‘Derya Türkan & Sokratis Sinopoulos’

Derya Türkan and Sokratis Sinopoulos have both given international resonance to two instruments with centuries-old local roots. Türkan with the classical Turkish kemençe, a small three-stringed instrument played between the legs with a bow. And Sinopoulos with the Greek pontic lyra, which differs from the kemençe only in name. Türkan and Sinopoulos have been sharing their neighbouring musical cultures since they were teenagers. That friendship manifested itself in three albums, including Soundplaces (2020). In these, they prioritise the essence and expressiveness of traditional music. The air between the notes is almost as imposing as the notes themselves.