Alya Marquardt is a singer, songwriter and pianist. Originally from Iraq and brought up in Tottenham, London, her music is infused with influences from Iraqi folk song and jazz. Alya trained as a mezzo-soprano with the former lead soprano at the Bolshoi opera in Moscow. Her latest project, ALULA, is a new septet of leading European jazz and world musicians focused on performing Iraqi folk songs in an improvised jazz frame. Performances include Vortex Jazz Festival, Royal Festival Hall, Kensington Town Hall, as well as a number of jazz and world music festivals.