KURDOPHONE
About
DRUMS
Sebastian Simsa was born in 1988 in Vienna – Austria. He started playing drums at the age of 10 and studied from 2009 to 2018 at the MUK (Private-University of Vienna for Music and Art) and the MDW (University for Music and Performing Arts of Vienna). Between school and university he spent a year in Paris exploring the diverse session-scene, which has been of great influence to the young drummer!
As musical diversity has always been very important to him he plays a lot of different styles of music from Jazz to Soul-Funk and Salsa. Within the last years concerts and theater for young-audience got more and more important to him and he was co-author of the book Max Spielt Schlagzeug (Max plays the drums) – an encyclopedia for children about drums and percussion instruments.
In 2017 he formed the modern chamber-folk-jazz quintet SIMSA FÜNF playing only original compositions. Critics as well as the audience have been very enthusiastic about their debut album The Time We Need – released in fall 2018 – which has been nominated for the German Record Critics Award.
Kurdophone, a Vienna-based band founded by Omid Darvish in 2017, has been gaining recognition for its exceptional compositions and arrangements that fuse Kurdish-Iranian music with other music genres. This blending creates a unique musical language that appeals to a wider audience.
The band comprises an eclectic mix of musicians, including Sarvin Hazin on the kamanche and violin, Amir Ahmadi on the piano, Helene Glüxam on bass, and Sebastian Simsa on drums. Together, they create a dynamic and exciting sound that reflects their shared passion for Kurdish-Iranian music.
Kurdophone's debut album, "Isomer," released in 2019, showcases their incredible talent and unique sound. The album incorporates tanbur maqams and other genres such as jazz, rock, and classical contemporary music, producing a captivating and engaging sound that blends modern and traditional elements.
The band's fusion of genres has positioned them as an exciting ensemble to watch out for in the music scene. With their passion for Kurdish-Iranian music and exceptional ability to merge different genres, including jazz, rock, and classical contemporary music, Kurdophone is continuously growing and evolving.