Hysni (Niko) Zela & Albanian Iso-Polyphonic Choir

Line up

• AVNI MIRAKA (vocal)
• BARDHYL XHAFKA (vocal)
• BLEDI HOXHAJ (vocal)
• GRAMOS BURBA (vocal)
• HYSNI (NIKO) ZELA (lead cocal)
• RAJMOND KLLOGJERI (vocal)
• ZAHO SELMANAJ (vocal)

• country:
  Albania
• style(s):
  • A Cappella
  • World
• label:
  BALLKAN WORLD MUSIC MANAGEMENT
• type:
  Band, Solo, Composer/Songwriter
• gender:
  male
• instrumentation:
  vocal
• artist submitted by:
  Estragon / Ballkan World Music Management

Otherworldly, complex and trance-inducing sounds manifested by the power of the human voice, carrying the emotional weight of centuries of pride, poverty and oppression; polyphonic vocal music is a living tradition in Albania and in 2005 was proclaimed a Masterpiece of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Hysni (Niko) Zela is the most prominent representative of the distinctive styles of southern Albania, where the drone can be sung either continuously or rhythmically against the interlacing melodies and occasional wild or mournful cries of the other voices to weave a haunting web of shape-shifting, dissonant beauty. Hysni Zela has been performing for over 40 years, touring internationally as a member of the Albanian National Ensemble, with his own ensemble and as a guest singer with the Fanfara Tirana brass band.

Links

• Official facebook page
• Official website of the band