We at Mideast Tunes believe music should be an agent of social change and are dedicated to amplifying the music of our region’s most marginalized groups because we know that music can be a powerful tool of resistance. There is no better music for us to highlight than that of Kurds, who are considered one of the largest stateless ethnic group in the world.

As our sister website, Alliance for Kurdish Rights states, “Kurds have been the victims of subjugation by neighboring peoples for most of their history. In the four main present-day countries in which they live (Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey) Kurds have fell victim to various discriminatory policies of oppression. They have been subject to some of the worst atrocities of mankind including ethnic cleansing and mass graves, genocide, chemical attacks and other bombings, the ban of their language and culture, displacements, the destructions of their lands, homes and properties, restrictions on social, political, and economical rights, and the burdens of poverty.”

In light of continuous attacks on Kurdish people and Kurdish culture, we would like to celebrate Kurdish cultural contributions by highlighting a few of our favorite Kurdish indie musicians.

1. Aynur – Traditional

Aynur is a Kurdish singer/songwriter and musician from Turkey. She was born in 1975, in Çemisgezek (in the province of Tunceli). In 1992, her family fled to Istanbul in the course of the conflict between the Turkish military and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). She attended ASM Music School in Istanbul and studied music and singing. Her first album “Seyir” was released in 2002.

In 2004, she released the album “Keçe Kurdan” (Kurdish Girl) under the Kalan Müsik label. In Aynur’s “Keçe Kurdan” album, she presented a fusion of Turkish and Kurdish folk songs. This record was later banned in February of 2005 by a provincial court in Diyarbakır for the reason that the lyrics had propaganda for an illegal organization. The ban was later lifted in 2005.

Aynur achieved significant success through the song she sang in Kurdish in the film “Gönül Yarası” by Yavuz Turgul. Aynur became the first to sing a Kurdish song live in a film shot in Turkey.

Aynur’s beautiful voice has earned her a reputation as one of the most beloved contemporary Kurdish artists. Reviving traditional Kurdish folk songs is a political act, and she performs such acts of cultural resistance for audiences all over the world.

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2. Renas Miran - House

Music producer Rénas Mîran was born on July 2, 1984, in Hewler City/Kurdistan. The son of a singer Miran Herki, Rénas grew up in the atmosphere of the recording industry,and went on to intern at several recording studios in Hamburg/Berlin City in Germany. He began recording local artists at the Plak Music Recording Studios in Berlin. Rénas Mîran is one of the most in-demand producers in the Kurdish Modern Music over the last two decades. He has produced songs by Sivan Perwer, Hesen Serif, Dino, Xero Abbas, Ciwan Haco, Koma Mizgin, Rojan Delyar, Hejar Temo, Sener Yildiz, JIyan, Demhat, Destan Dogan, Yilmaz Celik, Gulê, Xalo and many more.

His newest work is the “Kurdish House Project,” in which he remixes Kurdish music with catchy house beats.

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3. Serhado – Hip Hop/Rap

Born in Sweden to Kurdish parents who escaped from Turkey, Serhado is part of the burgeoning Kurdish hip hop scene. In 2007, his album Xewna Jiyan, Dream of Life, was the first Kurdish hiphop album released in Turkey. His second album Xeyala Evin, Dream of Love, was released in 2009.

Serhado continues to advocate for Kurdish autonomy, despite increasing pressure from Turkish authorities. Serhado has become one of the most popular Kurdish performers worldwide.



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4. Saam Moosa – Soul/Pop

Sam discovered his love of music when he was only six years old. This love was passed on to him by his family, in whose lives music had played a major role. He was often asked to sing and always enjoyed entertaining others with his amazing voice. In 1989, Sam and his family left his native Syria in order to start a new life in Germany. At eleven years old, he performed at an Arabic music contest along with many musicians from all over Europe. Sam, the youngest contestant, was chosen as the winner and proudly brought home his award. He couldn’t share these experiences with people other than his family, however, because being an immigrant and not yet having mastered the German language made him feel like an outsider. When he became a teenager, Sam developed an interest in pop music, RnB and soul. He spent his entire free time singing along and dancing to songs by such musical greats as Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Boyz II Men. Within a few years he developed his own original style – Middle Eastern sounds, catchy hook lines and danceable beats, coupled with a feeling and rhythm that reflect his experiences and our times. Sam sings in English, German and Arabic.

Sam has also founded his own label, Team Moses. As a singer, songwriter and producer, he is working hard to conquer the big stages and touch people all over the world with his music.

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5. Yalda Abbasi – Traditional

Yalda Abbasi, is a dutar player and Kurmanji folk singer based in the North Khorasan Province. Yalda started learning the Dutar at a young age and formed the music group Koma Kovat with her mother and musical mentor. Yalda aims to revive traditional North Khorasan Kurmanji (Kurdish) culture and spread it to the rest of the world.

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6. Rapzan Belagat – Hip Hop/Rap

Rapzan Belagat is a Kurdish rapper from Dersim whose powerful political hip hop connects him with struggles for Kurdish rights.

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7. Hakan Ener – Traditional

Hakan Ener’s band Koma Denge Azadi (Voice of Liberty) was created in the year 1990 in Istanbul. The musical direction of Koma Dengê Azadî and other Kurdish bands of the time was new for the Kurdish music scene as they were intent on re-interpreting traditional Kurdish folk. Koma Dengê Azadî published four albums: Hêvî (Hope), 1991; Em Azadîxwaz in (We are Freedom-loving), 1993; Welatê min/Roj wê bê (My homeland), 1995; and Fedî (Shame), 1998 and are one of the most popular bands in Kurdistan.

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8. Adirjam – Traditional/Fusion

Adirjam defines its music as “Kurdesque Cosmopop—a melting pot of Mideasterranean sounds and rhythms, combined with harmonies of classical, rock and punk-blues.” Songs are sung in multiple languages, including Zazakî and Kurmancî with lyrics on gay love, pleasure and pain, as well as social issues such as homophobia and racism.

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9. Awder – Hip Hop/Rap

Awder is a young hip hop artist from Sulaimanyah, Kurdistan, Born in 1992, Awder has been rapping since 2006.

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10. Sivan Perwer –Traditional

A poet, singer and performer on the tembur, Sivan Perwer is the leading Kurdish artist of the present day and one of the most celebrated singers of the Middle East. He captivates audiences by his charismatic personality and his his powerful, highly emotional voice and the hypnotic rhythm of his music. For many years, his songs – even those about love – were banned in Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey because his was explaining the social, political, cultural and economical situation of Kurds and Kurdistan. Cassettes of his music were passed along from hand to hand, despite the risk of imprisonment or even death. Today he lives in Germany, though much of his time is spent traveling and performing all over the world. In 1991 he appeared at the “ Simple Truth “ Live aid concert, performing alongside Peter Gabriel, Sting, Paul Simon, Tom Jones, Gipsy Kings as well as other international artists. The proceeds from this concert went to the aid of Kurds in the Iraqi Kurdistan fleeing the Gulf War and was considered as one of the most important aid concerts for that region. Thus far Sivan Perwer has more then 25 Albums, video-clips and documentaries, books and many other examples of his work published to this day. Sivan Perwer has a career expanding over 30 years and has received many honorary Doctorates, International World music prizes and is considered a Cultural Ambassador of Kurdistan. In 2004 Sivan Perwer established the Sivan Perwer International Cultural Foundation in Frankfurt, Germany with for the improvement of culture in his society.

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To browse more artists from Kurdistan, check out our website or app, and filter by Country: Kurdistan.

Tell us who YOUR favorite Kurdish musicians by giving us a shout on Facebook or Twitter.