Биография

Already a singer/songwriter in her own right, Paula Darwish became more well known in the early 2000s for her unique and captivating interpretations of Turkish and Kurdish folk songs. She began her musical journey singing folk and protest music around London and the South East in the late 80s. She fell in love with Anatolian folk music while travelling around Turkey for 6 months in 1992, which led to a gradual change of direction. Her growing passion for the old folk music of the Anatolia region led to the founding of the Country & Eastern band in Manchester in 2002. The band combined elements of Turkish and later Kurdish folk with electric instruments and western grooves. The idea of the band was to fuse musical styles and mix the familiar with the unknown to bring new sounds to UK audiences who wouldn’t necessarily listen to “world music”. She was a prolific performer for many years, especially at the Iguana Bar in Manchester, preferring standard music venues in pubs and clubs to the more exclusive arts venues generally associated with the genre. When the Country and Eastern Band parted ways in 2010, Darwish returned to a more folky, acoustic sound, but also experimented with electronic music. As well as being a vocalist, she plays guitar, piano and flute.