Statement

8ulentina, Turkish, and Foozool, Iranian-Armenian, are both products of a diasporic digital generation who combined forces after connecting through MAS#ALLAH, a digital platform and collective of contemporary Middle Eastern artists. This mixtape and collaborative visual experience was a way to share stories about identity and healing inter-generational trauma. "We talked a lot about the violence of Turkish nationalism and its constant denial of the Armenian genocide and how that delusion continues violence to this day," said 8ulentina. The two coming together on this project was a way to dissolve borders and find similarities and differences in the way they experience culture out of the context of their homelands.

Foozool highlights the gravity of such a collaboration even on a small scale, "I also think its beautiful that we've coincidentally come together at such a crucial time for our communities and histories, as 2015 marks the centennial, 100 years, after the Armenian genocide; however, denial of such genocide from the Turkish government still continues until today." Though the two don't really consider themselves "just 'Turkish' or 'Armenian'," the importance of finding healing of personal and ancestral histories through collaboration is a thread woven through this mixtape.

The sounds we hear pull from Istanbul, Canada, Armenia, Syria, and our fav America-based crew Future Brown. Foozool compiles visuals from Youtube to showcase rich cultural media on Konversation to provide a space to interact without the jarringly negative Youtube comments that are often already too familiar to those living the immigrant experience. For younger generations of diaspora, collaborations and conversations are a way for us to heal as individuals from our violent histories while thriving through sharing knowledge. You can peep the tracklist and the videolist and get your comparative study on!

Follow 8ULENTINA
Follow foozool

Videos

• Leila Forouhar - Chi Seda Konam
• Leila Forouhar - Noo Ke Miyad Be Bazar
• Фарзонаи Хуршед - Аллох 2015
• The Color of Pomegranates – Sergei Parajanov, 1968
• Selda Bagcan Ben Yana Yana Semah Kizilbas
• Qristine Hovsepyan - 10 year old
• Googoosh (Hejrat)
• Parsi=Tajiki=Dari (nigara)
• HELLY LUV - RISK IT ALL EXCLUSIVE (OFFICIAL) MUSIC VIDEO
• Nune Yesayan Sirelu Hamar 2014 N.Y.
• ‪Дина Алиева в г. Грозном
• Fairuz فيروز - Habaytak Bisayf
• Armenian Dance - Enzeli - Vanoush Khanamiryan Dance School
• Фарзонаи Хуршед - Лола (2014) | Farzonai Khurshed - Lola (2014)
• Moroccan Folklore - Moroccan music
• Sirusho - PreGomesh - Սիրուշո - ՊռեԳոմեշ
• Moein - Bigharar (Bandari) | معین – بیقرار
• Армянская Минута Славы Финал - победитель Миша Папоян
• Vanoush Khanamerian Dance School - Uzundara (Bride's) Par - Armenian Traditional Dance
• Beautiful Armenian Dance with Segways
• Фарзонаи Хуршед & Шабнами Сурайё - Иллохи | Farzonai Khurshed & Shabnam Surayo – Illohi
• ARA GEVORGYAN - SARDARAPAT – FRANCE
• ARA GEVORGYAN - ARTASHAT - SYRIA – 2009
• Mon début sur l instrumant musicale le kanoun

Tracks

• Kayıp - MultiDedem (Switzerland)
• Circular Thinking - Clearlight (Belgium)
• Last Breath - El Mahdy Jr (Istanbul)
• Harem - Sarantis (Leeds, Britain)
• Second Nature - Gantz (Istanbul)
• Think of me - Judah Warsky (Acid Arab Edit) (Paris)
• Retribution VIP - Godlink (Toronto)
• Room 302 Feat. Tink - Future Brown (US)
• PreGomesh / ՊռեԳոմեշ - Sirusho Սիրուշո (Armenian Popstar, Canada)
• Zu Zu - Zulaykho (Tajikistan)
• Chiral - Al Tariq (Norway)
• Elk Fedwa - Sarya Al Sawas (Syrian, Levantine Dabke style)
• NILCAPS MEETS THE QURAN - Total Freedom (Los Angeles, CA)