London-based British-Kurdish singer-songwriter Olcay Bayir blends original compositions with tunes rooted in the rich musical heritage of Anatolia, reflecting her complex cultural background. Infusing traditional Anatolian sounds with modern elements and drawing from her Kurdish-Alevi soul, Olcay's music resonates with themes of survival, exile, love, and longing. Her debut album, Neva – Harmony (Riverboat, World Music Network, 2014), features songs in multiple languages spoken across the Anatolian region. Her second album, Rüya – Dream (ARC Music, 2019), showcased her original compositions for the first time. Both albums were well-received by industry press. Olcay was nominated for Best Newcomer at the Songlines Music Awards in 2015 for Neva – Harmony. Her latest album, Tu Guli, reached #3 on the World Music Charts Europe. She was also honored with the PRS Foundation's Women Make Music award.

Olcay Bayir

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Jan 16, 2025

Olcay Bayir · Colchester Arts Centre

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