Music in Istanbul

The Scene

Istanbul sounds like what it is — Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Balkans colliding. Beyoglu — Istiklal Caddesi and its side streets — is the live music corridor. Kadikoy on the Asian side has become the alternative hub. Bars along Kadife Sokak book everything from Turkish indie rock to experimental electronics.

Key Players

Baris Manco and Erkin Koray are the departed psychedelic rock godfathers. Selda Bagcan, still performing. Altin Gun brought Anatolian psych to international festivals. Jakuzi plays darkwave in Turkish. Babylon at the Bomontiada complex remains the most important live venue.

History & DNA

Byzantine chant, Ottoman court music, Sufi traditions. The Anatolian rock explosion of the 1960s-70s produced some of the most remarkable psychedelic music ever recorded. The 1980 military coup pushed musicians underground. Turkish rap is now the country's dominant popular music.

Where to Go

• Babylon — Bomontiada, Sisli.
• Salon IKSV — Sadi Konuralp Caddesi, Beyoglu.
• Kadife Sokak — Kadikoy. Bar street.
• Nardis Jazz Club — Kuledibi Sokak, Galata.

The Outlook

The Anatolian psych revival has created international appetite. The electronic scene's fusion of local and global sounds positions Istanbul producers as genuinely distinctive voices in a homogenized global club culture.