About Me
Rojda was born in Turkey in 1981 in the small city of Tunceli. She grew up in a family where music, art and dance have always played a central role. Thanks to her older sisters, both singers and players of the Turkish stringed instrument, Saz, she was encouraged to learn to play the Saz and was taught to sing solo to it when she was only three years old. She made her first public performance at the age of five. Rojda and her family moved to Sweden when she was seven years old. She grew up hearing traditional Turkish music but was also drawn to other types of western music. This mix of middle-eastern and western music has resulted in Rojdas unique, exciting style."No other music moves me the way Turkish rhythms do, and I will always have it in me no matter what I do or where I go. But I am also very inspired by soul music and love the voices of Etta James, Aretha Franklin, and admire artists like Prince. Turkish singer Sezen Aksu has had a great impact on me as well, since I grew up with her music."- RojdaThe move to Sweden also sparked Rojdas interest in dancing. She has studied jazz dance since the age of seven and when she was 14 she was turned on to the rhythms of hip-hop. She has continued to dance at the Uppsala Dance Academy and the Dance Center in Stockholm- five hours a day, seven days a week."Dancing jazz, ballet, breakdance, street jazz, belly dancing and other dances helped me to develop my technique and my own style. What was great about Dance Center Stockholm was that I, like other students there, were given the chance to try dancing for different guest teachers outside Sweden, like Liz Imperio, who is known for her choreographer work for Jennifer Lopez, and Brian Friedman, choreographer for artists like Britney and Christina Milian."-RojdaRojda is very independent and extremely focused on her career as a recording artist. This spirit of independence took her to Plymouth, Massachusetts when she was 17, where she received her high school diploma. She continued dancing (street dance and belly dancing) during her year in the US. After graduation she returned to Sweden to complete the Biotechnology program at college, but soon realized that music and dance were much closer to her heart than medicine. Since school and dance became her primary endeavors, music was put aside for two years, but Rojda decided to return to singing and started taking private voice classes at The Municipal Music School in Uppsala. It was at this time that she also began experimenting and writing her own music and lyrics.
"I have always loved writing. Now I took the chance to express myself through lyrics I could sing myself. To me, dance and music belong together. When coming up with an up-tempo, hooky melody, I automatically think about the dance moves first. If I cant feel the dynamics of the rhythm, I give it up for another melody until Im satisfied with it."-Rojda
Her source of inspiration when it comes to developing the capacity of the voice is her tutor Tenor Senol Talinli from Ankara State Opera and Ballet.
Rojdas talent is limitless; her blending of middle-eastern rhythms and western soul, of Turkish and modern hip-hop dancing has created something totally new and exciting.
Rojda has succeeded in combining the best of eastern and western culture to create something that is exciting and unique.
