Surrounded by an extensive range of soundful stimuli, I grew up in Berlin, as a child of a German Arab family. My mother and my father had an interesting musical taste.
When my father told stories of shepherds from Jerusalem he played modale scales on his flute which touched me internally. The dramatic soprano voice of my mother filled each corner of our home with her favourite songs. It prevealed musical rejoicing.
We traveled to Perú when I was seven. I remember vividly the smiling faces on the strange roads of Lima.
All that was a new adventure, and we decided to establish there. Over time, we set roots. The traditions and the music of the surrounding villages revealed secrets
of that strange culture, which motivated me to be a singer.
My main purpose was to spread the Peruvian folklore, which had lost popularity. With this intention, I gave concerts and made recordings and television broadcasts.
When Leo was born, maternity became my priority. I fed spirit and soul with antroposofic books, that reflected my own vision of life. Everything in me gained depth, including my voice; my mother perceived it,
confessing that she got goosebumps listening to my singing. A few months later, she died. Due to the intense confrontation with life and death, a new artistic phase emerged, and I began to compose my own music.
Elleen Burhum
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