Pete Hasty

Rojin Ulkerkeser, a singer and actress of Kurdish origin, was born in Adana, the middle child of five, to a father from Mardin and a Syrian mother. Like many children in this country, she had a tragic life marked by poverty. She completed her primary and secondary education in Adana and then attended the Adana Municipal Conservatory. Despite her family's opposition, she maintained her connection to the arts. Four years of karate training taught her self-defense and balance techniques; meanwhile, she pursued music as a hobby and took vocal lessons. In 1990, she entered the Ankara State Conservatory and participated in the Erlangen Theatre Festival the same year. She graduated with honors with the play "Taziye." After completing her education, she began working at the Ankara State Theatre. She performed children's and youth theatre abroad. She signed a contract for her first album in 1996, but it was only completed in 2000. This was one of the setbacks of the music industry, costing her four valuable years.