Morgenland Festival Osnabrück: SANEM KALFA - MIRACULOUS LAYERS

In the organizer's words:

The Turkish singer and composer Sanem Kalfa is one of the most distinctive voices in the field of tension between jazz, improvisation and contemporary vocal music. Her artistic work combines vocal sound art, jazz-based forms and different musical traditions to create an independent, unmistakable language.

Born in Trabzon on the Turkish Black Sea coast, Kalfa's musical socialization has been shaped by both regional sound cultures and a sound classical education. She first studied violoncello and later singing in the Netherlands. She gained international attention early on, including winning first prize at the Shure Montreux Jazz Vocal Competition, whose jury was chaired by Quincy Jones.

In her previous releases - including Nehir, the duo project DANCE and Blacksea Songs - Kalfa shows a consistently independent artistic signature with a wide range. She is characterized by her flexible use of the voice as an instrument: between compositional precision and open, intuitive improvisation.

With her current project MIRACULOUS LAYERS, Sanem Kalfa is collaborating with three renowned musicians, focusing on collective improvisation and sonic complexity. The project sees itself as a musical exploration of emotional states such as longing, vulnerability, change and joy. In multi-layered sound processes, open, narrative forms are created that speak directly to the audience and at the same time leave room for individual perception and interpretation.

Sanem Kalfa - vocals, cello, electronics

Liva Dumpe - vocals

Marta Warelis - piano

Sun Mi Hong - drums