I would either go mad or allow the different voices in me to be released.
The human voice is and has always been at the core of my work. By voice I don't mean only the physical voice but any form the human potential finds its expression. The pursuit of a voice can lead me to a song, a painting, a poem or a performance. Whatever the medium, art offers me a space where different voices can be released, experimented and interacted with. This, for me is the definition of freedom. My musical journey has taken me from a heavy metal improv band in Istanbul to a queer Turkish disco project in London. After studying Sonic Arts at Goldsmiths University I've released music and performed in the UK and abroad with my solo project and Istanbul based band Nu Park. My song 'Evening Train' with Nu Park won the Best Electronica Song award at the Miller Music Factory Competition. Nu Park released its first EP 'Promise' in 2013 accompanied by a series of interdisciplinary concerts that featured stage design, 3D mapping and costume design. With my solo project I've released my first single and music video 'Out of Nothing' which received various awards and nominations from film festivals such as East Village Queer Film Festival in New York and the The Monkey Bread Tree Awards in London. My second single 'Bully' was based on my experience of bullying in school and together with the release I did a live streamed concert, fundraising for the UK LGBTQ+ charity Just Like Us. Throughout the lockdowns I've kept myself busy by doing monthly live streams of improvised performances with audience interaction. I've recently released a live album called 'Teletransportation' which is a selection of music from these live streams. The other leg of my musical journey has been my work as a film composer since 2011. I've composed music for the short film 'Stiletto: A Pink Family Tragedy' which was recently featured at the BFI London Film Festival and is being shown at notable film festivals worldwide. My music for the film 'Cekmekoy Underground' won the Turkish Film Critics Association Award. Currently I'm working on a musical film about love and sex addiction. Although I've been mostly focused on music, I kept following my childhood passion which is painting. After opening my first solo exhibition in London in 2018 I wanted to develop my skills further and began my studies at The Essential School of Painting. Painting is the medium through which my inner voices can find a visual expression, often taking hybrid shapes such as figures of aliens, gods, animal-like figures, robots and hermaphrodites. My painting is a performance space where these ‘other’ bodies are welcomed. The hybrids I paint cause me to reflect on their meaning. I want it to be a strange mirror, reflecting of course some aspect of myself I had not discovered before. The journey of exploring my voice has always involved helping others do the same. In 2015 I created Voice DNA, a voice coaching practice that helps people find the joy, freedom and uniqueness of their voice through workshops and private sessions. My work as a vocal coach is the culmination of my creative practice and studies with exceptional voice teachers such as Bobby McFerrin and Rhiannon in New York, Jenni Roditi and Guillermo Rozenthuler in London and Bat-Oyun in Mongolia. Please have a look at the 'Voice Coach' page on this website for more info. “In an unusual turn with indie music videos – the attitude in the song actually matches the one in the visual. Reminiscent of The Knife’s Pass This On music video, Out of Nothing blasts the dust off of the gym setting in a classy neon strut. Quite perfect in every way a music video can be!” The Monkey Bread Tree Film Awards / Winner: Best Music Video Spring 2020 "A hugely successful performance. I have received a lot of great feedback from the public who was amazed at the quality of your talent shown at QUEER VOICES 1st edition. I’m sure you could feel on the night how involved the audience got! So unique and thought provoking… Plus nobody could stand still hearing your beat." Izabel Florence / Founder and Event Organiser at Perceptions Warehouse "You took me on a journey. I went to a different world." Audience member at Queer Voices |