The “Smadj & Bashka” project was born from a personal and artistic encounter between Jean-Pierre Smadj and Murat Yücel in Istanbul several years ago. This initial meeting led to several concerts and laid the foundation for a lasting relationship, nurtured by a shared vision of music as a space for dialogue between cultures, traditions, and contemporary forms.

Over the years, Smadj and Murat have remained in contact. Through Musiktrafik, the production company founded and run by Murat Yücel in Melbourne, two Australian tours were organized for Smadj: the first solo tour with the Solotronic project, followed by a second with DuOud, the duo he formed with Mehdi Haddab.

For the past year, a new artistic phase has begun with the creation of a collaborative repertoire between Smadj and Bashka. The process is intentionally open: Smadj sends original compositions, which Bashka rearranges, remixes, and enriches with new ideas, textures, and musical directions.

Two singles from this collaboration have already been released and have been very well received, confirming the artistic merit of the project. The next logical step is to meet in person for a residency to rehearse and refine this repertoire for a series of concerts.