Meral Polat’s Music Career Through Diaspora and Song

(headline image: Meral Polat live in Vienna –Photo by Hanna Fasching)

Meral Polat is an acclaimed actress, singer-songwriter, and theater producer based in the Netherlands. She graduated from the Amsterdam University of the Arts, specializing in Drama and Contemporary Music Theatre. Her multidisciplinary career spans prominent theater, film, and music productions, where she is widely recognized for her expressive range and innovative approach.

She also serves as the artistic director of Stichting Babisko (Babisko Foundation), which holds ANBI (Public Benefit Organization) cultural status in the Netherlands. The foundation functions as a platform for interdisciplinary performance and cultural engagement, supporting projects that intersect heritage, language, and contemporary expression.

In 2022, Polat released Ez Kî Me, translated as Who Am I?, a project that weaves Kurdish soul, jazz fusion, blues, and world music. The album is performed by the Meral Polat Trio, which includes Chris Doyle on guitar and keyboards, and Frank Rosaly on drums. Together, the trio creates raw yet music that navigates themes of identity, displacement, and resilience.

The work draws heavily from the poetic legacy of Polat’s late father, Ali Ihsan Polat, whose verses inspire much of the lyrical and emotional material. Through this lens, the trio explores the complexities of the 21st-century diaspora experience. Their sound incorporates contemporary Anatolian folk and reinterpretations of traditional mountain songs, offering a deeply felt response to questions of belonging and cultural inheritance.

Musicians: Meral Polat: vocals, percussion; Chris Doyle: guitar, keyboards; and Frank Rosaly: drums.

Meral Polat Band – Photo by Hanna Fasching

In 2025, Meral Polat Band was chosen to perform at the renowned WOMEX world music showcase in Tampere, Finland.

Discography:

Ez Kî Me (Meral Polat Records / AudioMaze, 2022)

Author: Madison Quinn

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