Debut album from Zelt

London-based trio Zelt bring elements of South West Asian and North African folk traditions, the energy of post punk and modern electronic arrangements to offer something entirely unique to the music sphere. This Anglo-Turkish outfit takes the perception of World music and forges something original, powerful and uncompromisingly real.

The project is led by Semra Bulut, a singer and darbuka player whose talents have already left an impression on London’s expat music scene. Semra’s musical pedigree includes percussion work with Balkan act Balamuc, appearances with Turkish music icon Selda Bağcan at WOMAD and her vocal contributions to the London Bulgarian Choir. In 2023, she linked up with Phil Seddon, an electronic arranger and drummer and Dave Adams, who plays a rare quartertone-fretted electric guitar, completing the trio.

As Zelt, they fuse their influences into a sound that feels like a cultural meeting point; earthy and celestial, ancient and experimental. Bringing their music alive on stage, Zelt’s performances have earned a reputation for their high-octane energy and creativity, leaving audiences completely dazzled.

Their origins as a trio began with an unforgettable moment: Semra’s impromptu car park audition in Hackney. Her late-night performance was so entrancing that the field recording made its way into their debut single, “Uzun ince bir Yoldayım.” Building on the success of their debut single, Zelt has now released their first full-length album as a trio titled Istanbul’u Dinliyorum. The record showcases their pioneering ethos, offering both original compositions and daring reimaginings of Turkish, Palestinian and Georgian classics. Much like the city it’s named after, the album is a melting pot where cultures collide and coexist.

Inspired by Istanbul’s position at the crossroads of Europe and South West Asia, the record explores themes of cultural convergence and the interplay between the ancient and the modern, a metaphor that mirrors Zelt’s own sound. Opened by the bold, bass-focused sound of “Heydar,” deep kicks are met by chanted vocal elements and clapping percussion before buzzy synth lines wind through the beat-driven scene. Serving up a deconstructed club energy, the track shifts with Eastern instrumental flutters and soaring vocal lines above the lively rustle of drums, resulting in a spectacular showcase of their alchemic musical fusion.

On “Ben Giderim Batum’a,” snaking melodic lines float above the marching shuffle of drums, building into a moody art rock soundscape packed full of slick groove and intensity. With intricate ebb and flow, cut with crisp electronic touches and moments of dreamy, organic arrangement, it’s another epic example of their truly gripping sound. “Asfur” follows with an atmospheric fabric of twanging guitar notes, pulsing synth tones and pattering drums, forming a kaleidoscopic backdrop for Semra’s enchanting vocals to glide above.

Other highlights include their first single “Uzun İnce Bir Yoldayım” where the dusty punch of drums, smokey blend of guitar and synth textures and Semra’s mesmerising vocals combine to craft an energising and entrancing jam. Closing the record with “İstanbul,” the uptempo snap of drums and brooding arrangement of sparse guitar notes and spacey sonic elements sets up an incredible seven minute voyage that delivers the perfect snapshot of their shared sonic vision to conclude their groundbreaking debut album.

Listen to Istanbul’u Dinliyorum below