Footprints: Worldly sounds

Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek

The German-Turkish singer Derya Yıldırım grew up with Anatolian music through her parents and also learned to play the saz (a Turkish string instrument). With Grup Simsek, she brings modern, psychedelic versions of Anatolian folk music, as well as original work. Their motto: ‘You need a groove and a melody, and everything around it is free!’.

Hamraaz

This intriguing duo consists of Lucie Lelaurain (France) and Khorshid Dadbeh (Iran). Lelaurain plays the Armenian double-reed wind instrument duduk, while Dadbeh specializes in the tar, a long-necked lute. Together, they build an enchanting bridge between traditional Iranian and Armenian music.

Sessa

The sultry Brazilian singer-songwriter Sessa blends samba with jazz, soul and a touch of rock, drawing inspiration as much from Sly Stone as from tropicália and MPB. He released his new album Pequena Vertigem De Amor late last year, which Sessa himself describes as ‘crooked funky’.

Islandman

Islandman is the electro-acoustic trio centered around Istanbul-based producer Tolga Böyük. The trio describes their unique blend of traditional Turkish melodies/Anatolian psychedelia with modern electronics/beats as ‘neo-Turkish psychedelics’. Half ceremony, half dance party, and fully Islandman.

SO SORRY

This up-and-coming Berlin quartet has nothing to apologize for – their mix of jazz, indie pop and R&B is just too good. In addition to being subtle, SO SORRY also sounds adventurous, thanks to their perfect instrumental mastery and the smooth vocals of Zuza Jasinska. Their debut EP is on the way.

Footprints Festival is at Saturday 21 February 2026 in TivoliVredenburg