I was born in Istanbul, Turkey in 1973. My musical journey started off with me listening to my dads jazz collection. At the age of 3 I was sifting through vinyl and perhaps based on art work was able to listen to my choice of records. In 1981 I bought my first ever very own records:) Eddy Grant, Eurythmics, Michael Jackson and Marvin Gaye. I was raised with the appreciation of jazz and classical music. As I grew up funk, r&b and soul was added to my taste. In 1987 while I was record shopping I met DJs U.F.U.K and Murat Uncuoglu. I was already a club goer at that time and the shift in music with the introduction of house, acid sounds and the new soul of Soul II Soul got my attention in this so called electronic music era...

As time passed I got more involved in music and club business in general. I was already DJing at some small events and building my record collection slowly but surely. After my acceptance to the Uni. of Penn. in Philadelphia, I moved to the US in 1991. Being in Philadelphia and listening to some great talents like King Britt, Robbie Tronco, Boy Blake and Dozia I got much more drawn into the scene. I started throwing parties and DJing at clubs like Revival, Silk City, Bank and Networks. In the mean time I was supplying records for clubs and shops back home in Istanbul.

I moved to NYC in 1995 to pursue my career in marketing. As you all could imagine NYC was a blessing for the musical mind:) I met with more DJs, producers, promoters and club owners. That really got my own perspective in the business.

In 1997 I moved back to Istanbul. Started my own radio show at Radio Play. In 1998 I have decided to establish the very first DJ agency in Turkey called the Circulating Sound. The agency had 14 of the best talent in Turkey and also booked international DJs like Stacey Pullen, David Alvarado, Cajmere, DJ Q...

In 1999 I was the head of the brand new electronic music radio NRG FG 102 (now FG 93.7) in charge of scheduling, programing and day-to-day operations. In July of 1999 I was appointed head of content at yenimuzik.com startup. The site had the widest range of musical content ever created in Turkey.

As my career evolved I had to step out of the clubbing business. But I kept my DJing and radio programming:) Now my radio show Aksak is aired on Dinamo 103.8 on thursdays between 19:00-21:00 (GMT +2)

DJing Experience:

14 month residency @ 7th House
Bi monthly gigs @ Switch+

over 7 years of radio experience
    2003- Dinamo FM 103.8
    2002 Radio Quasar 104.4
    2001 Radio FG FM 93.7
    1999-2000 Radio Nrg-FG FM 102.0
    1998 Radio Play FM 97.5

Clubs and Events:

Philadelphia
Revival, The Bank, Black Banana, Silk City, Networks

Istanbul
NuPera, Smoke, Babylon, Solar Beach, Crystal, Magma, Cantina, Refika, Switch, 7th House, Suleyman Nazif, Beyond, 147, MAX, Roxy, Red Room, Godet, Dodo Beach, Xuma Beach

other gigs in Bodrum and Uludag

3. J&B Dance and Techno Festival
4. J&B Dance and Techno Festival
Isle of MTV 2002

Publications:

Monthly columnist for 18 months on electronic music, Istanbul Life monthly (circulation 12.000)
Created the 16 page clubbing section of Istanbul Life magazine called 'Night Zone' 4 issues (May-August 1999)
Arranged and wrote the content for the promotional CD of 4. J&B Dance and Techno Festival

1st Miller Master DJ Contest (2004)

Finalists educator and finals jury member.

© Aksak.com 2006