Famagusta, Cyprus. British composer Terry Overall has released VAROSHA, an electronic concept album inspired by his first view of the abandoned resort during a family holiday in Cyprus in 2008. The work explores memory, loss, resilience and shared experiences.
A lasting first impression
Overall visited Famagusta after his in-laws suggested the trip. At the time, he knew little about Varosha or the events that had transformed the former resort.
He said he was struck by the scale of the closed area and found it difficult to comprehend that such a large part of a once-thriving resort had remained untouched for decades.
From curiosity to research
After returning home, Overall began researching Varosha, its history and the wider story of Cyprus.
He said the more he learned, the more he understood that the empty hotels and streets represented more than a forgotten city.
Focus on human stories
Overall said he was surprised that such an extraordinary place could appear to have become part of the landscape to an outsider.
His focus shifted from the city’s abandoned buildings to the people who once lived and worked there, imagining everyday moments in its formerly busy streets. This human perspective became the foundation for VAROSHA.
