Delhi Istanbul Express
* Echoes of Tagore — timeless verses Rabindranath Tagore’s timeless poetry, interpreted through Anatolian musical aesthetics, where the saz and percussive rhythms breathe new colors into Bengali lyricism.
* Baul Songs of Bengal — the living mystic tradition of the Bauls, whose raw, devotional songs embody the search for the eternal in the everyday.
* Songs of the Anatolian soul— traditional and spiritual music of Anatolia, carrying earthy folk roots and Sufi transcendence, reimagined in dialogue with Indian rhythms
The encounter of two dynamic musicians Malabika Brahma from Bengal and Nilgün Aksoy from Anatolia gave birth to Delhi Istanbul Express. Both artists embody the spirit of women in spiritual music, carrying forward traditions of devotion, mysticism, and song while opening them to new dialogues.
Malabika Brahma, rooted in Baul mysticism and Indian classical traditions, is known for her powerful voice and creative vision that bring Bengal’s spiritual heritage to the world. Nilgün Aksoy, with her deep background in Anatolian folk and Sufi music, draws on Turkey’s mystic legacy while reimagining it in contemporary contexts.
The ensemble is completed by Saradindu Adhikary (tabla), Malte Stueck (baglama), and Emre Gültekin (saz & vocals), whose diverse experiences enrich the project with rhythm, texture, and depth
Together they write, compose, arrange, and rearrange original and traditional works that combine the modal traditions of Central Asia and India. Their collaboration reflects a free and modern approach, not as fusion, but as conversationbetween cultures.
Delhi Istanbul Express is more than a concert — it is a musical pilgrimage where music unites East with East, and soul with soul.
