Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
" He is regarded as a hero of a fragmented nation and one who tries to rescue the culture of a resisting people.
He embodies the eternalisation of the Kurdish tradition of bards that goes back a thousand years ". - Le Monde ( 02.02.2000 )
" The programme offers a sequnce ( and merging ) of the music worlds of the Euphrates and the Danube, with Sivan Perwer singing Kurdish songs and Willi Resetarits singing Austro-Croation songs as well as his settings pf the poems of H.C Artmann. Borders. The aim: The crossing of cultural frontiers. Sivan has been playing for decades in Austria but always in Kurdistan. Willi Resetarits plays on the fact that although his partner is a figure of integration for Kurds and all over the world it is only among his fellow country peopl in the Diaspora. - Kultur Osterreich
.. Between folk and Pop their music with its oriental "Makams" and the melodies with quarter tone steps is also appropriate for the central European ear. The instrumentalisation of several violins, drums, flutes and the long-necked lute above all, which Perwer plays magnificently, equally traditional.
But his playing style varies and is inspired from Middle Eastern folklore as much as it is by Western pop. Some instrumental passages recall bands such as Clanad. Some times the listener recognises a special song " Der Traum is Aus " ( The Dream is over ) by the German band Ton Steine Scherben. The contents if this song about a world without oppression would also perfectly suit Sivan Perwer and his political and musical mission, which is far from over. - Frankfurter Rundschau ( 18.09.2006 )
Huge status singer Sivan Perwer, who breached Turkish law by singing in Kurdish, is the most famous Kurdish singer-songwriter. He lives in exile in Sweden. - New Zealand / 12.03.1988 )
..... Wherever the Kurds. Sivan Perwer is the great absentee during the discussion - where is he? In frankfurt perhaps, where there are Kurds. He is also often in Austrial when he is needed. Sivan cares bout Kurds all over the world - he is their most important figure of integration. It has been over 30 years since he was able to visit the Kurdish part of Turkey. At that time, he sang in his own language and was therefore sentenced to imprisonment. ... - Die Presse ( Austria 10.11.2006 )
Sivan Perwer is a legend for the Kurdish people. His rhythmic, hypnotic music and his emotional texts about the Kurds history, suffering and their struggle for freedom and peace make Sivan Perwer an internationally-recognized singer. - El Norte ( Spain 08.11.2003 )
Sivan Perwer´s album " Min Beriya Te Kiriye " received the Charles-Cros Academy Award in Paris in the world music category. This year´s Charles- Cros Academy Award was presented at the Radio France studio in Paris. In his acceptance speech, the Kurdish artist Sivan Perwer said: My songs are banned in the country that I come from but here they recive prestigious awards. - Özgur Politika ( Germany 20.11.2004 )
Discography
Govenda Azadixwazan (1975)
Hevale Bar Giranim (1976)
Herne Pes (1977)
Ey Ferat (1978)
Kine Em (1979)
Hay Dil (1980)
Gele Min Rabe (1981)
Agiri (1982)
Bilbilo / Ferzê (1983)
Dotmam (1985)
Lê Dîlberê (1986)
Helebçe (1988)
Xewna Min / Qasimlo (1991)
Zembîlfiros (1992)
Ya Star (1995)
Naze (1996)
Heviya Te (1999)
Roj û Heyv (2000)
Sarê (2001)
Helbestên bijartî yên 1 /Kirîvê (2002)
Helbestên bijartî yên 2/Klasîk (2003)
Helbesten Bijarti yên 3 (2004)
Min bêriya te kiriye (2004)
Photos
Bio
SIVAN PERWER
" Sivan Perwer is widely recognized as the foremost singer among the Kurds today. The hypnotic rhythms of his songs and his beautiful vibrating voice will mesmerize you as he sings traditional Kurdish songs of love, war, heroism, and longing for a homeland free from persecution. His extraordinary ability to express his passion and activism through music has resulted in the Iraqi, Iranian and Turkish governments' placing a ban on his music. As an exile now living in Sweden, Sivan has recorded 18 albums and continues to be a voice for the Kurdish people. "
Sivan Perwer was born between Diyarbakir(Amed) and Urfa(Rîha), Northern Kurdistan in 1955. His birthplace was full of musical activity. His father was a great Kurdish flute player and his older brother was influential as a singer. His childhood was full of musical gatherings, dances, and festivities. One of his childhood memories is that the whole neighborhood used to demand from him to sing for them in frequent occasions: "Sivan please sing for us, we'll give you candies and sweets..." The people around him really loved his singing and he grew up with this encouraging atmosphere. By the time he was in high school people were asking him to make records. At that time this was not in his mind; he was involved with furthering his studies to help his Kurdish people. Besides, recordings could only be done in Turkish, not in his native language Kurdish. Yet he kept singing. Songs were about friendship, humanity, freedom and peace. Every new song brought a new message. From 1975 on he became a protest singer. When asked why he did not choose fame and fortune he answered " I want my songs to bring a message about my people, about their reality, their situation, their suffering, social misery, about occupation. I must give Kurdish Music a face, a personality. I want to serve my people with my music."
Still Sivan did not get a real musical education from the start. He was studying mathematics. Yet gradually he taught himself music by studying other peoples' music and developing his musicianship. He has become the best known Kurdish musician in the world, accompanying himself on the tanbur, Kurdish 3-course lute. Sivan Perwer is also a highly accomplished composer.
At this time he has recorded over 30 cassettes, records, numerous CDs, film and video music. He has become a teacher and inspiration for many Kurdish singers; but especially for his son.
He is surely banned in the radio and television of the region. As a passionate defender of his people and their music, Sivan travels the world tirelessly, against all efforts to stifle his music. Political songs are a major part of his repertoire but it is in traditional epic and love songs that Sivan excels unlike any other.
His voice, cries of love travel many lands, singing on behalf of the silent, he has become the mythical minstrel of an entire people and one of its symbols of cultural resistance.
His Passion :
By now Sivan Perwer has become a living legend, giving performances all over the world, participating in solidarity concerts, crossing continents with multi-cultural events. Each one of his recordings is different and unique. Spanning the range from traditional to folk, from classical to protest songs to songs of freedom and friendship, in various Kurdish dialects. He sings of love and peace despite the fact that he can not go back to his homeland since the day he left his country in 1976. His land is a forbidden land and he's a forbidden man.
His Art :
Sivan became famous during the period of Kurdish protests against Iraqi rule at Ankara University in 1972. His homemade recordings were smuggled over the border, while thousands of people came to see him perform live, having found in his music an essential expression of the Kurdish mentality. Fearing for his life and the welfare of his family, he left Turkey for Germany in 1976, and recorded his first album of Kurdish traditional songs.
Today he lives in Sweden, though much of his time is spent travelling and performing all over the world. In 1992 he appeared at the Live Aid concert organized by Bob Geldof and Geoffrey Archer. Proceeds from this concert went to the aid of Kurds fleeing the Gulf War.
Sivan Perwer, a passionate defender of the Kurds and their music, travels throughout the world in an untiring effort to make Kurdish music heard. For many years his music was banned in Turkey, Iran and Iraq. Political songs are a major part of his repertoire, but it is in traditional epic and love songs that he excels. Singing on behalf of the silent, he has become the mythical minstrel of an entire people and one of its symbols of cultural resistance.
About Him:
"Sivan Perwer is a wild flower in a world of art garden. He is walking toward universality and is definately most popular Kurdish singer ever." Danielle Mitterand
"He is a real star and charisma." Sheri Laizer / Author, Journalist
"He
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