018). ''How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of ...

sound.

History

Founded in 1996, the band features Levent Akman and Osman

Murat Ertel Murat may refer to: Places Australia * Murat Bay, a bay in South Australia * Murat Marine Park, a marine protected area France * Murat, Allier, a commune in the department of Allier * Murat, Cantal, a commune in the department of Cantal Elsewhe ...

till today. Latest incarnation added Periklis Tsoukalas, Melike Şahin and Özgür Çakırlar. The other founder member Emre Onel was replaced by Coşar Kamçı in 2005. He was replaced by Özgür Çakırlar in 2012. BaBa ZuLa added live drawing artist Ceren Oykut into the mix in 2004. She left the band in 2010. Her presence onstage had added an important visual aspect to BaBa ZuLa's live performances. Akman, Ertel, and Onel originally formed BaBa ZuLa as a side project of now disbanded psychedelic Anatolian rock group ZeN.Nick Hobbs, "Istanbul Grooves",
fRoots
' June 2008, pp. 59-61. The group started performing internationally at the Kumanova Jazz Festival in 2003 and gradually started building an international audience as well as a cult following in Turkey. In 2005 BaBa ZuLa was exposed to a wider international audience when they were featured in a documentary, ''Crossing the Bridge'' by Fatih Akin, which took an in-depth look at Istanbul's contemporary and avant-garde music scene.Reinvigorating roots
Innerviews, 2008. Retrieved 2012-01-05.

Musical style

Described as "Turkey’s most beloved alternative music purveyors," Baba Zula create a unique psychedelic sound, combining traditional Turkish instruments, electronica, reggae, and dub. The core of their sound is the saz, a Turkish bouzouki-like stringed instrument with a bright, high-pitched sound. They use a revolutionary approach to electric saz, combining it both with retro and high-end electronic effects that creates an original sound never heard before until now. BaBa ZuLa have performed at festivals such as

The Spirit of Tengri ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in En ...

(

Almaty Almaty (; kk, Алматы; ), formerly known as Alma-Ata ( kk, Алма-Ата), is the List of most populous cities in Kazakhstan, largest city in Kazakhstan, with a population of about 2 million. It was the capital of Kazakhstan from 1929 to ...

, Kazakhstan), Images of Middle East (multi-city Denmark tour),

Roskilde Festival The Roskilde Festival is a Danish music festival held annually south of Roskilde. It is one of the largest music festivals in Europe and the largest in the Nordic countries. It was created in 1971 by two high school students and a promoter. In 1 ...

(Denmark), Sofia Film Festival (Bulgaria), Klinkende Munt Festival (Belgium), Printemps de Bourges (France), Cologne Triennale (Germany), Şimdi/Now Festival (Germany), Arezzo Wave Festival (Italy), the Venice Biennial (Italy), the Boost Festival (Netherlands), and the Era Nowe Horyzonty (Wrocław, Poland).

Members

–

lead vocals The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of t ...

, electric saz, guitar, theremin, percussion, vox (1996- ) * Levent Akman – percussion,

drum The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel-Sachs classification system, it is a membranophone. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a she ...

, machines vocals, gong , spoons (1996– ) * Periklis Tsoukalas –

electric oud Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter that has a property of electric charge. Electricity is related to magnetism, both being part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism, as describe ...

, vocals, synth (2014– ) * Özgür Çakırlar – darbuka,

bendir The ''bendir'' ( ar, بندير, plural ''banadir'', ) is a wooden-framed frame drum of North Africa and Southwest Asia. The bendir is a traditional instrument that is played throughout North Africa, as well as in Sufi ceremonies; it was played ...

, davul, percussion (2012– )

Former members

* Melike Şahin – vox (2012–2018) * Emre Onel – goblet drum,

sampler Sampler may refer to: * Sampler (signal), a digital signal processing device that converts a continuous signal to a discrete signal * Sampler (needlework), a handstitched piece of embroidery used to demonstrate skill in needlework * Sampler (surna ...

(1996–2003) * Ceren Oykut – live video (2004–2010) * Çoşar Kamçı – goblet drum (2003–2012 )

Guest musicians

International guests: *

Sly Dunbar Lowell Fillmore "Sly" Dunbar (born 10 May 1952, Kingston, Jamaica) is a drummer, best known as one half of the prolific Jamaican rhythm section and reggae production duo Sly and Robbie. Biography Dunbar began playing at 15 in a band called ...

and Robbie Shakespeare * Alexander Hacke, bass guitarist from Einstürzende Neubauten *

Brenna MacCrimmon Brenna may refer to: People * Brenna Hassett, American British bioarchaeologist * Brenna O'Brien (born 1991), Canadian actress * Brenna Sakas (born 1984), American beauty queen * Giuseppe Brenna (1898–1980), Italian cyclist * Troy Brenna (bor ...

, Canadian Turkish-Balkan folk musician and vocalist * Dr.Das (Asian Dub Foundation), English band that plays a mix of rapcore, dub, and ragga *

Titi Robin Thierry "Titi" Robin (born 26 August 1957 in Rochefort-sur-Loire) is a French composer and improviser. His style combines Western culture, Mediterranean world including Romani (term), Romani, Oriental and Culture of Europe, European cultures. He ...

, French composer and improviser *

Tod A. Tod Ashley (born November 30, 1965), better known by the stage name Tod A, is an American singer, songwriter, and bass guitarist. He founded the rock music groups Cop Shoot Cop and Firewater. Ashley also spent time while in art school in a ban ...

, bass guitarist * Bugge Wesseltoft, Norwegian jazz musician, pianist, composer, and producer. Turkish guests: *

Hüsnü Şenlendirici Hüsnü Şenlendirici (born 12 July 1976 in Bergama, Turkey) is a Turkish musician of Romani people in Turkey, Romani Background. He comes from a family of musicians: his grandfather Hüsnü Şenlendirici played clarinet and trumpet, his other gr ...

, clarinetist from Laço Tayfa * Özkan Uğur, Turkish rock/pop musician from

MFÖ Mazhar-Fuat-Özkan (MFÖ), also known by their original name Mazhar ve Fuat, is a Turkish pop and rock band with Mazhar Alanson, Fuat Güner and Özkan Uğur as members. While many of their songs poke fun at common Turkish types ("Ali Desider ...

Mehmet Güreli Mehmet Güreli (born 1949 in Istanbul) is a Turkish writer, painter, director and musician. He graduated from Istanbul University , image = Istanbul_University_logo.svg , image_size = 200px , latin_name = Universitas Istanbulensis , mot ...

, Turkish writer-painter-musician * Sumru Ağıryürüyen *

Selim Sesler Selim Sesler (1957 – May 9, 2014) was a Turkish clarinet virtuoso of Romani heritage. Early years Selim Sesler was born at Yenimescit neighborhood in Keşan town of Edirne Province in 1957. His Romani parents originate from Drama, Greece, who m ...

, clarinetist

Discography

* 1996 – '' Tabutta Rövaşata'' – soundtrack for '' Tabutta Rövaşata'' ("Somersault in the Coffin") by Derviş Zaim (Ada Music) * 1999 – '' Üç Oyundan Onyedi Müzik'' (Doublemoon) * 2003 – '' Psychebelly Dance Music'' (Ruhani Oyun Havaları)(Doublemoon, mixed by Mad Professor) * 2005 – '' Duble Oryantal'' (

Doublemoon Doublemoon Records, founded in 1998 as an offshoot of Pozitif Productions, is an independent pioneering record label based in Istanbul, Turkey, dedicated to spreading the city's music around the world. Doublemoon has concentrated on world fusion ...

, mixed by Mad Professor) * 2006 – '' Dondurmam Gaymak'' – soundtrack for '' Dondurmam Gaymak'' ("Ice Cream, I Scream") by Yüksel Aksu (Rh Pozitif) * 2007 – ''Kökler'' (Doublemoon) * 2010 – ''Gecekondu'' (Doublemoon) * 2014 – 34 Oto Sanayi * 2017 �
XX
* 2019 – ''Derin Derin'' * 2020 - ''Hayvan Gibi'' - recorded live direct-to-disc at Artone Studios, the Netherlands in August 2019.

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baba Zula Musical groups established in 1996 Turkish musical groups World fusion groups Experimental musical groups Psychedelic folk groups Musical groups from Istanbul