About the single
Çiya Icaro is a powerful song for healing, rooted in the sacred mountains of multiple continents. Following Meydana Gel, it is the second single from Meral Polat’s new album, MEYDAN. “Çiya” is the word for mountain in (Kurmancî) Kurdish, and “Icaro” is a South American (Shipibo-Konibo derived) term for medicine songs, traditionally used in ceremonies.
Icaros are received, not written, by shamans through years of deep spiritual practice with plant allies. Our song is inspired by the icaros, but rooted in our own lineage and lived experience.
Together with Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti, Polat presents a vocal rite where the voices and mountains of the Andes and Anatolia merge; Illampu meets Duzgin Bawo. With the breath and strength of their grandmothers, they offer a song of memory, sisterhood, and resilience.
Meydana Gel (‘Come to the Square’ in Turkish) is the first single from Meral Polat’s new album, MEYDAN. It is an invitation to embrace community, to open our hearts and savor joy, and a call to stand together in protest and support and to make our voices be heard. Meydana Gel is a sunrise, a call to gather; to come to the square.
The music has its roots in Anatolian rock with a rich blend of departures. Influences from New Orleans Swing to Nigerian Afrobeat and Mali Blues combine in this raw and lively track. It barrels forward riding the stratosphere between the Kurdish mountains and the deserts beyond with Polat at the wheel.
Polat’s voice is a powerful beckoning force, welcoming the listener for the first time to the mythical gathering place, the meydan (square), at the heart of her new album. Meydana Gel is an electric introduction to the record, setting the tone for her new sound, which is compelling, disarming, and captivating.
News
Album release concert is planned for Sep 28th in Paradiso Noord (Tolhuistuin), more info coming soon!
