Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek are internationally famous for their atypical and captivating sound. The Turkish band combines Anatolian folk with psychedelic rock and influences of jazz, funk and contemporary pop. Since their formation in 2014, they have released two albums and an EP and toured extensively across Europe. 

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

Graham Mushnik (organ, synthesizers) and Antonin Voyant (guitar, bass and flute) are both members of collective Catapulte Records, which is known for their cinematic, groovy atmospheres and so has a clear influence on Grup Şimşek's vintage-tinged compositions. Drummer Helen Wells hails from South Africa and since 2022 she introduced her own psychedelic interpretations during the live sets.

Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek recently signed with Big Crown Records and we are eagerly looking forward to their third full-length album as well as their first show at De Roma.