Maryam Turkey

Iraqi-American Avant-Garde Vocalist

Blending forgotten Iraqi folk melodies with Brooklyn's experimental jazz scene through immersive, sample-based soundscapes.

jazzavant-gardefolkexperimental

About

Born in Baghdad and based in Brooklyn, Maryam Turkey is a multidisciplinary artist who recently transitioned into music. Her work bridges her Middle Eastern heritage with New York’s improvisational jazz community, resulting in a genre-fluid, avant-garde style. She gained recognition for her 2024 debut EP and frequent collaborations with leading experimental jazz instrumentalists.

Music Style

Her sound is a hypnotic fusion of traditional Iraqi folk and modern electronic experimentation. Utilizing vocals and samplers, she constructs evocative, atmospheric textures that explore themes of diaspora and cultural memory.

Background

Hometown
Baghdad, Iraq
Education
Pratt Institute
Instruments
vocals
Active
2023-present

Similar Artists

If you like Amir ElSaffar, Ganavya, or Low Leaf — you'll love this artist

Amir ElSaffar
Both artists masterfully blend Iraqi maqam and traditional Middle Eastern structures with contemporary jazz improvisation.
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Ganavya
Like Maryam, she uses her voice as a primary instrument to navigate the intersection of traditional spiritual music and modern jazz.
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Jesse Harris
Harris produced her debut EP and shares a similar penchant for blending organic songwriting with subtle, atmospheric production.
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Notable Collaborations

Shahzad IsmailyJesse HarrisKenny WollesenWill GraefeBenjamin Lazar DavisMohamed Abozekry
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