The world is becoming a noisier place with every passing day. Amid the relentless crowds of great cities and the non-stop hustle of people being swept from one place to another, we can rarely find the peace we search for—whether in traffic, on the streets, or in parks. It is…
Sometimes, a loss runs so deep that it simply defies the simplicity of words. That is exactly how this loss feels to me. Even though years have passed since I last saw him or heard his voice, he held such a sacred place in my heart that I couldn’t…
There is a subject I have observed for some time. Labelling has begun to become widespread among people. So, what is this labelling matter? Even though it may seem like a topic we don't encounter much in our daily lives, it is a pattern that many of us engage in, whether…
The title of this piece undoubtedly echoes Gogol's classic story, The Overcoat—you could say it’s a nod to it. Drawing from two separate yet parallel narratives, I want to share a story with you that touches upon my childhood. This piece, like so many volumes, emerged…
In recent years, I have become consumed by doubt. I have constantly questioned life, death, falsehood, truth, wisdom, and superstition. I reached out to human beings and my hands were burned; I took refuge in knowledge and my mind grew weary. The more tangled things became,…
Tatlı first found a home with a couple who were expecting a baby. When their child was born, they passed Tatlı on to a man living alone. In his new home, Tatlı refused to eat a single morsel for four days. He made it perfectly clear through his fierce character and conduct…
In the city where I lived, there were places with a cozy, tight-knit neighborhood feel, and within them, venues that hosted live music at night. I performed on those stages for many years. Lacking the courage to perform completely on my own back then, I would always share the…
June is the first love of the summer season. The beginning of the sun's warm embrace of the universe. In June, one's mind fills with the sounds of children, birds, cats, and dogs; deep blue bays, lush green streets, and trees heavy with fruit. Even for no particular reason,…
Can there be an inherent unity between music and philosophy? Can philosophy be articulated through music? Questions of this nature are increasingly finding their place within contemporary debates. So much so that courses entitled "Philosophy of Music" are being integrated…
The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi, one of the most significant composers of the Baroque era, stands as one of my most cherished pieces of music. Born in Venice, Italy, the composer's work has held its place in the hearts of humanity for centuries, and nowadays, it is…
Why do human beings sing? What do they feel when they sing? What relevance do the lyrics have to this sentiment? Unquestionably, when we sing, we leave an impact on others, we form empathetic bonds, and we engage in a powerful act by socialising. Singing takes its place…
An era or a historical period is usually defined by dates, yet because change and transformation often progress more slowly than observed or recorded, defining and understanding them tangibly can be difficult. This holds true for musical history and genres as well.…
Bombs do not rain peace / Do not believe their thunder / They spill blood, they take lives, / Barbaric is their core, their substance / Their origins and their legacy.
Evening has fallen. / I sit in the corner of my solitude / I have grown fond of the stillness of the night / My head reaches toward the sky, / Gazing at the stars, / Embracing the Milky Way, / That is how it all began.
Music has travelled from prehistoric antiquity down to the present day, enduring profound transformations and developments along the way. We can find music woven into the fabric of every culture, old or new. When embarking on a journey into prehistoric times, is it truly…
We believed in the power of songs, and that was how we set out on our path. Through songs, we recounted the sorrow, the joy, the love, the separation, and the migration stories of women. We spoke of the occurrences of rape and harassment that are steadily legitimised within…
This song is my humble dedication to all the dignified individuals unjustly and blamelessly held behind bars.
What is music? Is it listening, or is it singing? Is it feeling, or the exuberance of emotions? Who makes music, who plays it, who sings it, who listens to it? Where do musicians come from and where do they go, why does their place and value within society shift according to…
"If I am left thus among stones and pits / Solitary, despised, defenceless / And if my destiny is thus blackened / I swear, I vow, I promise / My sigh will not be left unanswered on this earth" / Enver Gökçe
Injustice is like a row of dominoes; if the chain breaks in one place, it hits us all in waves. The world has been in turmoil for months, as if all this malice began with a single virus; country after country is being swept away by it, and the death toll stands in the…
We have left another year behind. It was a dreadful year. A virus we never considered, one that never even crossed our minds, descended right into the middle of our lives. This time, "powerful" countries were affected too, so much so that thousands of elderly people died…
A human being does not come into this world merely to eat, drink, and satisfy basic daily needs. Possessing a brain unlike any other living creature, human capabilities far exceed those of most species. Within our brain, weighing just one and a half kilograms, sit eighty-five…
In this piece, I want to talk to you about a foundation. The foundation is called Fireweed. It was established to support women and children who have faced inequality, poverty, violence, and discrimination. Although it was founded in the United Kingdom, its reach extends…
The Sivas Massacre of 2 July remains another open wound in my heart. Does the pain of it ever truly fade?
When it comes to art—be it music, theatre, painting, poetry, or cinema—certain names inevitably cross everyone's mind; individuals who are complete strangers to us, yet to whom we are connected deeply through the heart, figures we frequently strive to emulate. Sometimes a…
Have you ever truly pondered death? When you were just a little child, turning your gaze toward the heavens, did death cross your mind the moment the pure whiteness of the clouds touched your eyes? Did you question why we were born, or why we die? For what purpose did we…
Winter is the hardest of all seasons. This is why, even when mentioned in poems and songs, it always speaks of coldness; of separation in romance, of yearning in migration. It never reflects joy, nor does it tell of happiness. When I think of winter, beyond the idyllic image…
One day, a man found himself homeless and began living at a bus shelter. He lay down on a makeshift bed he had created for himself with a blanket and a duvet, and he didn't get up from there for days. After a while, his weakened body could no longer bear it, and he drew his…
Children have been trying to tell adults something vital for a while now. They are protesting, writing on social media, striking from school; the question they ask is: "Why should we prepare for a future that does not exist?"
I only ever traveled to Kayseri once. I never went back. I had a reason that meant I simply had to go; my grandmother, whom I had never seen, lived there and she was growing incredibly old. Do not ask why I hadn't been able to see her until then. Sometimes life is stronger…
When I asked my poet friend, who returned to the homeland for good after living in exile for twenty years once his sentence was lifted, "How did you find the country?" he shared many observations, but the one that touched me deepest was this: "I cannot bear to look into the…
How incredibly easy it has become to be a poet! Publishing houses will print any volume in exchange for money, provided someone has scribbled a few lines, completely unconcerned with who they are or what they stand for. In an era where nothing seems to hold any true…
I do not know where to begin this piece. A profound grief, one that had never crossed my mind, has befallen me: Sarı has died. There is no one who hasn't heard of our immense affection for each other. For those who haven't, I will recount it in this piece.
The twentieth century stood as an era where technology advanced at a frantic pace, developing in a manner that humanity struggled to keep up with. While children sat with phones in their hands, their adrenaline surging for hours as they moved from one game to the next, social…
When Haji Bektash Veli said in the thirteenth century, "Let us be one, let us be strong, let us be alive," he did not say it so that it could be thrown around by today’s dictatorial regimes and single-party systems. For some time now, we have been living face to face with…
Turkey’s agenda is shaken every single day by different acts of violence. We are passing through days where intolerance festers and hostility multiplies. Any trivial matter can cause people to instantly resort to violence. It is glaringly obvious how we arrived at this state!…
In the twenty-first century, we see a proliferation of new approaches to daily life and alternative ways of living. People are choosing to become vegetarian for a multitude of reasons. In our day-to-day routines, phrases like "diabetes, cancer, and heart disease have become…
In the Turkish dictionary, one definition of a faction or group is 'a body or community formed by individuals with shared interests and views,' whereas 'organisation' is defined as 'a union formed by institutions or individuals gathered for the purpose of achieving a common…
A few months ago, I came home from work completely exhausted. I wasn't feeling very well that day either. One of our cats, Bella, came dashing inside carrying something black in her mouth. At first, I thought it was just a piece of a bin liner. Then, I followed her. I saw it…
It used to be that Sundays, at least, offered a proper break; we would step away from life, work, and the news. In short, it was a beautiful day. Nowadays, not just Sundays, but none of our days go well. Just as you think you will spend the day resting your mind without…
The Earth is the third planet from the Sun. According to radiometric dating and other sources, it was formed four and a half billion years ago. On this planet, from dinosaurs to pyramids, from reptiles to humans, we have left our traces spanning somewhere between fifty-five…
Although awareness regarding violence against women is growing across all regions of the world, the total number of cases described as the 'women's crisis' continues to rise. Generally, the most pervasive form of violence manifests in harassment. The vast majority do not even…
Recall the words of the grand master Neşet Ertaş: "Someone who feels no shame before themselves will feel no shame before anyone on this earth..." Today, we see that whoever is shameless roams the streets with complete impunity, governing the country; while fire falls upon a…
The women's crisis manifests before us every single day as a steadily expanding wound, enveloping the entire world like a spider's web, and hurting more intensely the deeper one dives into it. Despite strengthening their organizational efforts in major cities, women still…
In the national economies of the world, 'consumption' has gained central importance, and in the current age of 'globalisation', the impacts of a consumption-focused economy have begun to dictate the entire globe. The political and economic system, entirely concentrated on…
