NIGHTLIFE
The Asian side uncovered-- Kadıköy
The Asian side is growing in popularity and has more to offer now than ever before. We've broken it down into sections best for nightlife, shopping, and eating for you. Esen Boyacigiller, Sibel Karabeyoglu and Merve Arkunlar Best for nightlife   Kadıköy has been one of the city’s top barhopping districts ...
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NIGHTLIFE
Ursula Rucker
Spoken word artist and sometimes collaborator with The Roots, Ursula Rucker will be gracing Tamirane with her funky and powerful self on 19 December. Seda Pekçelen finds out what Istanbul means to her, the mark of a real artist, and her guilty pleasure. You've played in Istanbul before. What do you remember about the city, performance and crowd?...
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NIGHTLIFE
The ’bul’s fave honorary Turk returns
As Shantel gears up for another round of Istanbul concerts at Babylon, Esen Boyacigiller chatted with him about his latest album, Planet Paprika, and why he’s not a spokesperson for gypsy music, despite what you might think. Hi Shantel! How are you? You are disturbing me on my holiday! (laughs). I will do this only for Tim...
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NIGHTLIFE
In the mix
Sibel Karabeyoglu goes behind the “stick” at the city’s top nightlife venues to try their best selling cocktails. Check out what she found on her journey into alcohol Candyland.    The city’s bar scene has really blossomed over the years. Anyone who has been he...
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NIGHTLIFE
Michael Mayer
Sibel Karabeyoglu chats with the chameleon of DJs.What got you interested in becoming a DJ? Did someone influence you or did you start discovering it ...
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NIGHTLIFE
Indigo’s nip-tuck
Indigo is one of Taksim’s most popular live music venues. Recently, Timur Celikyay and Eda Akman took over the management. Esen Boyacigiller talked to them about the changes they plan to implement and why you’ll be spending a lot more time on Akarsu sokakI met you through WUFI, whom you manage. I also know, if I’m not mistaken, that you manage Men...
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NIGHTLIFE
Post Dial
Post Dial is an electro-punk duo from Istanbul consisting of two Boğaziçi University grads Sinan Tınar, drums, vocals, synth and Yiğit Bülbül, guitar, vocals, synth, who make music with a twist and give full-throttle live performances. Sibel Karabeyoglu.It’s been two years since Post Dial was born. Is the band where you thought it would be by now...
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NIGHTLIFE
Kim Ki O
Kim Ki O consists of two young women who are undoubtedly the most prominent female figures in the Istanbul alterno-electronic music scene. They most recently completed a Scandinavian Tour. Umut Eroğlu. You both have long histories in the music industry. What made you decide Kim Ki O was worth focusi...
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NIGHTLIFE
Tripart
Tripart is an indie post-rock band that has been playing since 2006. Though they’ve yet to release an album, they’ve built up quite the repertoire and have been focusing on instrumental music. Esen Boyacigiller.First please introduce yourselves. Cüneyt Aksay: I sing and play guitar in Tripart. I’v...
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NIGHTLIFE
WUFI
WUFI is an electro-indie group that has been playing since 2007. Their funky beats and sexy lyrics give them a unique sound and with the release of their first album, their fanbase has expanded considerably. Esen Boyacıgiller and Sibel KarabeyogluCould you walk us through the process of writing a song? Ali Rıza Şahenk: Usually Cem comes to t...
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NIGHTLIFE
Fuat
Berlin-born Fuat Ergin is celebrating the release of his latest album, ‘Kalbüm.’ His explosive energy and lyrics have placed him at the top of the hip-hop scene along with his buddy Ceza. He released 4 albums back in Germany & is still going strong. What was the first thing you noticed upon immigrating to Istanbul? The traffic. It took us 2.5 hour...
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NIGHTLIFE
LAMB
Producer Andy Barlow and vocalist/songwriter Louise Rhodes make up Lamb. Scheduled to play at Istanbul's Chill Out Festival on May 24th, Lamb is sure to set the 'chill' mood and mesmerize listeners with their electronic/trip-hop music.Lamb is truly an experimental and multifaceted band, yet surprisingly not well known. Hailing from M... There is so much versatility from song to song in all four of your albums. I can choose from bea...
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NIGHTLIFE
Mondays no longer so blue
Babylon Lounge washes the Monday Blues away and helps usher in a new art form.Feeling groggy and down after a lost weekend in clubland? You don’t have to go on a shooting s...
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NIGHTLIFE
Get away…
From time to time we like to shine light on an event that we believe is worth getting out of the city for, and SunSplash is without a doubt one of these events. So pack your bags and head to Antalya; we guarantee you’ll head back to your job rested and fuWhat is Sunsplash Antalya? Festival Director Serkan Çetin: Sunsplash Antalya is a brand new,...
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NIGHTLIFE
BOOKA SHADE
Pitchfork compared ‘Get Physical Records’ to ‘Warp Records’, in terms of s...
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NIGHTLIFE
Sarp Dakni
James Snow catches up with one of the busiest men in Istanbul, Sarp Dakni, PR for Pozitif, Editor, Le Cool Istanbul and DJ.James Snow catches up with one of the busiest men in Istanbul, Sarp Dakni, PR for Pozitif, Editor, L...How long have you been a DJ? I have been doing club DJ sets for the past 2 years, but I have been ...
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NIGHTLIFE
Balo Blasting
The competition is fiercer.If you haven’t been to Balo Sokak lately, then you’re missing some of the head-scratchin...
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FEATURE
Loo & Placido
Loo and Placido, otherwise known as Laurent Lupidi and Jeremy Johnson, have made a name for themselves as mash-up geniuses. Even Madonna is a fan, having recently played one of their mash-ups (remix combining at least 2 songs) during her latest concert to   Tell us how you got started in the industry? We played in bands for seve...
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NIGHTLIFE
New Year's Eve Parties
Whatever you do, just stay Away From Taksim Meydan! Here’s how to avoid the attendant crush of people and carelessly tossed fire...
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BAR
37, renovated bar in Reasurans Pasaj attracts trendy crowd
Nişantaşı’s renovated 37 welcomes you with its energetic music, delicious cocktails and fun but relaxed atmosphere37 has been in the Reasürans Pasaj in Nişantaşı for 3 years, but under new management, the b...
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CLUB
The Fall and Rise of the Supper Club
With so many elements working in its favor, why has Istanbul’s Supper Club, unlike its global counterparts, been plagued by so many problems? Sebastien Mitchell spoke with the club’s newest manager who is determined to put the place back on the map.     With a colorful 15 year history behind it, the Supper Club, which originate...
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FEATURE
High Above It All, Part 2
Nu Teras and Mikla’s Flying Carpet views      The last time I searched for high-altitude, low-attitude places of wh...
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CLUB
Fun(k)-da-Mental Kicks
James Snow leaves behind the gritty, populist pleasures of Peyote* and continues his Club Trawl a few blocks up the road at The Hall. Due to apparent incompetence on the part of some staff on the Pozitif event organizing team (someo...
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MUSIC
Album reviews - September 2008
The list of the albums of the monthIstanbul Twilight and The Declining Winter albums reviewed... Goodbye Minnesota The Declining Winter Rusted Rail, 2008 Are beloved electronic rock pioneer...
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MUSIC
The sultan cellist Benyamin Sönmez
Alexandra Ivanoff interviews 'The Sultan', Benyamin Sönmez, before his concert here on 26 September and masterclass on 27 September. He might be a glamorous figure, but his story is filled with poignant potholes in the road to success.Alexandra Ivanoff interviews 'The Sultan', Benyamin Sönmez, before his concert here on 2... His professor in Moscow called him "Sultan." His tall, dark, and imposing Svengali-lik...
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CLUB
Touch my body
Percussionist Djenk Sarkus wows Istanbul audiences giving new meaning to McCluhan’s self-referential quip ‘The Medium is the Massage’ Percussionist Djenk Sarkus wows Istanbul audiences giving new meaning to McCluhan’s self-referenti...Imagine, if you will, a sophisticated club setting. The clientele are not your  typical, James ...
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FEATURE
Blitzkrieg Bop
Peyote has witnessed an explosion of new talent and experimentation over the last 5 years. So why will most of the world never hear about the bands? And why isn’t the most interesting post-rock, experimental club in the city world-renowned? James Snow invPeyote has witnessed an explosion of new talent and experimentation over the last 5 years. So why wi...Let me stick your neck out here and tell you straight off that if you are looking for the CBGBs of I...
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MUSIC
Notes from underground
James Snow ventures away from the glam and the glitz of the major summer music festivals and catches up with bassist Douglas Vegas to discuss the Turkish James Snow ventures away from the glam and the glitz of the major summer music festivals and catches... Douglas Vegas is no stranger to the Turkish alternative rock scene. Since he arrived in the city, ...
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MUSIC
Battle of the bands on Balo Sokak
James Snow enjoys an unbalanced night at Balans Tonique and talks to MTV’s Sezin Çavufloglu about what it all meant.James Snow enjoys an unbalanced night at Balans Tonique and talks to MTV’s Sezin Çavufloglu abou...Stuff a crowd of people, mostly twentysomethings or younger, into a cramped venue, soak their brains...
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