Mohammad Syfkhan (sy/ie) + Mizgin (sy/dk)

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Kurdish folk tunes are fused with a rich palette of diverse musical languages when two remarkable artists bring their heritage to new territories. Mohammad Syfkhan, now residing in Ireland, offers a trance-inducing, electrified take on Syrian folk tunes, while local singer-songwriter and saz player Mizgin presents her borderless music that transcends linguistic and cultural boundaries.

KLEIN will close their summer season with this final spectacular event in the dance pavilion, presented in collaboration with local promoter, and neighbor to KLEIN, Final Descent.

Mohammad Syfkhan (sy/ie)

Mohammad Syfkhan's journey from his war-torn homeland in Syria to the vibrant heart of the Irish folk music scene is a story of how music can be a unifying force. Born amidst the chaos of conflict, Syfkhan found solace in the songs and melodies of his homeland — the haunting notes of traditional Syrian music weaving stories of resilience and hope.

In 2015, amid the Syrian civil war, Syfkhan made the difficult decision to leave his home and seek refuge far away. Landing on the shores of Ireland, a land known for its rich musical heritage, he experienced how the melancholy that characterizes Irish folk songs resonated with both his own tragic fate and the darker sides of Kurdish songs.

It was with his Bouzouki — a traditional Middle Eastern instrument — and a setlist of traditional Middle Eastern and North African songs that he found his place in the Irish music scene, blending the intricate scales of Syrian music with the lively and driving rhythms of Ireland's traditional dance music.

Syfkhan's music is a bridge between worlds, a fusion of cultures that speaks to both the pain of displacement and the joy of new beginnings. His performances transport audiences to distant lands while grounding them in the universal language of music, creating a boundless expression that highlights how different world cultures can be rooted in a shared desire to come together in joy, dance, and ecstasy.

In addition to his musical work, Syfkhan is a refugee activist, using his music to raise awareness and support for those who, like him, have been forced to flee their homes. Through workshops, advocacy, and collaborations, he aims to help his fellow refugees find healing and strength in music.

For Mohammad Syfkhan, music is more than just notes on a sheet and electronics in a speaker — it is a connecting force, a means to build understanding across cultures, and a beacon of hope for a world in need of harmony. As he continues to captivate audiences with his enchanting performances, his journey reminds us of the transformative power of music to transcend borders and unite hearts.

“Syfkhan takes his domestic influences and fuses them with music from beyond those regions, from North African folk rhythms to Turkish psychedelia. It’s a glorious alembic not bound by borders, where Mohammad himself brings a cultivated exuberance to his playing that belies his vintage.”
- The Quietus

“His bouzouki playing, all coiling melodies, gliding shreds and emotional drive, is obviously a crucial component. So it fits that the first sounds to speak out from the grooves are the poised trills from Syfkhan’s buzuq, tempting you into the swirling uplift”
- Backseat Mafia

”No one would be left sitting to this.”
- Klof Mag


Mizgin (dk/sy)

Mizgin’s concerts are intense and unique events. Accompanied by Jesper Lund Jakobsen (balalajka bass), Enis Ahmed (tambourah) and Anders Honoré (saxophone), she initiates a dialogue with the audience, navigating her repertoire in new and unpredictable ways. Her music, rooted in Kurdish folk tradition, blends with Anders’ jazz saxophone, Jesper’s psychedelic bass lines and Enis’ Balkan melodies, creating a warm and multifaceted acoustic experience.

Mizgin is a lover and a fighter, with a quest for love, freedom, and independence. Music has been an inseparable part of her life since childhood, despite contracting polio at age two. While her siblings went to school, she immersed herself in Kurdish and Turkish melodies, secretly learning to play the saz. Gaining a reputation for her voice at weddings, she sought her own musical path, eventually moving to Istanbul and then to Copenhagen.

Now a prominent figure in the Danish and Nordic music scenes, Mizgin is known for her strong, warm voice, intense performances, and dedication. Singing in Kurdish, Arabic, Turkish, and Danish, her vocals transcend linguistic and cultural boundaries, resonating with life and sensitivity. Welcome to the enchanting and captivating musical universe of Mizgin!

Director of Copenhagen Songwriter’s Festival, Brett Perkins, said: 
“In August 2012, Mizgin and her band performed at their first entirely Western festival, Copenhagen Songwriter’s Festival. The concert went down a storm with the audience, and one critic wrote: “Didn’t understand one word – and yet I did. Her voice is fairytales and longing – unbelieveable beauty and necessity. The trio, top notch playing. What a wonderful surprise, but this is what a festival can do: Present unknown names to you, that will make a lasting impression. Since the musical codes are very different, I dont follow Middle East music in general. But Mizgin is different: She is like rock n roll, communicating to everybody”.

Dansk

Mohammad Syfkhan (sy/ie)

Mohammad Syfkhan's rejse fra sit krigshærede hjemland i Syrien til den pulserende kerne af den irske folkemusikscene, er en fortælling om hvordan musik kan være en forenende kraft. Født midt i kaosset af konflikt fandt Syfkhan trøst i sit hjemlands sange og meloder - de hjemsøgende toner af traditionel syrisk musik, som væver historier om modstandskraft og håb.

I 2015, midt under den syriske borgerkrig, traf Syfkhan den vanskelige beslutning om at forlade sit hjem, og søge mod tryghed, langt hjemmefra. Da han landede på Irlands kyster, et land kendt for sin rige musikalske arv, oplevede han hvordan den sørgmodighed, som karakteriserer iriske folkesange harmonerede med både hans egen tragiske skæbne og de mørkere sider af kurdiske sange.

Det var med sin Oud - et traditionelt mellemøstligt instrument - og en setliste med traditionelle Mellemøstlige og Nordafrikanske sange, han fandt sit ståsted på den iriske musikscene, da han begyndte at forene de komplekse skalaer fra syrisk musik med den livlige og fremdrivende rytmik irlands traditionelle dansemusik.

Syfkhan's musik er en bro mellem verdener, en fusion af kulturer der taler til både smerten ved fordrivelse og glæden ved nye begyndelser. Hans optrædener transcenderer publikum til fjerne lande, samtidig med at de forankres i musikkens universelle sprog og skaber et grænseløst udtryk som belyser at forskellige verdenskulturerer kan være forankret i et fælles ønske om at mødes i glæde, dans og ekstase.

Foruden sit musikalske virke er Syfkhan flygtningeaktivist, og bruger sin musik til at skabe opmærksomhed og støtte til dem, der, ligesom ham selv, er blevet tvunget til at flygte fra deres hjem. Gennem workshops, begvågenhed og samarbejder sigter han mod at hjælpe sine medflygtninge til at finde helbredelse og styrke i musikken.

For Mohammad Syfkhan er musik mere end blot toner på et ark og elektronik i en højtaler - det er et forbindende kraftfelt, et middel til at opbygge forståelse på tværs af kulturer og et håbslys for en verden der har brug for harmoni. Mens han fortsætter med at bjergtage publikum med sine fortryllende optrædener, minder hans rejse os om musikkens transformative kraft til at transcendere grænser og forene hjerter.

“Syfkhan takes his domestic influences and fuses them with music from beyond those regions, from North African folk rhythms to Turkish psychedelia. It’s a glorious alembic not bound by borders, where Mohammad himself brings a cultivated exuberance to his playing that belies his vintage.”
- The Quietus

“His bouzouki playing, all coiling melodies, gliding shreds and emotional drive, is obviously a crucial component. So it fits that the first sounds to speak out from the grooves are the poised trills from Syfkhan’s buzuq, tempting you into the swirling uplift”
- Backseat Mafia

”No one would be left sitting to this.”
- Klof Mag



Mizgin (dk/sy)

Mizgins koncerter er intense og unikke oplevelser. Akkompagneret af Jesper Lund Jakobsen (balalajkabas), Enis Ahmed (tambourah) og Anders Honoré (saxofon), skaber hun en dialog med publikum og udforsker sit repertoire på nye og uforudsigelige måder. Hendes musik, som er forankret i kurdisk folketradition, blander sig harmonisk med Anders’ jazzsaxofon, Jesper’ psykedeliske buslinjer og Enis’ Balkan-melodier, hvilket skaber en varm og mangefacetteret akustisk oplevelse.

Mizgins univers er lige dele kærligt og konfronterende, med en søgen efter kærlighed, frihed og uafhængighed. Musik har været en uadskillelig del af hendes liv siden barndommen, selv efter hun blev ramt af polio i en alder af to. Mens hendes søskende gik i skole, fordybede hun sig i kurdiske og tyrkiske melodier og lærte i hemmelighed at spille saz. Efter at have opnået anerkendelse for sin stemme ved bryllupper, fulgte hun sin egen musikalske vej, hvilket førte hende først til Istanbul og senere til København.

Nu er Mizgin en fremtrædende figur på den danske og nordiske musikscene, kendt for sin stærke, varme stemme, intense optrædener og dedikation. Når hun synger på kurdisk, arabisk, tyrkisk og dansk, overskrider hendes vokal sproglige og kulturelle grænser og giver genlyd af liv og følsomhed. Velkommen til Mizgins fortryllende og fængslende musikalske univers!

Lederen af Copenhagen Songwriter’s Festival, Brett Perkins, skrev følgende: 
“In August 2012, Mizgin and her band performed at their first entirely Western festival, Copenhagen Songwriter’s Festival. The concert went down a storm with the audience, and one critic wrote: “Didn’t understand one word – and yet I did. Her voice is fairytales and longing – unbelieveable beauty and necessity. The trio, top notch playing. What a wonderful surprise, but this is what a festival can do: Present unknown names to you, that will make a lasting impression. Since the musical codes are very different, I dont follow Middle East music in general. But Mizgin is different: She is like rock n roll, communicating to everybody”.