Olcay Bayir is a London-based singer, songwriter, and composer of Kurdish origin from Turkey. BayirâÂÂs music is a mixture of her original compositions and songs based on Anatolian folk music tradition with a dynamic, contemporary twist.
Born in the southeast of Turkey, Olcay Bayir demonstrated a passion for music from an early age, singing and writing songs. In 1998, she migrated to London with her family.
Bayir's debut album, "Neva â Harmony" (Riverboat, World Music Network, 2014), features songs sung in various languages spoken in the region of Anatolia, including Turkish, Kurdish, Armenian, Greek, and Ladino. She was nominated for best newcomer in the Songlines Music Awards 2015 for her debut album Neva.
Her second album, "Ruya â Dream" (released by ARC Music in 2019 and Kalan Muzik in Turkey), was well-received and featured her own songs. Robin Denselow of The Guardian described Bayir as âÂÂone of the finest, most intriguing singers on the British world music scene.âÂÂ
In addition to these full-length albums, Bayir released a four-track EP, "Icerde | Inside," in 2021 which was funded by Help Musicians UK. The album was recorded by working remotely with musicians around the world.
Bayir is also the lyricist and composer of "Yar Dedi- Beloved It Said."