Biography

Çiğdem Aslan is an Istanbul-born singer who sings in various languages and regional styles. Coming from Kurdish-Alevi background, in which music is one of the pivotal elements of the culture, Çiğdem has always understood the ethnic mosaic that makes up modern Turkey.  Through her university years studying English Literature, she performed folk songs in different languages as part of a project to shine a spotlight on Anatolia’s minority cultures. Çigdem has been performing and touring her critically-acclaimed solo albums 'Mortissa' (2013) and 'A Thousand Cranes' (2016) which have been released from Asphalt Tango Records. Both albums focuses on Rebetiko and Smyrnaic songs from Asia Minor and Greece mainly from 1930s. The albums received great reviews from all around the world; including the Guardian, NPR, Songlines, fRoots, Evening Standard, New York Music Daily; and entered the World Music Charts Europe from top ten and stayed there for months. 'Mortissa' was chosen as one of the best albums of 2013 by fRoots and Songlines Magazine which nominated and shortlisted Cigdem in the 'Best Artist' category for Songlines Music Awards 2014. In 2014 Mortissa won the prestigious „Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik/ German Record Critics Award" As well as her solo career Çiğdem is also a member of the award-winning She’koyokh and occasionally performs traditional Alevi music with Tahir Palali. For more information visit www.cigdemaslan.com