Olcay Bayir (EN)

Recipient of a 2017 Women Make Music funding award from Performing Rights Society, Music Foundation UK, singer/songwriter Olcay is from Turkey of Kurdish origin, based in London. Her contemporary sound blends elements of her musical tradition of her homeland Anatolia, jazz, folk and 21st Century urban sounds with evocative vocal through her original compositions and eclectoc arrangements of sound of east. 

Most reviews of Olcay Bayir focus on her exquisite voice. Opera-trained in London but born in Turkey’s south not far from the Syrian border, Olcay’s soul is rooted in the deeply-emotional music of Anatolia, home of many peoples from Turks and Kurds to Armenians and Arabs. Her father was an aşik singer in the Alevi tradition, where music is highly-valued. From an early age Olcay has been singing and writing songs. Nominated as Best Newcomer in the Songlines Music Awards 2015 for her album Neva (Riverboat) with songs from Anatolia and middle east and the Balkans in languages as diverse, Olcay was described in The Guardian as "an impressive newcomer to London’s vibrant global music scene.” 

Since then she has performed at festival such as Womad, Sfinks Belgium and Etnika Slovenia, with a show that is dynamically charged and sensitively touching. The music grooves hard. Her band of international musicians includes Giuliano Modarelli and Al MacSween from award-winning world-jazz fusion band Kefaya.

Olcay’s upcoming new album “Ruya- Dream” will be released in April 2019, and will present own contemporary songs blend elements of her musical traditions, as well as traditional songs of Anatolia and Mesopotamia and Mediterranean with arrangements that incorporate a range of influences, jazz, classical, and international sounds with powerful styling. Her sounds evoking atmospheres of both elation and haunting melancholy.  Suiting both concert hall and club, from London’s cultural melting pot, Olcay takes hearts and feet eastwards and outwards. 

Band: Voice Guitar Keys Drums Bass Violin Percussion

Repertoire: Olcay's contemporary original songs; traditional or well-known folk and popular songs from Anatolia and the region in Turkish, Kurdish, Armenian... 

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Medienberichte

“one of the finest, most intriguing singers on the British world music scene...exquisite and uplifting.” The Guardian Newspaper UK March 2019
“Bayir is blessed with a magnificent, clear voice that beautifully colours her original repertoire, combining jazz and world music with Kurdish tradition. .. If the omens don't deceive, this fantastic singer is on the eve of a great international career.” Bas Springer, Mixed World Music, Netherlands May 2019
“She is ready for a step up: acknowledging and interpreting your past and your culture is very noble, but adding something essential to it with new work is even more impressive… with this album the singer proves that she will eventually become one of the absolute top class of contemporary world music.” Rootstime Belgium May 2019
“Olcay Bayir… brings a mix of traditional Anatolian songs and self-written "Kate Bush-like" songs on the wonderful CD: Rüya – Dream... With a beautiful balance between modern and old, everything fits together wonderfully and sounds neither old-fashioned nor modern.” Popmagazine Heaven Netherlands April 2019
"a heart-stoppingly beautiful and emotive voice" ☆☆☆☆ RnR Mazagine UK April 2019
“there is groove and even funky rhythms Everything with the elegance of a velvety voice and honest songs daringly sung in Turkish and Kurdish” Dionizy Piątkowski, Jazz.pl Poland April 2019
“a captivating voice style with a blend of passion and energy” World Music Central USA April 2019
“nothing short of stunning” Jonathan Overby Wisconsin Public Radio USA April 2019