Published on 12th August 2017
Newspaper: Cumhuriyet
Translation: Google Translate
The Kurdish musician Aynur says that the new album ‘Hawniyaz’ means ‘Wish in the Air’ and says, “I kind of wish, I wanted, we got together and I was Hawniyaz
From the stars of Kurdish music, Aynur came together with world famous virtuosos in his new album “Hawniyaz” and made an improvised recording over five tracks. In “Hawniyaz” album published under Sony Music label, Aynur, kemençe virtuoso Iranian Kayhan Kalhor, drummer Cemîl Qoçgîrî and drummer Cemîl Qoçgîrî, who are known for their drumming and experimental music approach, and Azerbaijani pianist Salman Gambaro making a musical journey through the stories of this land.
Aynur, who lives abroad, answered my questions by mail.
– Why is your album name Hawniyaz?
Hawniyaz is a word used both in Persian and Kurdish. A word that expresses how to come together, to meet, to breathe each other, to niyaz, to steal and to say. Another meaning is “Wish in the Air”. I mean, I kind of begged, we came together and we got “Hawniyaz”.
– Why did you want to re-vocalize the tracks “Delale”, “Rewend”, “Xidire min”, “Malan Barkir – Berivane”, “Ehmedo – Ez Reben Im”?
Our first meeting and registration was in 2012. This repertoire was new to my dear Kayhan or Salman, they listened to me at the concert and liked me very much. We have already come together to express our favorite tunes and songs in different forms that we have not started with the idea of making albums to the project. With these sounds Cemil knows, the project has improved more easily. What makes the album different from other works is that it is an album that everyone improvised, added something and recorded live, not on any fiction. It is a traditional but somewhat experimental album with some classic, jazz and mystical motifs.
– What did this quartet bring in the music?
The messenger of our music souls. We came together to deliver it to the owners waiting for it.We have had the pleasure of sharing the possibility, beauty, and fidelity of making or developing something common with music. Working with the masters of their own business, singing, ensuring their integrity with their tones, confidence and rest and bringing experience afterwards.
– Do you read a piece in Kurdish yourself? Reading in English or other language?
I feel much more open and open when I study Kurdish, and most importantly I feel that I have experienced all my childhood. Maybe I do not know, maybe not to forget, to lose that feeling, to live. But turküler, sayings, long awaits these are my traditions, and I feel the same feelings when I read them. I feel the language is Kurdish even when feeling all Turkey! I think we should look at this picture and value it. There are also those who regard Turkey as a richness, those who prejudge it. I present my respects of infinite love to this audience, to every audience in this belief. I especially wanted to mention this. If you have a real connection with music, the easiest is to pronounce those two words. The rest are prejudices we have learned.
– Making music in Kurdish is a political stance in itself?
Of course! Every element that forms a language that does not accept the existence is political.We try to recall the simplicity of the music as much as possible while making music, but I can tell you that it is not easy.
Felt Kurdan: woman’s re-awakening
– The pieces that shines you are “Felts Kurdan”, “Yare” Şivan Perwer’ın works … What is the contribution of Şivan Perwer’s music?
I grew up with Kurdish. Since my childhood, I have listened to songs, songs, pies holding Dersim’s songs, pies, which I have listened to, all these things have already prepared me. I knew Sivan Perwer but after listening to Istanbul I could listen in detail in 90s. Especially for the first time I was very impressed and very excited when I was alive. His enthusiasm, excitement and hope were encouraging. I grew up listening to Mahmud Baran, Şeroyê Biro, Aram Tigran, and Mary Xan.
The song of Felt Kurdan is; I wanted to say that the mission that women put on them is because it invites them to fight for themselves, that is, the symbol of the re-awakening of women.
– When you give a concert in Turkey in an interview, you said in line that they want to record a criminal record. Still?
I have not had a concert in Turkey for about three years.
– Why do you give a little concert in Turkey while giving so many concerts abroad?
Demand is coming from abroad most, I can say completely from abroad. Under these conditions nobody wants to give much place to Kurdish music in Turkey.
– Where do you live? Please do not be an inquisitor …
Eee, unfortunately … All of my work, my collaborative projects, a great part of my time, is going on because almost all of the musicians I have developed live in Europe.
– Tunisia, Ireland, Germany, Canary Islands, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Brazil … You are walking around the world for concerts. What are you putting in your baggage?
When I have a nice concert and beautiful listeners, I turn back with a wonderful energy that can not fit. n In a criticism about you, “Who can speak of the existence of a soundun unique to Aynur? A star is born but a sound is not born, “he wrote. Do you accept this? I think it was an evaluation for the first album in 2004. The spirit of each era can be different. I am an audio artist, I come side by side with different musicians, I do different experiments. My sound is my voice.
Eyes always closed …
– You are telling the eyes more off the pieces … Where do you go when singing with your eyes closed?
I am integrated with my songs. I meet my own feelings.
– Yasar Kemal said to you, “It is as strong as the voice of thousands of keçin descenders from the sounding mountains.” When you are at the highest level on stage, what do you feel? “ You and those who define you always refer to it from nature …
My childhood has been intertwined with nature, I feel very fortunate to be myself. For me, nature, life, breath, self-discovery, more self-expression and self-expression.
– Why is there no Turkish translation in the album book that meets with music lovers in Turkey?
The album was actually made with a company from abroad and came out there. When the demand was over, we decided to take it out here as well. Most of the songs already have translations on other albums and on our website.
‘I am in a state of distress’
– What do you want to say about Turkey’s agenda? What kind of mood are you in?
I am in distress and regrettably watching.
– What do you want to say about the problems of Kurdish identity in Turkey?
This country is rich with the color of every corner. We need to see and accept it. Together we have no choice but to strengthen an equal and free life.
‘Bitter, reality of Kurdish geography’
– When I listen to the album I feel filled with pain … What does the album tell us as a whole?
The album actually tells the geography we live in. Unfortunately, you can often see the reality and music of Kurdish geography. The words in this album also have pain, sadness, longing, hope or even rebellion.
– Why do we always tell the pain side of pain?
Maybe I do not know how to get rid of ourselves. Maybe it’s the unseen anguish, to hear the pain …
– Who is the Aynur other than the musician? Is he sad? Is it insulting?
I can sometimes be rebellious and sometimes sad, but I am hopeful even when I hit the bottom.