Pelin is a petite woman with quite a loud voice, producing rough beats and playing the piano. She writes all her songs, loves lipstick for breakfast and performs her Portasound-Laptop-Soul-One Girl-Shows all over London. Pelin is her stage and birth name, “I have a bit of a mixed background but part of my heritage is Kurdish, and Pelin means petal in Kurdish (yes I’m glad to have parents with a bit of taste…),”she adds. Filled with a lot of enthusiasm and passion for what she does, she also has a music video for one of her tracks ‘Walking Bassline‘ which explains her ups and down and how she came to be what she is, in terms of her music.
Q. How would you describe the style of music of Pelin?
A. My music is captivating a lot of eccentric drama as much as it is also a rough rave. It is a plunge into classical soulful passion but it also allows you to just dance the anger away. So, I guess I partly like to present blue pop songs with me, my piano and voice on stage solely, the next moment I party hard with the electronic beats I produce.
Q. What inspires the music of Pelin?
A. I guess that would probably be avocado spread. And my lipstick collection. Probably also my neighbour’s dog, whenever we meet he never seems to be quite decided about whether to absolutely love me or hate me. Apart from that; all warehouse party hedonists and soul brothers I get to meet. And if you may allow me to add quite pathetically; my dad.
Q. How would you describe the fashion style of Pelin?
A. You probably shouldn’t put too much energy into defining theses things. It’s best is never try too hard and make your look credible on you. But if I must I’d say; I like to put elements of stiff upper lip clothing in a new flirtatious context. I also like to combine some kind of playful elegance with a bit of 90s hip-hop.
Q. What is the weirdest/strangest thing that has ever happened to you at a concert/gig?
A.I once had to play an event which was different from what I was informed and turned out to be some kind of kindergarten summer fest. However, once I arrived, I still decided to play which turned out to be the best idea, because gladly the kids loved my performance and we spent the afternoon rhythmically shooting pump guns to my music, so essentially: one of the best gigs I ever played!
Q. What is your favourite food?
A. Straciatella Yoghurt.
Q. What are the coolest gagdets ever invented and why do you think they are cool?
A. I just recently stumbled across Nano Cases made from reclaimed cassette tapes. I never bought a sleeve for my iPod Nano because I think most of them are pretty ugly, but this one I actually consider buying!
Q. What musical influences do you have?
A. Basically everything I listened to as a young child in the early nineties. The first ever CD I had was Michael Jackson’s Dangerous, that has been quite an influence. The next ones were various Elton John recordings, 90s hip-hop and RnB mixtapes my much older cousins would make me; so everything from H-Town to SWV to Mobb Deep.
Q. Who are your favourite artists/band right now and why?
A. Do you remember Beth Gibbon’s solo album she made with Rustin Man? I Love to listen to it on summer days, even if it rather appears to be your classical melancholic late fall album. Also I cannot stop loving all those more or less new dubstep artist in London, like Skream and Rusko, to name the famous ones. I reckon everyone knows them by now, but you clearly miss out if you haven’t been to one of their sets yet.
Q. What advise would you give to aspiring new artists/musicians/bands who are thinking of launching a career in the music industry?
A. Think twice. Ask yourself: do you just like playing your instrument or do you actually have a story to tell, I think it will only work in the latter case.
Q. Where is the furthest distance Pelin have ever travelled to do a concert/gig and can you describe the most interesting journey to a concert/gig you have ever have?
A. Travelling within London is quite comparable to doing never ending far distance journeys. Especially in my case, since I have to travel with my wheelchair which brings about changing a dozen buses to get to a gig because I can’t use the London Underground with the wheelchair. But obviously, especially when I get to travel abroad, things can get a bit complicated. So I suppose every travelling situation is some kind of a borderline experience in my case.
Q. What are the future plans for Pelin?
A. I do actually have this 5 point master plan entitled “The ultimate world domination takeover on day -X” but at this very moment I’m thinking my future plans should primarily consist of eating healthier food and listening to my mum more often to begin with.
Q. How would you describe the style of your music?
A. My music is captivates a lot of eccentric drama as much as it is also a rough rave. It is a plunge into classical soulful passion but it also allows you to just dance the anger away. So, I guess I partly like to present blue pop songs with me, my piano and voice on stage solely, the next moment I party hard with the electronic beats I produce.
Q. What inspires your music?
A. I guess that would probably be avocado spread. And my lipstick collection. Probably also my neighbour’s dog, whenever we meet he never seems to be quite decided about whether to absolutely love me or hate me. Apart from that; all warehouse party hedonists and soul brothers I get to meet. And if you may allow me to add quite pathetically; my dad.
Q. How would you describe your fashion style?
A. You probably shouldn’t put too much energy into defining theses things. It’s best never to try too hard and make your look credible on you. But if I must I’d say; I like to put elements of stiff upper lip clothing in a new flirtatious context. I also like to combine some kind of playful elegance with a bit of 90s hip-hop.
Q. What is the weirdest/strangest thing that has ever happened to you at a concert/gig?
A. I once had to play an event which was different from what I was informed and turned out to be some kind of kindergarten summer fest. However, once I arrived, I still decided to play which turned out to be the best idea, because gladly the kids loved my performance and we spent the afternoon rhythmically shooting pump guns to my music, so essentially: one of the best gigs I ever played.
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Tags: electronic beats, petite woman, playful elegance, stiff upper lip, warehouse party
