Dilan Balkay

Trumpeter and singer Dilan Balkay, one of the hottest names in the Turkish alternative scene, is making her debut in Israel, bringing to the festival a fresh spirit of jazz that’s young and rough, in touch with the R&B, hip hop, electronica, Turkish psychedelia and pop worlds. Dilan will perform with her ensemble at the festival with songs from her debut album, Kuyu, released in October 2021. The album, featuring nine original songs she wrote and composed, in which she dives into the depths of the psyche, was recorded under pandemic conditions, in her living room and the studio, was distributed in all digital media and quickly conquered the leading radio stations in Turkey and the hearts of the audience. The songs, ranging from soft melancholy reflections to cautious optimism, were musically arranged and produced by guitarist Onur Güney Kumaş.

Balkay learned to play the trumpet at the age of 9 and quickly integrated into local orchestras. In her youth she sang as an alto and jazz singer in youth choirs and participated in concerts and festivals in Turkey and Europe. At the age of 18 she joined the ethnic group, Farfara Istanbul, with which she performed on the streets of the Turkish capital. She later performed accompaniments, on the trumpet and with background vocals, on stage and in recording studios, for leading singers, ensembles and composers in the Turkish alternative scene, which added layers and shades to her work, including Abrankan Gondoz, Ozbi, Knuzan , Nova Norda, Sadaf Sabuktakin, DKTT, Eda Baba and others.

An introduction to a special musician, who manages an electrifying synthesis of layers and textures, a soul singer with an exciting and enveloping voice and a piercing trumpet sound, at once plaintive and praying, spreading sensuously through the body.