Award-winning Turkish pianist Selen Gulun played at Doors restaurant in Phnom Penh on Wednesday, where she wowed the audience with her original jazz melodies on the first night of a two-day tour.
The 43-year-old songwriter from Istanbul started playing the piano at age 7, dabbling in various genres and exploring compositional techniques ever since.
“I like to write every form of contemporary music,” said Ms. Gulun, who has worked with symphony orchestras in London, jazz bands in Mozambique and electronic groups in Austria.
“I’m trying to use the language of the 21st century, really.” Ms. Gulun has released five highly lauded albums in the past decade—a sixth is expected next year—and says her passion for women’s rights and travel has influenced many of her songs.
Thus far, she has toured 18 countries.
And she is particularly eager to explore Cambodia, a country she has always wanted to visit.
“Quite frankly, I don’t know what it is that is driving me here to this place.
That’s the excitement though. I will find out!” Ms. Gulun will perform at Chinese House at 7:30 p.m. tonight.
