By adding a psychedelic twist to Anatolian folk music, singer Derya Yıldırım and musicians Grup Şimşek are contributing something original to the genre. Born in Germany to Turkish parents, Yıldırım grew up learning various instruments, including the bağlama, a seven-stringed Turkish lute. Her goal now is to revitalise Anatolian folk music and instrumentation by infusing timeless melodies with a modern psychedelic flair, retaining the groove and melody, but finding a freedom around that. “If you’re going to play an old folk song then you have to contribute something new, otherwise you might as well just put the old record on,” she says. The band members are truly international and all contribute to the fresh sound, with Yıldırım’s lute and expressive voice at the forefront.