Turkey’s musical heritage is a rich blend of cultural influences, reflecting its unique position between Europe and Asia. Traditional music from Turkey incorporates elements from regions such as the Middle East, the Mediterranean and Central Asia. In modern times, Turkey has embraced genres like rock and pop, creating a dynamic combination of the old and new. This fusion reflects the country’s rich cultural tapestry and its ongoing evolution, where ancient traditions coexist with modern innovations.
In our ongoing series 5 Artists You Should Know, we introduce local artists from regions all over the world. We’re very excited to share these five rising artists in Turkey that showcase the country’s diversity and global growth: NİLİPEK., BÜYÜK EV ABLUKADA, ATİ242, PAPTİRCEM, & KARDELEN!
NİLİPEK.
Nilipek.’s debut album Sabah was celebrated as one of the top albums of 2015, establishing her as a key figure in Turkish alternative music with her unique arrangements and vocal style. Her subsequent albums, Döngü (2017) and Mektuplar (2020), marked a shift towards a heavier sound and fresh storytelling. Nilipek.’s notable covers of tracks like “Gözleri Aşka Gülen” (2018) and “Bir Gün Beni Arzularsan Gel” (2021) have together amassed over 30 million streams.
Her fourth album, Uydurdugumuz Oyunlarla, released in May 2024, continues to blend her signature emotional depth, with poetic Turkish lyrics and minimalistic, yet powerful arrangements. The track “Geçmiyor Zaman” gained significant attention after being featured in a popular Turkish Netflix series and was nominated at the Buenos Aires Music Video Festival.
City: İzmir
Follow on Instagram: @nilipekkimki
BÜYÜK EV ABLUKADA
Büyük Ev Ablukada, formed in 2008, is named after a poem by famous Turkish poet Turgut Uyar. The band, made up of theater actors who are also musicians, is known for using pseudonyms instead of their real names.
Their first album, Full Faça, came out in 2012. In 2017, they released Fırtınayt, which includes hits like “Hayaletler,” “Arayan Bulur,” and “Evren Bozması.” They also collaborated with Ezhel for the track “ne deve ne kush.”
In late 2023, the band released Defansif Dizayn, which received a lot of positive attention. As they continue to perform their growing catalog, their live shows have become renowned for their impressive performances.
City: İstanbul
Follow on Instagram: @buyuk_ev_ablukada
ATİ242
Ati242, was born in Germany and introduced to hip-hop and breakdancing at a young age. After relocating to Turkey, he now includes “242” in his stage name as a nod to the city of Antalya’s area code. He began recording music in high school and stayed in the underground scene until 2018, when he released his debut single “Yolu Yok.” His 2021 debut album DIPSOMANIA featured 11 tracks and collaborations with several prominent Turkish artists.
As Ati242 continues to work on new projects, his latest single, “Değişmene Rağmen,” has been streamed around 13 million times and topped regional charts for weeks. The single’s music video also hit #1 on YouTube’s Trending list during its release period.
City: Antalya
Follow on Instagram: @ati242_
PAPTİRCEM
Sena Gül, also known as Paptircem, is a singer, home-based producer, and keyboard player from Istanbul, Turkey. She started singing with the Boğaziçi Jazz Choir while still in university and became popular on social media by creating piano arrangements of viral videos. She also continues to cover popular Turkish songs with her friends in their funk band, “Paprika”.
Her 2023 single “Padişahım” received critical acclaim, and about a year later, she released her debut album, Büyüklere Ninniler. The album has been widely praised, and she continues to share live video performances from the album’s launch concert.
She was featured in Spotify’s Radar Program and worked on major projects with the platform throughout 2023. For instance, as part of Spotify’s partnership with FC Barcelona, her photos were displayed in the stadium during the Barcelona-Granada match in February.
City: İstanbul
Follow on Instagram: @paptircem
KARDELEN
Kardelen first gained attention in 2022 with her songs “Ceketin Bende Kaldı” and “Emanet.” That same year, she released the EP Lütfen Kalbimi Sökün and her debut studio album HABİBİ.
Kardelen collaborated with Mabel Matiz on the song “Severim,” which was featured on his popular album Fatih. Her latest single, “Yaram Açık,” is rising on the charts, and she has already started working on new music.
She is currently studying at the Istanbul University State Conservatory Opera Department.
City: İstanbul
Follow on Instagram: @kardelenkoker
