Ajda the Turkish Queen is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist living and making music in the Boston area since 1996. A founder of original bands Black Fortress of Opium (who performed at the 2009 Boston Turkish Festival and is named after the Turkish town of Afyonkarahisar) and Turkish Queen, and the Ronnie James Dio tribute AjDIO, her current focus is primarily in solo endeavors.
Growing up in Houston, Texas with a Turkish mother and American father influenced Ajda greatly in her appreciation and straddling of Eastern and Western elements in music and culture, and numerous trips to Turkey have left an indelible mark on her consciousness. Ajda was named after the Turkish pop star Ajda Pekkan, whom her mother greatly admired as a youth.
Ajda's music has been called "rootsy yet ethereal," with one reviewer urging listeners to "think Turkey by way of Texas" in terms of describing the sound and vibe. Throughout her career to date, Ajda has contributed to over two dozen recordings, both as a featured songwriter/vocalist/instrumentalist for Black Fortress of Opium and Turkish Queen, and in collaboration with many other groups and composers. Recent releases include her 2023 official solo debut "Faces of a Queen" and the two volumes of BC35: The 35th Anniversary of BC Studio, which celebrate and commemorate the 35th anniversary of BC Studios in Brooklyn, NYC, owned and operated by producer/engineer/musician Martin Bisi - with whom Ajda has had an incredibly fruitful and harmonious collaboration across several albums. Martin Bisi has worked with artists such as Herbie Hancock, Bill Laswell, John Zorn, The Dresden Dolls, Sonic Youth and countless others.
More about Ajda the Turkish Queen on her website ajdatheturkishqueen.com/
Photo credits: Daykamp Music, Union Lesson Studios = Maria Alejandra Mata
