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MOTHER MOON: SO DUO’S DEBUT ALBUM
Oh, Mother Moon!
Hear us
Cover us
Show us ourselves!
MOTHER MOON is the debut album of Turkey’s SO Duo – Sumru Ağıryürüyen and Orçun Baştürk. Released by Kalan Müzik in April 2018, MOTHER MOON is comprised of original songs by SO Duo. The album brings together the creative forces of these two artists who have been the cornerstones of many of Turkey’s leading ensembles in styles ranging from traditional to avant garde for a project that can be labeled as alt-folk, other or perhaps otherworldly.
In addition to writing their own lyrics for MOTHER MOON which are often inspired by oral traditions of indigenous cultures, SO Duo have also drawn on poetry by mystic Anatolian minstrels such as Aşık Veysel and Yunus Emre and from ancient texts such as Lao Tzu’s ‘Tao Te Ching’ and ‘Irk Bitig’ – a book of omens in old Turkic language.
MOTHER MOON achieves a simple and delicate balance from an eclectic assembly of instruments (panduri, mandolin, keyboard, electronics and drums) as well as between sound and words, creating a listening experience that is at once familiar and fresh.
Lead vocalist Sumru Ağıryürüyen plays mandolin, keyboard and various percussion while Orçun Baştürk plays panduri, drums, keyboard and electronics, and sings the backing vocals. MOTHER MOON also features guest artist Elif Canfezâ Gündüz, master of the classical kemençe, on one track.
Music for the twelve tracks on MOTHER MOON was composed by Orçun Baştürk or collectively by SO Duo, original lyrics were written by Sumru Ağıryürüyen and all arrangements were created by Orçun Baştürk. The album was engineered and mixed by Ender Akay and Ömer Taşkın at Kedi Müzik Studio and by Orçun Baştürk and was mastered by Cafer Ozan Türkyılmaz. Album design is by Toronto-based artist Yeşim Tosuner.
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Sumru Ağıryürüyen and Orçun Baştürk:
As members of ground-breaking music groups and projects, Sumru Ağıryürüyen (Mozaik, Balkan Journey, Harsh Consonants) and Orçun Baştürk (İstanbul Blues Kumpanyası, Saska, Replikas, Kırıka, Taner Öngür & 43.75), have performed across Europe, the US, Asia and the Middle East, as well as frequently collaborating with a diverse range of artists at home and abroad. Sumru is a highly respected vocalist in a multitude of styles and is among Turkey’s first free improvising singers. Orçun is an in-demand drummer in many genres and is a composer of an original musical language. In addition to contributing to numerous group recordings, Sumru released Issız, her solo album with Kalan Müzik in 2009 and Orçun has issued five solo EP’s as Oichuung. Since 2013, the two musicians have worked together on a number of other group projects ranging from the traditional to the experimental such as Konjo, Sappho, Black Sea-Balkans Line and Ayde Mori.
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MOTHER MOON (AY ANA):
1. Mother moon (Lyrics: Sumru Ağıryürüyen, Music: SO Duo)
2. Oh, my friend! (Lyrics: 15 c. Hindu Sufi and mystic poet Kabir, Music: Orçun Baştürk)
3. We understood before you spoke (Lyrics: Yunus Emre and Lao Tzu, Music: SO Duo)
4. Bitter song (Lyrics: Sumru Ağıryürüyen, Music: SO Duo)
5. Mountains burn (Lyrics: Sumru Ağıryürüyen, Music: SO Duo)
6. Mask (Music: Orçun Baştürk)
7. If I tell my troubles (Lyrics: Aşık Veysel Şatıroğlu, Music: SO Duo)
8. The omen is good (Lyrics: from Irk Bitig: The Book of Omens, Music: Orçun Baştürk)
9. Rain (Lyrics: Sumru Ağıryürüyen, Music: Orçun Baştürk)
10. Words (Lyrics: Sumru Ağıryürüyen, Music: Orçun Baştürk)
11. Lymnology and oceanography bulletin
12. Mane (Lyrics: İbrahim Metin – Sumru Ağıryürüyen, Music: SO Duo)
SO Duo photos: Pınar Gediközer
