This year marks thirty years since Mahsun Kırmızıgül’s acclaimed album Alem Buysa Kral Sensin [‘If This is the World, You Are the King’] dropped, shaking up Turkiye’s music scene with its catchy fusion of Turkish Fantezi, Arabesque and Folk songs that propelled Kırmızıgül to the top of the charts.
Kırmızıgül’s music epitomises the sounds of Turkiye’s east, taking listeners in a journey that will have you on your feet shimmy-shaking to uplifting arabesque and fantezi beats, then swaying to deeply moving Turkish folk and blues songs that capture life’s troubles.
He has released over 20 albums and collaborated with some of the biggest names in music scene: Özcan Deniz (Yalan mı); Haluk Levent (Bir Gece Vakti); Seda Sayan (Ah Geceler); Ayhan Aşan (Sen de mii); Ertuğrul Polat (Gittiğin O Gün); and Gülşen (Yiğidim).
Today, Kırmızıgül is far more than a singer-songwriter and record label boss, having turned his hand to acting, scriptwriting, directing, producing and scoring music for over a score of films, including New York’ta Beş Minare (2010), Vezir Parmağı (2017), and Prestij Meselesi (2023).
Of Zaza (Kurdish) descent, Kırmızıgül’s upbringing was a tough one. Born in Diyarbakır in March 1969, Kırmızıgül is one of 22 siblings. His father abandoned the family when he was young, leaving his mother to bring up her children whilst also having to work to make ends meet.
Like his older siblings, when he was old enough Kırmızıgül also worked, as tea boy and in a çiğ köfte restaurant, to help his mother.
After finishing high school in Diyarbakır, Kırmızıgül moved to Istanbul in 1980 where he studied music. As well as well developing his vocal talents here, Kırmızıgül also plays the bağlama, ud, and piano.
Live shows have become a bit of a rarity for Kırmızıgül, who has focussed more on the other aspects of his creative career and showbusiness.
He published around 20 albums during these years and now after more than 15 years, he is coming back on the stage for live shows. In 2022, he released Hoş Geldin – his first album since Dinle in 2006.
In 2023, Kırmızıgül grazes the stage of London’s most prestigious venue, the Royal Albert Hall, for his first concert in the capital in 18 years. It is likely to be one of the biggest events in the calendar of the UK’s Turkish and Kurdish community.
Concert Details
Title: Tar Productions Presents Mahsun Kırmızıgül
Date: Wednesday 10 May 2023
Doors: 7.30pm
Venue: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London SW7 2AP
Admission: £51.50 to £198.90
