“Deng” means “sound” and “bêj” means “to tell” in Kurdish. “Dengbêj” is a traditional singer-storyteller who goes from village to village to perform Klam, meaning the word in Kurdish, Persian, Arabic, and Turkish — yet only in Kurdish, also a song.
Hêja Netirk, a native of Kurdistan now living in exile, reimagines this tradition in a new space. Connecting to the roots with cables. She is the Dengbêj in the Disco.
Her music duo LOMA REQS is a daring collision of modern Kurdish poetry, electronic music, improvisation, rap, and traditional singing. Moving from ironic feminist wedding songs to raw reflections on national suppression and colonialism. Together with Colombian composer/producer Rico Danta, they push the limits of expression, forging a sonic language of survival and resilience.
