Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek are internationally renowned for their unique and infectious sound that combines Anatolian folk with psychedelic, pop and soul influences. They have released two albums and an EP since their debut in 2014 and have toured extensively across Europe.
 

The band is led by Hamburg-born singer and bağlama player Derya Yıldırım. Although multilingual, Yıldırım sings exclusively in Turkish: “It's very important to me, because it's the language in which I can really express myself, it's my emotional language,” she explains.
 

Graham Mushnik (organ, synthesizers) and Antonin Voyant (guitar, bass and flute) are both members of the extra-national collective Catapulte Records, known for its cinematic, groovy atmospheres - an obvious influence on Grup Şimşek's sprawling, vintage-tinged compositions.
 

Capetonian drummer Helen Wells has been introducing her own style and sensibilities from South Africa's DIY and psychedelic scenes to the live set since 2022.
 

Recently signed to Big Crown Records, with their third album produced by Leon Michels (El Michels Affair) and numerous world touring plans, Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek will soon be reaching new ears worldwide.