Review: Selin Sumbultepe and Zeid Hamdan ‘Hemhal’
Selin Sumbultepe sings about freedom and love, but not as a woman who’s naive about the sufferings and pains in the world, as someone who has seen through the worst then chooses to liberate her soul. What makes Hemhal such a meaningful project is how rich and layered the music is. Every single song has a soul that speaks to you, at the worst and the best, and it aims to elevate you through a thorny and challenging path. Weaving Meddle Eastern elements with reggae and rock rhythms while being authentic to her root, Hatay, Selin Sumbultepe and producer Zeid Hamdan are pioneers in music. Their music does share the same spirits as early pioneers — fierce and courageous, bend but unbroken. These songs burn brighter than anything and serve as a source of light themselves — part of Hemhal is also about this journey of seeking, the journey of stepping into the unknown and finding answers.
Hemhal feels personal, and at the same time, the least personal. It’s as if the songs are addressed to someone, but at times, it’s addressed to no one. Even in “Tekbar Tekrar,” where two singers are in response to each other, feels like each’s own independent pursuit. The song about disillusion, growing pain and the search for a path is introspective and deep. An dancing flute, a pulsing rhythm, and two voices that seduce your ears at the same time so expressive — all seems to be in the state of communication while in conversation with oneself.
“Ma Ureedu” bounces on a reggae rhythm. All the dreams and hopes can reach farther places when not limited by borders. This speaks true in this context. Sumbultepe and Hamdan are visionary artists who love and care enough to bring diverse elements together in the same mix. The EP’s central piece is liberating. Like the sun, it radiates and is fully charged with energy while in your ears, it feels like the wind at the top of a mountain — it’s ritualistic and transforming. “Derbest” has a little bit rock and jazz in its percussion section and a deep sadness underneath the melodies. The music itself almost gives out an impression of mourning, but isn’t that what freedom is about? You have to let go and grow to be free, to burn and cleanse and regenerate. Hemhal is intense music.
“Maryem Meryemti“ continues the pioneer spirit, bringing listeners a deeply touching experience, and “Rabih” itself feels like rebirth and celebration. The humid track incorporates heavy Middle Eastern elements and never ceases to elevate you. You can hear dancing in your ears, and that’s the power of a rich and vibrant culture. The core spirit of Hemhal is about celebrating cultures and root and connecting people together. We speak to Selin Sumbultepe about her journey in making this EP. Below, she tells us about the earthquake in 2023 that changed everything she once knew, and how music serves as a way to heal.
PH: The earthquake in 2023 served as a pivotal event that led you to the path of making healing music. Can you tell me a bit about this journey and what you have learned?
Selin Sumbultepe: We started production for the Hemhal songs in the last months of 2022. It has long been my dream to incorporate my roots into my music and my musical career. Life came crashing down on us with an unexpected nightmare in 2023. I wouldn't have been able to handle it without music.
What would you consider as your biggest accomplishment as an artist?
I think I managed to stay original/authentic while doing what I wanted to do.
Tell me more about this EP. Is there a particular moment that touched you during the making process?
I know it's a cliché, but the musical embrace of the songs, meeting Zeid Hamdan, and the production process brought tears to my eyes many times. Tears of dreams, gratitude and happiness.
