Efkar Ensemble

Efkar have for many years played with artists all around the world; at festivals, concerts, weddings and gramophone recordings. Today all of them reside in Sweden and Europe, and Efkar was formed here to carry on the Turkish heritage.

Ismet Demirhan learned to play the kaval and the zurna as a shepherd boy, and became one of Anatolia´s most sought-after wedding musicians. Fuat Talay comes from Van and is a master of dance and music from that area, and he has participated in a number of recordings with artists from all around Middle East. Hakan  Vreskala started out as a punk drummer in Izmir, but is nowadays in high demand as a percussionist in groups such as Taximi and Orient Express. Hesen Kenjo comes from Syria and, as an outstanding student at the music conservatory, was awarded a scholarship to study abroad. He presently lives in Germany.

The young, sensational singer Yasemen Dinc learned to sing from her mother. She has a rare talent for, among other things, improvisation in the traditional style, which gives her a unique presence on stage.

Sabahat Akkiraz is one of the greatest voices in Turkey today and a practitioner of the Alevi tradition, an art form that combines poetry and literature.

The feeling of yearning and joy in the new country creates strong ties and a passion for the music of Anatolia that Efkar shares with such energy.