Mesut Kurtis

Mesut Kurtis (Turkish: Mesut Kurtiş; born (1981-07-31)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 at a concert in Konya, Turkey in 2014

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 andfeatured 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.

(From left) Maher Zain, Irfan Makki, Raef, Hamza Namira, Mesut Kurtis in "Send a little hope" UK tour in London in April 2012

• On 14 April 2012, Kurtis took part in "Send A Little Hope" charity concert organised by Awakening Records and Save An Orphan organization at London's Hammersmith Apollo with Hamza Namira, Irfan Makki, Maher Zain and Raef to raise awareness and collect donations. Over £175,000 were pledged on the night.
• On 21 April 2012, Kurtis performed at University City Hall by Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services in collaboration with the American University of Sharjah with Maher Zain in the charity concert aiming at introducing youth to disability issues and emphasising the importance of voluntarily work.
• Kurtis took part in "Sound of Light 2014" tour organized by Awakening Records and Human Appeal International in France and UK to collect fund for Gaza. A concert in Bradford, England raised £520,000.

• Shahid, Omar (10 April 2012). "The Concert of the year". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 12 October 2014. 
• "Over £175,000 pledged on the night at our 'Send A Little Hope' charity concert!". Save An Orphan. Retrieved 12 October 2014. 
• Shahid, Omar (17 April 2012). "Making Muslim Music for charity: Maher Zain and Mesut Kurtis". Al Bawaba. Retrieved 12 October 2014. 
• "Sounds of Light ft Maher Zain". Troxy. Retrieved 12 October 2014. 
• Faridi, Hasan (1 November 2014). "Bradford raises £520,000 in Sounds Of Light fundraiser". The Yorkshire Standard. West Yorkshire. Retrieved 1 November 2014. 

Albums

• 2014: "Aşkınla Yansın Özüm"
• 2014: "Rouhi Fidak"
• 2012: "Sevgili"
• 2009: "Beloved"
• 2007: "Burdah"