Mesut Kurtis | |
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Kurtis performing at a concert at the American University in Cairo in 2010
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Background information | |
Native name | Mesut Kurtiş |
Born |
Skopje, Macedonia |
31 July 1981
Origin | United Kingdom |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 2000–present |
Labels | Awakening |
Associated acts | |
Website | www |
Mesut Kurtis (Turkish: Mesut Kurtiş; born 31 July 1981) is a Macedonian Islamic singer of Turkish descent represented by and signed to Awakening Records.
Kurtis was born in Skopje, Macedonia. His parents are of Turkish origin. He studied at the College of Skojpe and came to the UK at a young age to pursue his studies. He graduated with a degree in Human Sciences, Islamic Law and Jurisprudence. from the European Institute of Human Sciences, University of Wales
Kurtis comes from a scholarly and religious family. His great-grandfather was a well known scholar at the time of the Ottoman Empire.
Kurtis showed a strong interest in Islamic nasheeds from a very young age. He joined several nasheed groups in Macedonia that performed local social clubs, mosques, and conferences and also made several international visits including performances in Turkey and neighbouring places. His music is influenced by Sufi, Turkish classical, Arabic and European styles.
In May 2004, his debut album Salawat, produced by Awakening Records, was released and featured songs that combine Arabic, Turkish and English. It was well received by Muslim listeners around the world after his first music video "Al‐Burdah" which was filmed on location in the islands off the coast of Turkey.
In June 2009, his second album Beloved was released. On 7 July 2014, his third album Tabassam was released.
Kurtis sings in Arabic, English and Turkish. He is also fluent in five languages. He has performed several concerts in the UK, France, Macedonia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and others.