Ahmet Kaya's deep-rooted leftist views, along with the embrace of his Kurdish heritage, have made him the object of severe controversy. But his spiralling Arabesque music has united listeners from both left and right of the political spectrum. His music is full-blooded and earthy, and drawing on the words of famed poets it explodes with visceral cries and lyrical laments. Led by his pained baritone and the unique sound of the bağlama, his signature works—such as 1994's Şarkılarım Dağlara, and Koçero in collaboration with Boxer Rebellion—are flooded with power and emotion.