Dutch musician to greet Turks in Alanya

Dutch jazz singer and songwriter Judith Nijland is ready to hit the stage for the first time in Türkiye on Sept. 26 as part of the 19th Alanya International Jazz Festival.

Nijland, who participated in talent competitions from a very early age and fell in love with her piano at home, studied jazz at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague after studying Greek and Latin.

Nijland, known for infusing popular classics with a unique blend of different genres and jazz, will perform unforgettable ABBA songs live at her debut concert in Türkiye. In fact, she transforms the most popular ABBA songs into a completely different experience and is now ready to create a jazzy dream in southern Türkiye.

Q: At a very young age, you participated in talent shows. Do you remember who your idol was at the time?

I didn't really have one specific idol growing up, but I liked listening to ABBA, The Beatles and some Dutch pop bands. A little later in life, I also listened to Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Nancy Wilson. I think all of them combined influenced me one way or another.

Q: After learning Greek and Latin, you studied jazz at the Royal Conservatory in the Hague, can we say that Greek and Latin might give you a romantic depth in your musical journey?

Studying Greek and Latin was really amazing. I loved the languages themselves, but also learned about ancient history, philosophy and archeology. It broadened my horizon and made me want to meet people from all different cultures. And it definitely made me more creative in writing and singing lyrics in a broad variety of languages.

Q: People often compare your voice to the sound of the late Karen Carpenter. What are your own feelings about your...