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Ali Riza Sahenk
We chat with TheFatLab Producer and WUFI musician &nb...
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And just for the record...
Mark Szawlowski waxes poetic about records. Plus a handful of places to find ‘em on both sides of the Bosphorus. The vinyl experience. A large square of occasionally inspired artwork. A clean cardboard and-p...
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Niyaz fuses the elements for you
A harmonious combination of East and West. Alexandra IvanoffThe word niyaz means “yearning” in both Farsi, the language of Iran, and Urdu, a major l...
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A musical feast
Jazz lovers can pig out at this overstuffed buffet: 41 events in 11 days guarantees a full belly with high nutritional content. Alexandra Ivanoff gives you a whiff of what's cookin'.
Akbank Sanat's 19th annual Jazz Festival is cooking up a dizzying array of delicious ch...
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Jazzanova kicks off the season
Jazzanova will be performing live for the first time in the city on 1-2 October at Babylon. Esen Boyacigiller spoke with Stefan Leisering about the new album, side projects and his favorite fans. You’ve come to Istanbul for DJ sets before but this will be your first live performance here. ...
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Classic music explosion
Two international musical artists, pianist David Helfgott and cellist Natalie Clein, come to Istanbul to kick off the classical concert season this month.DAVID HELFGOTT
This Australian pianist was the source of inspiration for the movie "Shine&qu...
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Striking a chord
Esen Boyacigiller talks with Kaan Aydoğmuş to find out more about how rising talent in Turkey is getting its boost in the music world with the help of the netlabel Chaordism.1. What is the aim of Chaordism?
As a netlabel, our aim is to support distinguished electronic musi...
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One Love Festival- Aeroplane
This year the Efes Pilsen One Love Festival takes place from 20-21 June. Royksopp (check interview, TOIST March 09) and The Klaxons will be headlining the event; other scheduled performers include Zero7, M83, Tricky, Filthy Dukes and many more. How did you guys get together?
We lived in the French part of Belgium. Vito had a record store back...
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One Love Festival- Filthy Dukes
This year the Efes Pilsen One Love Festival takes place from 20-21 June. Royksopp (check interview, TOIST March 09) and The Klaxons will be headlining the event; other scheduled performers include Zero7, M83, Tricky, Filthy Dukes and many more.Your debut ‘Nonsense in the Dark’ is a great album and it has received a lot of good rev...
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One Love Festival- Zero 7
This year the Efes Pilsen One Love Festival takes place from 20-21 June. Royksopp (check interview, TOIST March 09) and The Klaxons will be headlining the event; other scheduled performers include Zero7, M83, Tricky, Filthy Dukes and many more.You recently came for a DJ set to Istanbul. How was the crowd and the performance?
I think so...
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One Love Festival- Tricky
This year the Efes Pilsen One Love Festival takes place from 20-21 June. Royksopp (check interview, TOIST March 09) and The Klaxons will be headlining the event; other scheduled performers include Zero7, M83, Tricky, Filthy Dukes and many more.Back in 1999 a concert of yours was planned in İstanbul. But then it was cancelled because of the e...
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One Love Festival- Klaxons
This year the Efes Pilsen One Love Festival takes place from 20-21 June. Royksopp (check interview, TOIST March 09) and The Klaxons will be headlining the event; other scheduled performers include Zero7, M83, Tricky, Filthy Dukes and many more.Your new album is set to come out in 2009, can you tell us a little bit more about it? Is there anyt...
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Rap royalty returns
Sultana makes a miracle of the lyrical proving female rappers can bust out rhymes just as good as their male counterparts. James Snow.Ask almost anyone in Turkey if they’ve heard of Sultana and the inevitable response will be so...
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Trubadoor
Trubadoor, one of the few remaining grunge bands in the city, has been playing since 2000 and with the addition of a new bassist, their music has a fresher sound and energy. Sibel KarabeyoğluLet’s start off by learning a little bit about the band. Tell us a little about yourselves.
M...
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Norrda
Norrda is unlike anything you’ve ever heard. Not because the genre is particularly unique but because they actually do it well. Though they haven’t released an album in 2 years, they continue to perform nationally and internationally. Esen Boyacigiller.How did Norrda get started?
Deniz Cuylan: Hakan and I created the group three years ago in Stockho...
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REPLİKAS
Replikas is one of the most famous rock bands in Istanbul and has been steadily releasing both albums and creating film scores since 2000. Their latest album, Zerre, was released in 2008. Umut EroğluYour musical adventure has progressed a ways since the tiny stage of Peyote till now. From my perspe...
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Batı Yakası
Batı Yakası were the winners of the Rock‘n’ Dark Express Competition in 2008. They’ve just released their first video and are currently working on an album. Sibel Karabeyoğlu and Esen Boyacıgiller.
How did the band come to be?
Ergün Yıldız: Korhan and I are friends from high school. ...
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10 Things You Don’t Know About Depeche Mode
In honor of Depeche Mode’s 14 May concert, we’ve made a list of 10 things you probably don’t know about them. That is, unless you’re a DM devotee. Çimen Uzsoy
1. Getting Started
Band members Martin L. Gore, Vince Clarke and Andy Fletcher ...
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Enrico Belli: Spiky Music for Istanbul Recitals
There are spikes in this guy's piano. Yup, nails and screws pounded into the sound board to cre...
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Chill Out Festival
One of the most highly anticipated festivals of the summer season, The Chill Out Festival, is also the first, taking place at the end of May, on the 24th. Here's a little of what you can expect. Esen Boyacigiller and Seda Pekcelen.Lamb
Last we heard, Lamb, who hasn’t released an album since 2004, had broken up. Thus, we we...
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Jane's addiction
Legendary Jane Birkin, who is coming to the city for a concert, was quite chatty when we spoke to her about her daughters, charity work and many collaborations.You are an icon- a singer, an actress, a humanitarian, mother, grandmother- please tell us what is y...
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Surprise! Classical music is flourishing in Istanbul
Whoever doubts that classical music in Istanbul is not as popular as pop, jazz, folk, rock, indie, e...
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Being Bonobo
Bonobo plays his first concert after a 6-month hiatus in Istanbul. We talk to Simon Green about his favourite stuff in the city, success and monkeys. Esen Boyacigiller.You’ve performed in İstanbul before, how do you recall the audience and the venue?
We were a...
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Röyksopp celebrate 10 years.
Esen chats with Torbjorn Brundtland about 10 years of Röyksopp pyrotechnics and streaking.You haven’t released a studio album since 2005. What have you been working on?
We’ve b...
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The Soulwax DJs are coming as part of Godskitchen Urban Wave
I’m a huge fan of both ‘Soulwax’ and ‘2 Many DJs’. So, let’s beg...
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Akbank Sanat's March Guitar Days
Guitar alert! Fans of classical guitar will have a unique opportunity to hear the crème de la...
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Portecho
‘Undertone’ came out in 2006. What has changed your musical perspective since then?
De...
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A Love Affair—With the Violin
Krazy for Keman. That was my original title, because Turks love a violin (keman). To them, it'...
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Fischerspooner
Experimental group Fischerspooner’s Casey Spooner is coming to Ottosantral on 17 January with her DJ talent Lauren Flax. Deniz Karaman talked to them about their new album, their audience, Istanbul and much more.What have you guys been up to lately? There’s a gap in the news about you guys on the Internet...
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MIAM
Whether it be makeup or music, Alexandra Ivanoff finds fiscal relief at Maçka's MIAM.
Have you noticed the uptick on price stickers at stores around town? Not only at t...
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The Wedding Present
Seda Pekçelen interviews ‘The Wedding Present’ and ‘Cinerama’ frontman, David Gedge, about the newest album, the music business and his inspiration.
You’ve been making music since the 1980s. What has changed since then, in te...
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The Geştalt of Emre Sen
From "should" to "could": an innovative young Turkish pianist lives and breathes his art through therapy theory.
I do my thing and you do your thing.
I am not in this world to live up to your expectations,...
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Soul Sendikasi
Take a dose of soul music, two foreigners in Istanbul, teach them Turkish and give them a radio slot on the Turkish airwaves and you get Soul Sendikasi: Turkey’s first soul music radio show. Deniz Karaman speaks to DJs Dirk Vermeiren and Ansel Mullins.What is Soul Sendikasi?
Dirk: Soul Sendikasi is a weekly one-hour message articulated with a soul s...
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De Phazz Interview
De Phazz creator Pit Baumgartner on 'music collages' and his solo album. with Pit Baumgartner
You’ve said that the music you make “gives you space to not list...
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Paul Van Dyk
DJ plays Discorium 17 October
Recently you released ‘Cream Ibiza 2008-mixed by Paul Van Dyk’. How was being ...
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AKBANK'S 18TH ANNUAL JAZZ FESTIVAL
Two Carters—Ron and James, Rhoda Scott, Tomasz Stańko and Stephan Micus, head up the Festival's starry nights, with younger planets following in the comets' trail. Alexandra Ivanoff gives you a quick primer on the major luminaries.
Don't be confused: James Carter and Ron Carter are not related. Though they are both ...
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Diva Diary
2008 Leyla Gencer Voice Competition
The great Turkish opera diva, Leyla Gencer, passed away last May. Initially a success in T...
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Armand van Helden
Legendary DJ performs as part of FGs Godskitchen Festival on 18 October You’ve done so much in your career so far- do you recall the moment when you felt like y...
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Animal Collective
Animal Collective plays Babylon on 24 October
You’ve been touring all around the world this summer. What’s been the most exc...
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Give it away, give it away, give it away now
‘Kaos’, Yakup’s new album, not only delivers fine Turkish rock but it’s also completely free, as James Snow reports.‘Kaos’, Yakup’s new album, not only delivers fine Turkish rock but it’s also completely fre...Yakup Trana, one of Turkey’s most innovative guitarists and rock lyricists, is back at it agai...
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My name is Hediye Güven
Ayşe Şahin goes to meet a popular jazz singer and finds her in a philosophical frame of mind.AyşeŞahin goes to meet a popular jazz singer and finds her in a philosophical frame of mind....TOIST: ‘Playground’ is…?
Hediye Güven: A sophisticated jazz thing. An...
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From klezmer to the Caucasus
London-based Oi Va Voi are bringing their eclectic Eastern European sounds to Babylon this month, for a two-night run that promises to be a corker of a show; where a rock concert collides with a classical ensemble, hotly followed by a gypsy band and a groLondon-based Oi Va Voi are bringing their eclectic Eastern European sounds to Babylon this month, fo... How did you get together with Oi Va Voi?
The band started about seven years ago. We were a gr...
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Album reviews- April 2007
Joss Stone, Deerhoof, El-P Albums Reviewed Introducing Joss Stone - Relentless
Apparently, Tom Cruise once invited the Devon div...
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