Zemiene combines Balkan, Persian, Baltic, and Nordic stories, temperaments, folk songs, and other sonic elements.

“Zemiene” is a Latvian word that describes the flat and fertile land of Southern Latvia. “Zämin” in Persian and “Zemin” in Turkish mean “The Earth.” Additionally, “Zemlja” is another word that sounds similar, which means “land” in Slovenian.

The band members come from different backgrounds, values, and cultural perspectives. They describe Zemiene as the fertile common ground to sow seeds of bringing cultures together through music: “Music is the medium of coming together and telling our stories as young artists in our global present. Through our music, we connect people in a way that only music can, reminding us that despite our differences, we share a common humanity”

With every performance, Zemiene is a reminder that music has the power to bridge divides and bring people together. It is a testament to the fact that music is a universal language that knows no boundaries.

Line up
Merve Abdurrahmani – piano, vocals
Ana Lazar – violin, vocals
Vija Moore – percussions, vocals
Mehrnoosh Zolfaghari – santoor, daf, daire, hang drum, vocals

Sari Gelin is a traditional folk song that originated in the Caucasus region and is popular in many countries, including Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Armenia. The lyrics vary depending on the region and the language in which the song is sung, but generally, the song tells the story of a young man who is in love with a woman who is from another village and religion. The song is known for its melancholy melody and themes of love, longing, and societal barriers to love and acceptance.

This tune is based on an Albanian folk song Jarnana, Jarnane and Latvian folk song Gulu, Gulu. Both folk songs tell the story of letting romantic love into one’s life and giving love a chance. The music combines melodies and rhythm patterns from both music traditions sharing the same story.