Cinematic: Selim Demirdelen and "Mo Şibi Hat Aito"

Turkish director and composer Selim Demirdelen brings us today's random tune, called Mo Şibi Hat Aito. Raised in Istanbul, Demirdelen studied film at New York University, and then finished with a Masters degree in Cinema and Television at Bilgi University. He soon won prizes for his short films Hasret and Çevre, and is most known for his feature films The Crossing (2010) and Istanbul Tales (2005). A musician also, he released his first album in 2002, founded the music recording studio 101 and also wrote and arranged music for films. You can find Mo Şibi Hat Aito on the 2007 various artists compilation Istanbul Calling, Vol. 2.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: http://www.turkishculture.org/whoiswho/movie-documentary-tv/selim-demirdelen-2159.htm

What a Name: Smadj and "Inspiré Par Une Ile"

Today's tune is an interesting , modern sounding mashup of traditional music and exotic vocals over modern, electronic beats. The artist, Jeanne-Pierre Smadja (whose stage name is Smadj) is a Tunisian born, Parisian musician who takes inspiration from Asian, Brazilian, funk, soul and folk music. He started studying music at age 15 with a focus on the guitar, and he became known for turning traditional jazz into eclectic sounds. He gained a degree in sound engineering and became a recording and sound engineer for classical and folk musicians. He released his first solo album in 1994, and eventually became recognized for his blend of acoustic and electronic sounds. He was a co-founder of the famous acoustical group DuOud. He also has worked with a number of famous Turkish musicians, such as Burhan Öçal, Savas Zurnaci and Orhan Osman. You can find this song, Inspiré Par Une Ile, on the compilation CD Istanbul Calling, Vol. 2: Ethnic Electronic (2007).

I Know: Zi Punt and "Who Knows"

Who Knows, by Zi Punt, is our random tune for today. Zi Punt is a Turkish group made up of Oguz Kaplangi, Chi K. and Orange who mash up electro and rock. Oguz Kaplangi produces Zi Punt as well as other groups and gives concerts in Turkey and abroad. Chi K is originally from Turkey but she spent five years in New York City singing at Bard College. Orange is the stage name of Istanbul-based, New Zealand born musician and video artist Reuben de Lautour. He studied music at Princeton and DJ'd in New York and New Jersey before moving to Istanbul. He is on the faculty of the Istanbul Technical University. Who Knows can be found on the 2007 compilation Istanbul Calling Vol. 2.

Turkish Tragedy: Zi Punt and "Sunset From Maiden's Tower"

Sunset from Maiden's Tower, by Zi Punt, is a little interlude song that is our random tune for today. Zi Punt is a Turkish group made up of Oguz Kaplangi, Chi K. and Orange who mash up electro and rock. Oguz Kaplangi produces Zi Punt as well as other groups and gives concerts in Turkey and abroad. Chi K is originally from Turkey but she spent five years in New York City singing at Bard College. Orange is the stage name of Istanbul based, New Zealand born musician and video artist Reuben de Lautour. He studied music at Princeton and DJ'd in New York and New Jersey before moving to Istanbul. He is on the faculty of the Istanbul Technical University. Sunset from Maiden's Tower can be found on the 2007 compilation Istanbul Calling Vol. 2.

The title refers to an Istanbul landmark. The Maiden's Tower legend is that a Turkish emperor consulted an oracle and learned that his daughter would die from a snake bite on her 18th birthday. To protect her, he built the tower, which sits on a small island about 200 feet from land, and kept her there. On her 18th birthday, the emperor brought a basket of fruit to his daughter. Delighted, she reached in to get some fruit and was bitten by an asp which was hiding under the fruit in the basket. She died in her father's arms, thus fulfilling the prophecy.