I was born in Brussels in 1976, in a working-class family from Emirdağ, in the heart of Central Anatolia. Music entered my life early—at nine years old, I picked up the saz for the first time. At fourteen, I played weddings and festivals. Feeling the strings vibrate, I felt something awaken that would never leave me.

From those first performances to today’s stages across Europe, Turkey, Korea, and Japan, my journey has always been guided by curiosity. I never wanted to repeat tradition—I wanted to live it, transform it, and let it breathe in the modern world. The saz became my language, one that could speak not only Turkish, but also jazz, funk, rock, and even the grace of baroque music.

To me, every collaboration is a dialogue between cultures. Whether I’m playing with a bansuri, a violin, or a drum set, what matters is the human connection behind the sound. Music, after all, is our most universal bridge.