Ceylan Ertem was born in Sakarya. She joined the municipal choir and took guitar lessons as a child. She moved to istanbul in 1999 for further education in music and she studied 'musical singing' in Akademi İstanbul for a year, followed by two years of western music education in Müjdat Gezen Sanat Merkezi. in 2000, with Tunçay Korkmaz they formed 'anima'. She started studying musicology in Yildiz Techincal University arts and design faculty/audial design department in 2004. The band 'anima', started recording their album 'animasal' in august 2005, which was released by Sony-bmg in february 2006. She had concerts with anima in many cities of Turkey. They composed and recorded the soundtrack for the movie 'Saklı Yüzler' by Handan İpekçi in 2007, and by the end of the year the band broke-up.

Ceylan Ertem started preparing and hosting a 26-week radio programme called Şubidap for Açık Radyo, one of Turkey's important radio stations. Meanwhile, she was playing and writing with various bands such as Ways: formed by Şenol Küçükyıldırım, played in many alternative festivals and concert halls of Istanbul and was very educational/inspirational on free improvisation for Ceylan. Octophone; a jazz based project formed in Berlin, 2008 by Philipp Gropper and Wanja Slavin. She joined the recording process the same year and they played in various clubs in Berlin. Kpar Kpoh Knah; band named after the lullaby 'kpar kpoh knah', played in peyote and dogzstar, 2 important clubs known as supporters for free-avantgarde jazz , free improvisation, rock and alternative music. the compositions of the band were recorded later for Ceylan Ertem's first solo album 'soluk', in 2010 the album was released. over 40 musicians played in this album. Ceylan's compositions passed through these musicians ears and souls, reformed individually and formed a huge band eventually. The first video was shot by Gökçen Dilek Acay for 'insandık'. second video was shot by talented director Dağhan İş for 'Gidip Dinlenmeliyim' , then the video of 'Çok yakın' (script by ceylan ertem/directed by dağhan iş) was shown in the international independent movie festival IF.

In January again by Dağhan İş the video of Nazım'a (a song dedicated to the renowned poet Nazım Hikmet and journalist/writers Hrant Dink and Uğur Mumcu who were very sadly and unfortunately murdered) was shot.

Ceylan Ertem formed the 'soluk- acoustic project' with talented guitar player Cenk Erdogan, and 'soluk - electronic project' with Gökhan Sürer, Mustafa Özşamlı and again Cenk Erdoğan. Meanwhile she started releasing videos of her project of 3 years 'Cadı Avı- the witch hunt' a music/research show, online on vimeo/CADIAVI channel.

You can stay updated on Ceylan Ertem's concerts and news on http://www.facebook.com/CeylanErtemOfficial and http://twitter.com/#!/ceylanertem_

Xenopolis :::::::::

An ode to Istanbul, is a metaphor for the unlimited possibilities and fears of modern times, representing the conflict between the urban space and the individual. Istanbul – long referred to as ‘The City’ – is a mysterious and versatile metropolis, on the border between Europe and Asia. Hypermodern malls are located next to age-old deteriorated ruins. Huge billboards with tempting starlets form the background for traditional street food markets.

The new show by Turkish/Dutch worldjazz group Baraná is inspired by this enchanting, esoteric city. Baraná joins forces with extrovert, upcoming star Ceylan Ertem, in seeking to identify the differences and similarities within the youths of different continents and cultures from East and West.

Ceylan Ertem, a determined, experimental singer. Ertem combines a phenomenal and creative vocal power, with grooves and inspiration from Asian folk music. Her voice can be both strong and vulnerable and her characteristic and daring lyrics explore such topics as the fears that dominate her daily life.

www.myspace.com/ceylanertem Baraná has gained international praise for mixing traditional Turkish music with exciting new compositions, whilst improvising with playful Dutch overtones. The broad taste of Baraná’s frontmen, Behsat Üvez and Steven Kamperman, include Turkish and Dutch overtones, but the finished pieces develop into something unique and which truly surpass any stereotyping.

Baraná performs in various arrangements. In Xenopolis Üvez and Kamperman are joined by Iranian percussionist Afra Mussawissade, guitar virtuoso Jeff Sopacua and cellist Ernst Reijseger.

www.barana.nl, www.myspace.com/barana1

http://www.ceylanertem.net/

User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License and may also be available under the GNU FDL.