There were emotional scenes at a special commemoration event in the British capital on Thursday night. The Gallipoli Friendship Concert, held at one of London’s leading classical music venues, featured the international premiere of Can Atilla’s Gallipoli Symphony, the 57th Regiment – named after the...
On Friday, 16 March, singer-songwriter Djanan Turan released a new single Dünya, dedicating it to a peaceful world for children. As part of the world premiere of Dünya’s music video on the same day, Djanan also launched a fundraising campaign for Small Projects Istanbul, which supports refugee child...
In this centenary year of the end of the Great War, the Gallipoli Friendship Concert featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will commemorate those who lost their lives in the 1915-16 Gallipoli Campaign, and build on the enduring legacy of friendship it inspired between Turkey and the C...
When my editor asked me to pick my favourite ten songs by legendary band MFÖ in advance of their London concert on 18 March, I didn’t think it would be this hard. The band formed in 1980 – more than a decade before I was born – and they still comprise of the original line-up: Mazhar Alanso...
MFÖ have been around since the 1980s, recording some of Turkey’s biggest and most original music, including Ali Desidero and Sarı Laleler, their songs covered by countless Turkish artists. They tour regularly, but they have never quite reached our shores – until now. Finally their Briti...
Bedük has been rocking audiences worldwide for 15 years, but surprisingly this multi-talented Turkish artist has never performed in London. All that is set to change on Thursday when the dance musician / producer / singer takes to the stage at the O2 Academy Islington. With a capacity of just 900...
He’s been in the spotlight on Turkey’s The Voice (O Ses Türkiye) and as a London busker he brought Marble Arch tube station to a standstill following his lively set that went viral. Now singer-songwriter Ali Köse has turned judge as one of a hundred talented music professionals on BBC 1’s...
If you have an interest in the history and heritage of Turkic peoples, then this new book is for you! Edited by Razia Sultanova and Megan Rancier, Turkic Soundscapes From Shamanic Voices to Hip-Hop is the culmination of a long-running project exploring the story of Turkic peoples around th...
I finally had the chance to listen to the legendary Turkish musician Selda Bağcan live at her recent concert at KOKO in Camden. I have known of her since my early childhood (the 90s), thanks to my parents who admire her just like many other people their age in Turkey. Today, it’s funny to...
Ever since I moved to London from Istanbul three years ago, I am always keen to check out Turkish origin musicians in London. I met Gazel about a year ago during one of her gigs at 93 Feet East. I didn’t know at the time that she had Turkish roots, but when I heard the melodies from Sarı Gelin I...
