Selda Bagcan - Live at Le Guess Who? 2014

Selda Bağcan is a legendary Turkish singer and political activist. Her first singles, about political struggle and the demands of the working class, sold over 1 million copies. Selda’s psychedelic interpretations of traditional Turkish folk music and her political views have lost Selda her passport and caused her to be repeatedly imprisoned during the 70s and 80s.

As main guest of Le Guess Who? Festival 2014, Selda gave an equally joyous as emotional performance. St. Vincent and tUnE-yArDs, both admirers of the singer, performed before she took the stage.

Watch the video portrait about Selda we made together with De Volkskrant, about her music getting banned by Turkish authorities and being jailed. "Songs are more dangerous than weapons, you know": 

Recorded by Marc Broer at Le Guess Who? 2014. Recordings made in cooperation with VPRO / Vrije Geluiden.

Photography by Juri Hiensch.