(c) Joost Ruigrok
Sanem Kalfa dares to be bold, even brutal. A vocalist known for using the full range of her voice, often freely improvising and singing wordless, in search for a raw touch of emotion. A creative personality, she extends her voice with the cello and live electronics, looking for expressiveness through all ranges of sound. She present herself vulnerable, bare, not in a search of beauty, but in search of the honesty of living. “Did it make you feel umcomfortable? Good.”
Based in Amsterdam, born in Trabzon, Turkey, her background and lived experiences inform her artistic perspective, particularly her connection to her cultural vibrancy. Presenting a variety of projects, including her female all-star group “Miraculous Layers”, the playful “Televizyon” and “Invisible Columns” ft. Ambrose Akinmusire, Kalfa is known for her versitality and willingness to explore new musical territories.
Her accolades, such as winning the 1st Prize at the Shure Montreux Jazz Vocal Competition, highlight her talent and recognition on international platforms. In recent years, she has been a sought-after artist for residencies and commissions, including North Sea Round Town and the BIMHUIS. “Black Sea Songs” ft. George Dumitriu and Joachim Badenhorst brought her all across Europe.
Overall, Kalfa's work is a testament to her artistic dedication and her ability to connect with audiences through a broad spectrum of musical expressions, enriching the cultural landscape of the Netherlands and beyond.
GROUP MEMBERS - Miraculous Layers
SANEM KALFA - voice, cello & electronics | TINEKE POSTMA - saxophones | MARTA WARELIS - piano | SUN-MI HONG - drums
GROUP MEMBERS - Televizyon
SANEM KALFA - voice & electronics | MARTA WARELIS - piano | INGEBRIGT HÅKER FLATEN - double bass | SUN-MI HONG - drums
GROUP MEMBERS - Invisible Columns
SANEM KALFA - voice & electronics | AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE - trumpet | KIT DOWNES - organs, piano | JAN BANG - live electronics
ALBUMS
"REFLEX: Miraculous Layers" (2023)
“Black Sea Songs” (2021)
PRESS
“Kalfa is a powerhouse vocalist who joins the ranks of audacious and bold artists …. who are very much doing their own thing in their unique style.”
Jazzwise, Jo Frost
“… the most convincing testimony to the power of the musical voice ….”
All About Jazz, Jakob Baekgaard
“Sanem Kalfa is a singer who dares to do anything with her voice, is a brutal stage personality”
Jazznu, Rinus Van Der Heijden
“ The vocal artist with Turkish roots is a shining example of a new generation of Dutch-trained vocalists.”
NRC, Amanda Kuijpers
“Enormous range, flawless in all registers and volumes, sophisticated microphone technology and also acoustically filling the room. And incredibly creative and theatrical.”
Draai om je horen, Eddy Determeyer
VIDEOS