BaBa ZuLa have been bewitching Istanbul’s underground music scene for the last two decades. Entrancing audiences with their eccentric poetry and kaleidoscopic soundscapes, the psychedelic four-piece have managed to spearhead their own kind of revolution; dragging the traditional Turkish saz into the 21st century, and shattering stereotypes that surround middle-eastern music.
This incredible legacy has made them the subject of a new Boiler Room documentary, Istanbul Psychedelia: BaBa ZuLa. The seven-minute short, premiering exclusively above, is an exploration of BaBa ZuLa’s geographical roots, with the group taking viewers on a road trip around their Turkish hometown.
“In the western world many people including music critics think we are Arabs,” frontman Murat Ertel tells Huck. “We don’t talk Arabic and our culture is very different. Turkish music and culture is deep and wide. In the past, Turkish people were shamans and then were forced into Islam. Still in Turkish culture, you have strong shamanic influences as can be exemplified in the saz; the main instrument of Turkish folk music.”
As well as revealing their own unique view of Istanbul, the film gives an insight into BaBa ZuLa’s humour, warmth and radical creative vision.
“Despite having visited Turkey before, getting to know it through the eyes of BaBa ZuLa has added a new layer to my knowledge,” explains director Martina Piazza. “The band’s history is deeply rooted in the geography of Istanbul, a city at the crossroad of different cultures, religions, ethnicities and languages; in this time the situation is very tense. Artists and intellectuals are not free to express their views and live in a state of fear.”
“BaBa ZuLa’s message is certainly one of resistance and constant evolution, a pretty apt reminder for people all over the world.”
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Latest on Huck
This erotic zine dismantles LGBTQ+ respectability politics
Zine Scene — Created by Megan Wallace and Jack Rowe, PULP is a new print publication that embraces the diverse and messy, yet pleasurable multitudes that sex and desire can take.
Written by: Isaac Muk
As Tbilisi’s famed nightclubs reawaken, a murky future awaits
Spaces Between the Beats — Since Georgia’s ruling party suspended plans for EU accession, protests have continued in the capital, with nightclubs shutting in solidarity. Victor Swezey reported on their New Year’s Eve reopening, finding a mix of anxiety, catharsis and defiance.
Written by: Victor Swezey
Los Angeles is burning: Rick Castro on fleeing his home once again
Braver New World — In 2020, the photographer fled the Bobcat Fire in San Bernardino to his East Hollywood home, sparking the inspiration for an unsettling photo series. Now, while preparing for its exhibition, he has had to leave once again, returning to the mountains.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Ghais Guevara: “Rap is a pinnacle of our culture”
What Made Me — In our new series, we ask artists and rebels about the forces and experiences that have shaped who they are. First up, Philadelphian rap experimentalist Ghais Guevara.
Written by: Ghais Guevara
Gaza Biennale comes to London in ICA protest
Art and action — The global project, which presents the work of over 60 Palestinian artists, will be on view outside the art institution in protest of an exhibition funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Written by: Cyna Mirzai
Ragnar Axelsson’s thawing vision of Arctic life
At the Edge of the World — For over four decades, the Icelandic photographer has been journeying to the tip of the earth and documenting its communities. A new exhibition dives into his archive.
Written by: Cyna Mirzai