AYKU Songs of Gastarbeiter

When author Imran Ayata and artist Bülent Kullukcu released the compilation "Songs of Gastarbeiter Vol. 1" over ten years ago, hardly anyone could have guessed what the two would unleash. Under the name AYKU, they unearthed musical treasures that were previously unknown in Germany. In the meantime, the songs of migrant workers are attracting more attention - icons such as Ata Canani and Yüksel Özkasap are being reissued and academics and filmmakers are also devoting themselves to their music. But many of us still have clichés in our heads when we think of this generation of immigrants. Associations of men with sad, melancholy looks, besieging train station concourses smoking cigarettes, or families causing barbecue smoke to rise in city parks. With "Songs of Gastarbeiter", AYKU want to make the unknown known and document a diverse musical culture so that it does not get lost. And to fulfill the omission of paying respect to the first generation.