How would you summarize this past year on artistic and personal level?
The passing year brought a lot of changes both on personal and artistic level – those two domains were closely linked. First half of the year I was still living in Turkey and being a stranger there I tried to understand what means “social unrest” and how it affects such a complexed culture as Turkish one which led me to an idea of a photo blog Picture from Outside which I started on facebook and then came back to writing my book on it which is still in progress. I changed completely and wholly on the grounds of understanding certain ethical issues e.g.: compassion and empathy as well as the complexity of human archetypes and social stereotypes, racism. Events in Turkey affected me personally on a scale that I have never imagined before and it was truly transformational, gave me food for thought and definitely affected my shift in approach to music which now is more into composition and with less improvisation. I started with bandcamp page where I put some new releases and started to think of my stuff in a less electronic-based rather than instrument based which you will see in forthcoming releases.
What album you listened to most often this year (not necessarily released in 2013)?
Releases from Zoharum, Kuba Ziołek’s projects, Innercity Ensemble, Mirt, T.E.R., Roy Montgomery, Noveller, traditional turkish music from the past, new Thinking Plague, records from Finders’ Keeper’s, all the projects of Qualo Infinity, Linda Perhacs, Julia Holter, Vatican Shadow, Tekla Mrozowicka, Biedota records and many many others. My general approach is to find new stuff I haven’t heard about and dig it through.
What was the best cultural experience not related to music?
Observing the situation in Turkey – I learnt a lot from people’s behaviour. Especially when it comes to religious and political opression, cultural archetypes and intolerance, general roughness of people and being not open to constructive criticism, being dogmatic. Quite a lesson, a very painful one too.
And best trip? Most beautiful or magic place you visited this year?
I haven’t travelled that much this year but definitely some places in Turkey like Istanbul or Adalar Islands as well as rural West Sussex, U.K. which proved to be great haven for a time.
What was your greatest disappointment of 2013?
Musically – nothing in particular apart from show business and global economy as well as politics and swaggering consumerism.
Did you learn anything particular this year?
Yes, definitely so. Many matters and issues on very deep, spiritual level and trust my own sense more, being more independent from opinions of others which define them but not me.
Plans, hopes, expectations for 2014?
Definitely play more gigs if I can and finish my book. I am thinking of publishing some hard copies of my own music and my collaborative projects.
Astipalea Records
Artist’s blog
Santa Sangre 