Zigan Aldi is a Kreuzberg legend: A long-time resident, neighbourhood patron, and bon vivant. First and foremost, though, he is a DJ known for skilfully mixing electronic music with oriental elements. His influences, which range from traditional Sinti and Romani music to the sounds of Armenia, Iran and Turkey, can be traced back to his roots.

 

Zigan Aldi grew up in the mountains around Malatya in Eastern Anatolia, the youngest son of a family of shepherds. He landed in Berlin as a teenager, where he lived with a greek family at Kottbusser Tor and began working as a taxi driver, later as a craftsman, and finally as a gastronomer. During this time, he was soaking up the music scene of Berlin’s wild 80’s. But it was still a while before he began making music himself. It wasn’t until the 2000s, when german-turkish relations were at their zenith and Tarkan’s Şimarik (Kiss Kiss) stood at the top of the German music charts. Turkey was trendy and Zigan Aldi was able to provide the perfect soundtrack, spinning Balkan, swing and oriental records on endless nights in Kreuzberg’s Cake Club.

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As the Berlin sound became increasingly electronic, Zigan Aldi grew with it. In 2015, he released his first single on renowned record label 3000°. He became an insider tip in the scene, playing at Kater Blau, Ritter Butzke, Sysiphos and the Fusion Festival. Music labels soon took note and he went on to release tracks on Bedouin, True Colours and Underyourskin. What makes his music so recognisable is that, unlike most other electronic music artists, he does not use readymade samples but instead works closely in the studio with session musicians from across the world.

 

Although Zigan Aldi is intrinsically linked to Berlin, he often plays the circuits of the international party capitals of Ibiza, Mykonos, Miami, and Tulum, Mexico. From shepherd to jet-setting DJ - as improbable as Zigan Aldi’s story sounds, it is exactly what his music is all about: the ability to playfully unite separate worlds.