Gaye Su Akyol (born 30 January 1985) is a Turkish singer, painter and anthropologist.

Gaye Su Akyol
During her concert in Tromsø, November 2023.
During her concert in Tromsø, November 2023.
Background information
Born (1985-01-30) 30 January 1985 (age 39)
Istanbul, Turkey
Genres
Years active2014–present
LabelsDunganga Records, Glitterbeat
Websitehttps://www.gayesuakyol.com

Biography edit

Akyol's father is the painter Muzaffer Akyol; her mother was a civil servant, but she passed away in 2014. She graduated from the anthropology department of Yeditepe University in 2007.[1] After that she built her career as a painter with exhibitions both in Turkey and abroad. Before her solo career, she also performed in music bands Mai, Toz ve Toz and Seni Görmem İmkansız alongside Tuğçe Şenoğul.[2][3]

In 2017, she composed a few songs for the soundtrack of Red Istanbul a film directed by Ferzan Özpetek.[4] In November 2023 she recorded her first performance for the Seattle radio station KEXP.[5]

Inspirations include singer-songwriter Selda Bağcan and the grunge band Nirvana.[6]

Band members edit

Ali Güçlü Şimşek
Görkem Karabudak
Berke Can Özcan

The lineup on Istikrarlı Hayal Hakikattir:[6]

  • Gaye Su Akyol – vocals, percussion, electronics
  • Ali Güçlü Şimşek – electric and acoustic guitar, backing vocals
  • Görkem Karabudak – bass and acoustic guitar, keyboard, electronics, backing vocals
  • Ediz Hafızoğlu – drums

Guest musicians:

  • İlhan Erşahin – saxophone
  • Barlas Tan Özemek – classical guitar (şahmeran)
  • Ahmet Ayzit – violin, ud, electro saz, cümbüş
  • Ismail Darıcı – percussion
  • Oğuz Can Bilgin – trumpet

Discography edit

Studio albums
  • Develerle Yaşıyorum (2014) ("I Live With Camels")
  • Hologram İmparatorluğu (2016) ("Hologram Empire")
  • İstikrarlı Hayal Hakikattir (2018) ("Consistent Fantasy is Reality")
  • Anadolu Ejderi (2022) ("Anatolian Dragon")
EPs
  • Yort Savul: İSYAN MANİFESTOSU! (2020)

Awards and recognition edit

Gaye Su Akyol received Best Artist award at Songlines Music Awards 2019.[7] Gaye Su Akyol is also considered as an important figure for the LGBTQI+ community and featured on the cover of Gzone Magazine.[8] In 2020, she appeared in trans biographical documentary film called İris, directed by Volkan Güleryüz.[9]

References edit

  1. ^ "Gaye Su Akyol, sanat atölyesi". Armaggan Gallery. Archived from the original on 3 March 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  2. ^ "Röportajlar. Gaye Su Akyol". zeroistanbul.com (in Turkish). Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Müzikte yılın bombası: Gaye Su Akyol". Muhsin Akgün. Radikal. 20 August 2014. Archived from the original on 3 March 2017.
  4. ^ "Gaye Su Akyol'un "İstanbul Kırmızısı" filmi için bestelediği şarkı yayınlandı". bantmag. 23 February 2017. Archived from the original on 9 March 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  5. ^ "KEXP Events". KEXP 90.3 FM. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  6. ^ a b >"Artist Profiles: Gaye Su Akyol". World Music Central.
  7. ^ "Songlines Music Awards 2019". Songlines. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  8. ^ Magazine, Gzone (5 September 2019). "GZONE ÖZEL RÖPORTAJ: MÜZİĞİN ÖZGÜRLÜK SAVAŞÇISI GAYE SU AKYOL". GZONE (in Turkish). Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  9. ^ "Iris (Short 2020) - IMDb". IMDb.

External links edit