With their first English-language single, a London-filmed music video and a landmark Wembley concert just days away, Türkiye's biggest girl group are making an ambitious play for international stardom.
Turkish pop sensation Manifest are hoping to take the world by storm with their first English-language single, ‘TRALALA’, a ridiculously catchy pop track that could propel the six-member girl band into the international mainstream.
The track combines contemporary global pop production with unmistakable Turkish influences, delivering an infectious melody, a playful, flirtatious chorus and the confident energy that has made Manifest one of Türkiye's biggest musical success stories.
The timing is no coincidence. The group are currently in London for an intensive publicity campaign ahead of their first UK headline concert at OVO Arena Wembley on Friday 16 October, with interviews on national UK radio and leading British music publications.
If the new single connects with audiences beyond their established Turkish fanbase, Manifest could be on the brink of something special.
An international sound with Turkish roots
One of the most exciting aspects of ‘TRALALA’ is the involvement of Turkish singer-songwriter INJI (İnci Gürün), who co-wrote the song with Alex Graf and Jonah Jurick.
Istanbul born but now resident in the USA, INJI (pictured below) has already demonstrated an impressive knack for creating infectious international pop hits, most notably with her viral tracks ‘Gaslight’ and ‘Madeline’. Both songs were written with Graf and Jurick, making their latest collaboration with Manifest a particularly promising combination.
The result is polished, playful and instantly accessible. Its English lyrics and contemporary dance-pop production make it suitable for international radio and playlists, while touches of Turkish musical character ensure Manifest have not abandoned their roots in pursuit of a global audience.
Speaking to Rolling Stone UK, member Mina Solak explained: "It's got a global sound, but also has a Turkish identity."
East London gets a Turkish makeover
The accompanying music video, directed by YEEIID, was filmed on the streets of East London and is as colourful and spirited as the song itself.
Alongside Manifest's slick choreography, fashionable outfits and playful interactions, the video features distinctly Turkish cultural references, including Turkish tea, the protective nazar boncuğu (evil-eye charm) and the familiar expression Maşallah.
Rather than disguising their Turkish origins, the girls have made them a central part of their international introduction.
The combination works beautifully, giving ‘TRALALA’ a visual identity that is recognisably Turkish without feeling out of place on the international pop scene.
From Turkish talent show to international headlines
Manifest's journey has been nothing short of extraordinary.
In less than two years, they have developed a devoted following, known as Manifam, released their debut album Manifestival, enjoyed major streaming success and performed at sold-out concerts and their own large-scale festivals in Türkiye.
Their summer achievements included a high-profile collaboration with Turkish pop legend Ajda Pekkan on ‘Hileli’, which Rolling Stone UK reported was Türkiye's most-streamed song of the summer on Spotify.
They also staged their own multi-day Manifestival events in Istanbul and İzmir, demonstrating that their popularity extends well beyond social media and streaming platforms.
Their international ambitions were already becoming apparent in July, when they performed at the prestigious Sunny Hill Festival in Kosovo, founded by British-Kosovan superstar Dua Lipa and her family.
As T-VINE reported at the time, Manifest appeared on the festival's main stage on the same evening as headliner Katy Perry. They also met Dua Lipa, describing their appearance at her family's festival as a dream come true.
Now their sights are firmly set on Britain.
Can Manifest make their mark internationally?
Manifest have been attracting considerable attention from the British music industry.
In Rolling Stone UK, journalist Nick Levine explored the group's huge domestic popularity and international ambitions, while noting their potential to follow other globally successful girl groups into the UK charts.
Manifest have also been meeting British music producers, with further English-language material potentially on the horizon.
Band member Lidya summed up their ambitions to Rolling Stone: "We want to show the UK what a Turkish girlband can do."
The six-piece cite the Spice Girls and Little Mix among their musical inspirations, while their expertly choreographed performances and carefully developed visual identity also place them within the contemporary international girl-group tradition.
Their rapid ascent has attracted the attention of Netflix, with a six-part documentary about the band reportedly in development.
But perhaps the most significant test of their British appeal will come on Friday 16 October, when they headline the 12,500-capacity OVO Arena Wembley, supported by British group XO.
Tickets for the concert have been flying out, suggesting a strong turnout for what promises to be a memorable night for the group and their British fans.
Of course, breaking through to mainstream international audiences is a different challenge from filling arenas at home or singing in Turkish abroad to a diaspora fanbase. Despite its enormous musical talent and rich pop heritage, Türkiye has produced relatively few artists who have achieved crossed over to enjoy commercial success in the English-speaking music market.
In 2002, Tarkan made it to No.15 in the UK charts with Bounce, while Sertab Eren’s Eurovision winning song Every Way That I Can peaked at No.72 the following year.
Yet Manifest have several important ingredients working in their favour: youth, charisma, a strong collective identity, an established domestic fanbase, increasingly sophisticated international promotion and, crucially, songs with crossover potential.
‘TRALALA’ sounds fresh and fun, and it's catchy enough to linger in your head long after the music stops, without losing the Turkish character that makes the group distinctive.
Could these six young Turkish women become the country's next big global music sensation?
All eyes will be on the UK Official Singles Chart this Friday, 16 October, to see whether ‘TRALALA’ makes its chart debut. Its position will be determined by a combination of UK physical sales, digital downloads and audio and video streams accumulated during the Friday-to-Thursday chart week. A strong debut would mark another significant milestone in Manifest’s international ambitions.
See Manifest, supported by XO, live at OVO Arena Wembley, London, this Friday 16 October 2026. Click here for tickets and concert information.
READ MORE
Review: Manifest turn up the energy on infectious debut album Manifestival, 24 Sept. 2026
‘Çorum’s loss’: Manifest savour international spotlight at Dua Lipa’s Sunny Hill Festival, 01 Aug. 2026
Turkish pop group Manifest to make UK debut at London’s OVO Arena Wembley, 24 July 2026
