14 FAKTS INTERVIEW WITHSERKAN ELES

Serkan Eles is a Turkish organic house artist from Istanbul whose music has been released by prestigious record labels such as Pipe & Pochet, Sol Selectas, Bar 25 and Cafe De Anatolia. He is a skilled musician whose style is a fusion of live instruments and electronic sounds, while also a skilled DJ who knows how to captivate a dance floor.

“Joy & Euphoria” is the name of Serkan Eles’ new EP, which is out via the Baikal Nomads record label, and it’s a stunning release with psychedelic atmosphere. We invited Serkan Eles for this interview to learn more about his new release and background in music.

He also recorded Toka Musik an exclusive DJ mix to accompany the feature.

Q: Please introduce yourself

Hello there, and hope you’re well. I was born in 1987 in Ankara, Turkey. I spent my university years at Hacecttepe University Faculty of Fine Arts following playing guitar and electric guitar at a young age and participating in as well as led, many different composing bands. After my interest in electronic music increased, I moved to Istanbul and studied Sound Engineering at the SAE Institute.

With my music productions, which started by experimenting with different genres, I have released on many different record labels and have collected more than a million likes on important digital platforms. Among the record labels I have worked with are Bar 25, Sol Selectas, Cafe De Anatolia and many other companies that have gained a significant place in the industry. I also have my own record label and organisation company called Dreams Way, which ties into the name of my radio show every Saturday night on Lounge'Fm, Turkey's most prestigious radio and festival organisation. 

Q: One person you'd dream to have a coffee with?

I think it could have been Mozart, as he is one of the greatest composers of all time. I’d have loved to speak to him about his thoughts and ideas of electronic music, as I think he would have had some very strong opinions. 

Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

Maybe I wouldn't call it a superpower, but I would love to hear life through other peoples’ ears, and of course my own music. 

Q: If you would have been given the chance to do a film score, what movie would you choose and why?

I'd like to make music for the Matrix. I’d love to create music for a dystopian world, and try to capture the emotion of the film’s different environments. It would have also been fun to score some of the fight scenes, and try to capture the change in how time is perceived by Neo when he starts to see bullets moving in slow motion. 

Q: Who has been the most influential in your music career? And why?

The artists and genres I've been influenced by have changed from time to time throughout my career, but if I had to give an answer to that, my interest in electronic music started with Mindex at a festival I attended. I am very happy that I now have albums released by Merkaba Music, a label he is a part of. 

Q: Tell us about your journey, what got you to where you are today?

I would say it's because I follow what I love and what I believe in. I also like this motto: “Be planless but stick to the plan." 

Q: Everyone goes through ups and downs, what’s one habit you adopt to push through the downs?

Usually when I'm going through low points in my life, it's like a battery somewhere kicks in and makes me feel powerful, and when I channel that power into music, I can somehow get out of those situations. 

Q: Can you recall a DJ set or performance of yours that remains unforgettable to you? Where did it take place, and what makes it stand out among all others?

Many years ago, I participated in a festival in Cappadocia where I played a 12-hour performance starting at 9pm and ending at 9am the next day.

If I need to explain a little bit, I was actually going to perform for 2 hours, but due to the rain that started suddenly, the main stage was cancelled and that disrupted festival program. It was as if the universe was serving me to continue the music on the alternative stage and this situation lasted for 12 hours. Since there was music only on the stage where I was playing in the festival, all the participants of the festival came to the stage where I was performing, almost all of the people were naked, in the mud and under the rain they accompanied me, it was unforgettable! 

Q: How has your music style evolved over the years?

My music career started with classical guitar and electric guitar, which evolved into metal music, alternative rock and then electronic music. After moving between techno, tech house, deep house and many other genres, I can say that my productions are currently progressing in organic house / downtempo genres. 

Q: If you were to venture into another music genre, which one would you choose and why?

That would definitely be jazz. It is a great power to have such a command of musical knowledge and skills! I love the genre’s improvisation and lack of rules, as I find that approach very liberating. 

Q: Could you name 3 tracks that got you into electronic music and why?

I can't specify any tracks, as I discover music through DJ sets rather than individual records, but I can say that the drum and bass style as a genre started my interest in electronic music. 

Q: Can you recommend a hidden gem in your home country that would be perfect for a rave?

Turkey has a lot of cultural and historical heritage. The Echoes of Agartha festival in Cappadocia is a good example, as it’s located in a rocky landscape with lots of cultural heritage. 

Q: Could you tell us about your upcoming releases and plans for the year?

My latest EP including 4 songs ‘Joy & Euphoria’ will be out on Baikal Nomads on 5th May 2024. Also, this year I will release more than 20 new songs on different labels such as Cafe De Anatolia, Boite Music, Harabe, Sound Avenue.

I have a very busy period ahead of me with my music directorship, my gigs and my record label's work. I don't plan to produce new songs until the winter, so I can spend the summer feeding on music and then start producing again in the winter with fresh ideas. 

Q: Can you share a fun fact about yourself that most of your listeners are probably unaware of?

Some mornings I wake up and I think of very funny and strange melodies and I sing them out loud with a funny and strange interpretation as if I'm singing a song, and before I wash my face and eat something, I go to the keyboard and record these melodies and evolve them a little bit to use them in my songs.

Bonus Q Powered by Pioneer DJ: How did Pioneer DJ influence your career and what is your favorite Pioneer DJ gear?

I absolutely love the Pioneer CDJ-3000 decks, and DJM-900NXS2 mixer. Those bits of equipment have such a great sound quality and I love to use them for all of my DJ sets. It’s really easy to do clean transitions between different tracks and have a lot of control over the music you are playing. Those bits of equipment really help me maximize my creativity when I’m playing a DJ set.