2 hours of S.W.A.N.A sounds selected by the former TUHAF lead singer Berrin Bas
Growing up in Jutland but based in Copenhagen, Berrin Bas always stayed connected to her Turkish roots. With a musical heritage influenced by the S.W.A.N.A regions, the sounds of her upbringing have been with her every step of the way sculpting and refining her musical creativity and taste. This playlist reflects all that, giving us a glimpse into the mind of the diligent artist. You might recognize Berrin Bas as the front figure of the now defunct Danish-Turkish psych-rock band TUHAF, which performed across Denmark for 10 years.
Hi Berrin! Thanks for putting this gorgeous playlist together for us. What did you have in mind when creating it?
Open up my brain, and this tracks selection is what you’ll find. I wanted to share some stuff with you that I predict you don’t come around that often. This vibe is what I listen to all day, everyday and probably will do forever and ever. The lyrics are about expressing oneself from a cultural and political context, such as inequality, corruption, and the fight for freedom. There’s also a lot about heavy love, and lyrics about traditional folk tales, myths, and poetry, which give the songs a more symbolic and metaphorical image. What I find fascinating about these songs is the rich tradition they represent. Traditional folk music elements combined with whatever modern sounds. For example, cover bands in Türkiye are well-respected and tribute to the music that was written before and is not forgotten as long as the legacy is played. People value ‘cover bands’ as highly as the original band. There’s nothing laughable about it; it’s taken very seriously.
How did you get into music and how did it develop from there?
My whole family lives in Türkiye, so every year since I was born, I go back to visit, and spend the whole summer chilling with everyone. There’s a lot of music in each individual person in Türkiye, – people sing on the streets, knowing every song ever recorded, and of course the weddings play a big role in my attraction to non-western music. You hear all the pieces from different SWANA regions, which makes me humble in a way.
What are you working on these days?
I unplugged to focus on school for a bit. I fancy big changes, and I’m very good at it, – so I just kind of quit everything, so I could start over again, or maybe more, build on top of what I’ve already experienced, but in a more honest way. My DJ-sets are still crazy, and people dig it, so I’m having a big vibe on that
For more news and music, stay up to date with Berrin Bas over at her Instagram <3