A former X Factor Turkey [Star Işığı X Factor] finalist and favourite to win before the channel took the show off air, pop star İlyas Yalçıntaş’s electrifying performances on national television and song writing ability proved his star quality. His debut single, İncir, which he had penned and sang live on X Factor in 2014, […]
Blessed with a heavenly voice, Olcay Bayır has been singing for as long as she can remember. She was born in Gaziantep to a Kurdish Alevi family steeped in the âşık (wandering minstrels) tradition, and her career as a classically-trained singer-songwriter is a perfect marriage of her roots and global music experiences following her move […]
Ten days ago, Nilüfer Yanya’s eagerly awaited debut album Miss Universe finally dropped and already fans and music critics are going mad for it. In its review, US music magazine Pitchfork said: “The rapturous debut from the British singer-songwriter takes adventurous pop-rock crucibles to new heights with her illusory songwriting and stunning voice.” The UK’s […]
“Since bursting on to the UK’s music scene in the early naughties, busking at London’s East End markets, She’Koyokh – a Yiddish word meaning “nice one!” – has toured the world, won international awards and released four critically acclaimed albums earning themselves the reputation as “one of London’s musical treasures playing the best klezmer and […]
After an absence of nine years from the UK, maNga’s British fans can finally see them live when the nu metal band play a single date in London later this month. One of Turkey’s biggest bands, maNga have played a pivotal role in redefining Turkish rock music with their progressive fusion of electronic beats, traditional […]
For years many Turkish Cypriots have felt that appearing on Turkey’s biggest television singing competition was futile. However good the singer, if they were from North Cyprus, they never seemed to have a chance of winning O Ses Türkiye – Turkey’s version of The Voice. This year, Lütfiye Özipek proved Cypriots can succeed after being […]
Solo artist Nilüfer Yanya is the headline act for this weekend’s Camden showcase promoted by London’s most exciting independent label, Blue Flowers. Just 22-years-old, Nilüfer has forged her own musical path by performing in open mic nights across the capital. Her breakthrough single Baby Luv, released earlier this year, was lauded by music critics on […]
Turkish musical chanteuse Djanan Turan has found herself in the Top 100 of SALUTE – the UK’s new cutting edge music competition being pioneered by Feargal Sharkey, the former lead singer of pop punk band The Undertones. Having beaten over 2,500 musicians to get this far, Djanan now needs public support via SALUTE Music’s innovative […]
It’s only taken 19 years for me to see İlhan Erşahin live. I discovered him by chance while living in Istanbul in the late 90s, after picking up a copy of his Wax Poetic Three album in 1998 from a record store in Beyoğlu. His music was by far the coolest thing I’d heard […]
The city of Istanbul inherits its name from the Greek “Eis tēn polin” meaning ‘into the city’. Born in Istanbul, Barlas Tan Özemek’s music revolves around this evolving metropolis. Strumming on his guitar, this modern-day Aşık or troubadour tells tales about his native Turkey, its people and culture in these volatile times. Barlas’ powerful lyrics […]
