A love of poetry, captivating melodies and percussion of remarkable subtlety, this is what defines this brand-new trio. Despite their different origins, each of these musicians possesses exceptional musicality. Here, deep listening and improvisation flow as second nature. Shahab Azinmehr is not only a master of Persian long-necked lutes, the tar and setar, but it’s above all his velvety voice that invariably captivates audiences. Derya Türkan is a virtuoso of the kemençe. His refined and emotionally charged playing builds a bridge between centuries-old Ottoman traditions and contemporary world music. As for Robbe Kieckens, he’s an outstanding percussionist who, with rare sensitivity and remarkable rhythmic richness, creates connections between different musical cultures and forges an inspired, borderless sonic language.

The first album of the trio, ARAM, is scheduled for release in the fall of 2026. Stay tuned…

The musicians:

• Shahab Azinmehr (IR) : tar, setar, voice
• Robbe Kieckens (BE) : percussions
• Derya Türkan (TR) : kemençe

Robbe Kieckens 

Based in Brussels, Robbe Kieckens is a versatile percussionist whose musical language has been shaped by travel, curiosity and immersion in diverse traditions. Having spent part of his childhood in Rwanda, he developed an early sensitivity to rhythm. Over the past decade, he has focused intensively on Middle Eastern percussion, while drawing inspiration from flamenco, Latin, Brazilian, West African music, jazz and funk.

Devoted autodidact, Robbe refined his approach through collaborations and workshops with musicians of diverse origins such as Zohar Fresco, Fahrettin Yarkin, Aleix Tobias and Itamar Doari. His playing is marked by a balance between complexity and clarity, always serving collective musical interaction. Robbe is active in a wide range of projects, including the percussion trio Spëcht, the klezmer and Balkan ensemble Halva, or the experimental and sensory project La Floresta. His ongoing video series Op de Koffie, featuring 21 duo performances with different guests, reflects his open, collaborative and exploratory artistic spirit.

Shahab Azinmehr

Born in Tehran, Shahab Azinmehr is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist rooted in Persian classical music. He holds a master’s degree in Persian music performance and studied with prominent masters including Mohammad Musavi, Dariush Talä’i, Mas’ud Sho’âri, Behruz Hemmati and Rezà Parvizzade. His work is grounded in the radif tradition, while remaining open to contemporary musical expressions and intercultural dialogue.

As a singer and performer on tar, setar, tanbur and tombak, Shahab has built an international career throughout Europe. He has collaborated with artists and ensembles such as Jordi Savall / Hespèrion XXI and is a member of Orpheus XXI, a project dedicated to the transmission of musical heritage across cultures. He has performed extensively across Europe and contributed to several recordings, including Echoes of the Mountains and projects connected to the Auster Loo collective.

Alongside his concert activity, Shahab is actively involved in education, regularly giving workshops and masterclasses.

Derya Türkan

Born in Istanbul, Derya Türkan is internationally recognized as one of the leading performers of the classical kemençe. He studied at the Istanbul Technical University Conservatory between 1984 and 1994 and joined TRT Istanbul Radio in the 1990s, becoming a permanent artist in 2000. His playing is firmly rooted in Ottoman classical tradition and distinguished by expressive depth, refined phrasing and also a strong improvisational sensibility.

Over the course of his career, Derya has collaborated with numerous artists and ensembles, notably Kudsi Erguner’s ensemble, and has released acclaimed recordings such as Letters from Istanbul (with Sokratis Sinopoulos), Minstrels Era (with Renaud Garcia-Fons and Uğur Işık) and Istanbul Kemencesi. He has performed at prestigious venues and festivals worldwide, including the Berlin Philharmonie, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Bozar Brussels, and many others.

In addition to his international performance activity, Derya is a committed educator and regularly leads seminars and workshops, especially at Ross Daly’s Labyrinth Musical Workshop, contributing to the transmission of Turkish classical music.