LATEST RELEASES:
Ru?ya
released June 20, 2025
Asl? Maj - vocals, kemençe, lyrics
Kevin Finseth - piano, bass balalaika, marimba, melodica
Peggy Lee - cello
Geoff Hicks - drums
Chris Blades - electric guitar
A-Dub - engineer/mix/master
Recorded in Vancouver and Istanbul
Cover photo by Kevin Finseth, Mali 2004
Cover design by A-Dub
Written and produced by Kevin Finseth
A Highlife Record 2025
The Wild Cages
greetings friends! this new recording sounds to me like a film soundtrack, with vocal tracks to start and finish, and instrumental variations inbetween, set in a dry land with its endless desire for rain.
released January 20, 2025
music by kevin finseth
Ya? Ya?mur lyrics by asl? maj
Close To You lyrics by kevin finseth
vocals, kemençe - asl? maj
piano, bass balalaika, marimba, melodica, percussion - kevin finseth
cello - peggy lee
drums - geoff hicks
guitar - chris blades
vocals on Close To You - kevin & asl?
engineer/mix/master - a-dub
recorded in vancouver & istanbul
file under: genre unknown
cover photo by kevin finseth
mopti, mali 2004
From reviewer Doug Heselgrave:
"It's beautiful. I love the echoes and the lonely harmonica [melodica]. Sounds like Brian Eno had a flat tire in Saskatchewan, andNeil Young pulled over to help him patch it. Brilliant!"
Circles (album)
Music by Kevin Finseth
'Daireler' lyrics by Asli Maj
'Happens To The Heart' lyrics by Leonard Cohen
Engineer/Mix/Master A-Dub
Cover Design by A-Dub
released June 21, 2024
Credits
performed by:
Asli Maj, voice & kemençe
Peggy Lee, cello
Chris Blades, guitar
Geoff Hicks, drums
Kevin Finseth, piano, bass balalaika, marimba, melodica, vocal
On The Blind Lead The Blind & Western Front:
Peggy Lee, cello
A-Dub, guitar
Geordie Hart, bass
Mallory Temple, drums
Kevin Finseth, piano
A Highlife Record
Socan 2024
Silence
except A Remark You Made by Joe Zawinul
lyrics of Standing In Blue by Kevin Finseth
piano, bass balalaika, marimba, vocals - Kevin Finseth
kemençe, vocals - Asli Maj
cello - Peggy Lee
engineer / mix / master - A-Dub
recorded in Vancouver & Istanbul
cover photo by Kevin Finseth
design by A-Dub
I would like to dedicate this music to the memory of Roger Gale, dear friend, mentor, bon vivant, avid conversationalist and lover of the sounds of the world.
Dünya
music by kevin finseth
lyrics by asli maj
vocals, kemençe - asli maj
piano, bass balalaika - kevin finseth
cello - peggy lee
additional sounds - a-dub
engineer / mix / master - a-dub
made in Vancouver & Istanbul
cover photo by kevin finseth
Diyarbakir
cover design by a-dub
This music is dedicated to my mother, Ruth Hall, born this day in 1924.
Bu Gece
Y?ld?zlar uzakta,
çok uzaktalar bu gece
Teselli etmiyor beni,
ah ne ay ne de ?ark?lar
Ah ne ay ne de ?ark?lar
bu gece
Tonight
the stars are far, far away
tonight, it doesn't comfort me
neither the moon nor the songs
neither the moon nor the songs
tonight
Dünya
Sözlerden uzak
Dü?lere yak?n
Sesler saracak
Gözlerden uzak
Sislere yak?n
Dünya sal?ncak
The World
Away from words
Close to dreams
Sounds will surround
Out of sight
Close to fog
World swing
Distant Blues
music by kevin finseth
lyrics by asli maj
except The Promising Gambler & Once Was True - lyrics by kf
Turkish translation of Once Was True by i?in can
vocals, kemençe - asli maj
piano, bass balalaika, marimba - kevin finseth
cello - peggy lee
drums - geoff hicks
guitar - chris blades
engineer / mix / master - a-dub
release date 4/3/23
I Was a Child...
4-mix maxi-single
piano, bass balalaika, vocals, kemece
music by kevin finseth
lyrics by asli maj
I Dream in Winter's Light
5-song suite
piano, bass balalaika
written by kevin finseth
except To Build A Home by Patrick Watson
& How Beautiful Is My Love by Mikis Theodorakis
Çiçek
(feat. Asli Maj, Peggy Lee, Bedouins, Alpha Yaya Diallo & A-Dub) - 5-song EP
Lament for Flâneur (feat. Asli Maj, Peggy Lee, A-Dub) - Single
NEWS / MEDIA:
Kevin featured in Toplum Magazine - Sep. 2024
Asli Maj, Kevin Finseth - Istanbul 2021
Photo by Isin Can
Herzog - 5 Song EP
(December 2021)
The Idea of East - 6 Song EP
(March 2022)
Press for Herzog and The Idea of East
Q&A with Stuart Derdeyn:
Read the full article here...
A Review of The Idea of East
by Doug Heselgrave
..."The Idea of East" is a rare and exhilarating recording that helps redefine the parameters of modern chamber music..."
"For Finseth, working with Asli Maj represents the fruition of a long held musical dream. “Since first being exposed to Turkish popular music, more than 40 years ago, in the back of my mind I always wanted to incorporate Turkish female vocals into my compositions. I just loved the sound."
"Asli's haunting, wordless vocal phrases and kemenche tones offer a perfect counterbalance to Finseth's spare piano, and are expertly blended by sound alchemist A-dub who creates a deeply satisfying sonic experience."
Opium Hymns - Album
(Jan 2020)
Press for Opium Hymns:
Photo by Isin Can
CDs of Kevin's releases are available at his record shop Highlife Records on Commercial Drive (Little Italy) in Vancouver.
