Istanbul based artist Suat Armağan Koçak introduces his latest song, Yavşaklar, a riff-oriented track infused with Anatolian elements and a psychedelia hint that is sure to leave a lasting impression. Read our discussion with the artist below!
Describe your sound in 3 words
Sarcastic, Chaotic, Ritualistic
Tell us a few things about Yavsaklar. What is the story behind it?
Yavşaklar is a plural slang word in Turkish which means mouthy and spoony. But commonly we call it as “assholes” as I pointed out. The song is about a dystopic story set in Istanbul. It is the song of intelligent kids who are pushed to be slumdogs by the changing system in our area with endless economical disorder, political games and insecure justice.
Regarding your collaboration with Ediz Hafizoglu, how did you both come together for this project, and what was the creative process like while working on the track?
Ediz is one of the musicians I have been following with admiration for years. In 2021, I met with him in my band mate Selim Aydın’s (bass) recording session. We made a plan him to play my songs next day as soon as he listened couple of my works right after the recording session. Afterwards, we had chance to work together in my later projects. For me it is a pleasure to feel and imagine: “How Ediz would play here?” while I compose, since Ediz’s touches in my music are so crucial.
Istanbul has a rich cultural tapestry. How did you infuse the essence of the city into the song?
As I mentioned previously, Yavşaklar is a song of Istanbul. Living in this chaotic and cosmopolite environment impregnates into the way you walk, talk, behave and even the way you compose. Istanbul is a smaller version of Turkey like one fifth prototype, like a little planet you might meet people all around the world. Because of that it becomes a wide range of varieties of sounds and musics you hear and get influenced. Sometimes it feels like looking to mirror while you make a music it doesn’t seem different but after a while you might ask to yourself: “What did I do?, What did I say?”
Artists and people that have influenced you?
I would like to mention about Erkin Koray, we call Erkin Baba (dady) who recently passed away, before giving any answers to this question. Since my childhood I have been singing songs of Neşet Ertaş, Ashik Veysel and Fikret Kızılok right after them with whom I believe I have similar fortunes had major influence in my musical character. The effect of my favorite novelist Ihsan Oktay Anar highly visible in my diaries, meaning I am used to use his characters of his fantastic world. And the musts in my daily playlists are Ayyuka, Nekropsi, Babazula and the band of my band mates Selim(bass) and Eray(lead guitar) Pinhani.
Favourite melodic riff you wish you had composed yourself?
I would go with rock classics: Pink Floyd- Shine On You Crazy Diamond, I would give my life for those three notes guitar melody.
To what would you attribute Turkey’s strong tradition in psychedelic music?
Turkey is the middle of three continent and Middle East, surrounded by tons of different cultures, languages, religions and obviously lots of different musical styles. I beleive Psychedelic music has been part of Anatolian musical aspect for centuries and certainly this unity creates a huge synergy.
One thing that not many people know about you…
Even though I use Anatolian music, regional gospels and rock music as a medium, my production model is based on Western classical music. I like to implement my classical guitar experiences (which was the beginning of my musical career) into my works. PS: Many of my songs were composed in classical notation.
Thank you!
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