Season of the Song: Çigdem Aslan

A concert that promises to stir the soul and ignite the senses. Hailed as “a lioness and nightingale” by the Evening Standard, Aslan brings the raw passion of Rebetiko to life with a voice described by Jazz Weekly as “rich, earthy and penetrating—as sweet as a watermelon and as strong as a demitasse of coffee.”

A master of emotional storytelling, her performances blend haunting beauty with fierce energy, earning her accolades from Songlines Magazine and RFI Music as one of the most powerful voices in world music today. Whether channelling the smoky echoes of Billie Holiday or reaching breathtaking emotional heights, Çigdem Aslan is an artist you cannot take your ears—or eyes—off.

Çigdem is an Istanbul-born singer who sings in many languages and regional styles, including Turkish, Greek, Kurdish, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Romany and Ladino. Her musical journey started within the family. Coming from a Kurdish-Alevi background, in which music is a pivotal element of the culture, she grew up surrounded by the rich sounds of her culture and then gradually encountered the other sounds of Istanbul and beyond. While studying English literature at Istanbul University, she regularly performed Rebetiko, Sephardic and other ethnic music of Turkey.

Moving to London to study music, Çigdem began performing with groups including Dunav Balkan Band, originally established in 1964, SOAS Rebetiko Band and the award-winning She’koyokh. As part of She’koyokh, she has won plaudits for the “clear, natural ease” with which she sings (Songlines Magazine) and her “no-nonsense from the heart passion” (fRoots Magazine). She also performs folk songs from different regions of Anatolia, accompanied by Tahir Palali on kopuz/baglama and herself on frame drums.

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