She may not recall this as vividly as us, as we did not ask her about it… but we first met Liana Georgi (she/they) on a night out with some friends in (thanks to this interview) what we now know as the somewhat earlier days of her time in Istanbul. It was a casual night out for karaoke among a tight-knit group, and Liana was her usual warm and kind self, making friends with everyone and bringing a healthy dose of positivity to all her interactions. As the night progressed, in an unassuming way, she took the stage for her turn at singing, and especially for those of us who were unaware of her talents – totally rocked it (and set the karaoke standard particularly high for the rest of us).
First impressions linger, and even from just an initial glimpse on that evening, it makes perfect sense that Liana would be dedicating her passion as an artist to singing and songwriting. Many would eventually come to associate Liana with last year’s Pride demonstrations, where a clip of her walking in front of police and journalists went especially viral, and thus turned her into somewhat of an influencer and symbol for the Pride community here. With the increase in recognition, Liana has taken an opportunity to advocate for a cause she embraces fully, pouring her heart and soul into the movement, both as an individual and as an artist. All the while, she is setting a space for herself to develop as a singer-songwriter and performer, in pursuit of her ambitions and dedication to the craft. As the new year gets going and Liana’s star continues to shine brighter, we thought it an opportune moment to catch up with her.
Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and what brought you to Istanbul?
My story with Istanbul is quite unique – three years ago I realized how gay I am, left my ex-boyfriend, and my entire old life. I understood that I could never do anything other than art that would make me actually happy, and then I took my bicycle and best friend and came to Istanbul. We were on the road for about 10 weeks, starting from my home town of Berlin, and going anywhere without a route or aim… and then somehow I ended up here in beautiful Istanbul.
How did you get involved in music and what made you decide to continue this path during your Istanbul chapter?
When I was 12 years old I had already started singing opera, but I always used to have panic attacks and didn’t like singing in front of people. However, I never stopped writing and once the bicycle brought me that sense of freedom, I made music wherever I could. When I came to a jam session at Bova, a bar in Taksim, they offered me to stay here in Istanbul to study Jazz at the Bahçeşehir University in a program that was starting three days later. So I did. Two and a half years later I am still here and starting to perform my own music on stage.
Who are your musical inspirations? Any Turkish performers that you’ve grown to love since you moved here?
Kalben! I absolutely adore her! Her song “Sadece” was the reason I got in touch with Turkish culture, years before the bicycle trip of freedom. She just released an album and book, check it out! Otherwise Amy Winehouse and Adele influenced me a lot growing up.
What is your technique or process like in songwriting? Is this done largely independently? How have you found the songwriting process to go since you’ve moved far from home?
I always joke that I write like a gay Taylor Swift. That’s obviously not true, as she is an absolute master in songwriting and quite the genius, while everything I do is trying to deal with my broken heart somehow. Women tend to do that – break my heart (haha). I write very intuitively. Sometimes I can’t pick up a pen for two months and then something happens and I write literally a whole song in five minutes. I don’t think there’s too much logic in it – of course I know the basic structure of a pop song but songwriting comes from the heart, if you (want to) listen carefully, you can see my whole soul in my music.
In 2021 you garnered quite a bit of attention after a video of you went viral from a Pride demonstration in Taksim. I know it’s very likely a loaded question, but could you tell us a bit about what that has been like?
Well it was obviously unexpected and crazy – even Madonna shared that video! I did something very impulsive that day, I only wanted to keep the people I care for so deeply, my community, safe for at least a few minutes. Plus, I was really annoyed, because it was hot and police were pushing me forward, so I told them to go slowly! Somehow people filmed it from their windows and then all of a sudden there were cameras everywhere. All that, plus the fact that I am not Turkish kept me safe in that moment. It’s controversial, yet a big chance for my community, so I tried my best to use it with and for us all.
How have those events impacted you as an artist and performer?
Looking back at the past few months, I think it has been tricky. Of course the video gifted me with attention and “fame” and I could therefore reach out to the amazingly talented US-American producer Mike Sabath. We did a song together called “All for love”, which is a gift for my community and I tried, and partially succeeded, to continue the viral moment and raise more international attention on our situation here. However, music has been the only thing in my life that I’ve done solely for me. In everything I do, I am community-oriented, whether that is my family, LGBTIQA* community, or a work place. But music? That’s just for me. I want to go back to that. I think it was necessary after the viral video to try to share the spotlight and raise awareness on the real issues and people fighting here. So I kept portraying on stage and on social media the part of me that you can see in the viral video. However, sometimes I need to be vulnerable and soft, too. And I used to do that in my music. This year I will try to find a better balance between being there for my community and taking up space for my truest self, which lies in my music.
You’ve performed a fair bit since you’ve been in Istanbul, with many examples on your Youtube page for those who might be curious. Are there any projects or performances that really stand out to you as memorable from your time here?
“All for love” was definitely a challenging and impactful project. No budget at all, I literally mean 0 TL! We made it happen within two months! Our community was on Istiklal Caddesi, which has been forbidden for Pride demonstration since 2015. That’s huge! The record release was in the frame of the first ever queer event of the German consulate here in Istanbul. So yes, that was great. On a personal level, I performed at Soho House, which was amazing (even though I was sick), but the most interesting things will happen now. I have performed a lot of covers and entertained people, but from now on I will sing my own songs and I am anxious and curious at the same time to see how that goes.
What’s next on the horizon for you? From speaking with you recently, it seems that this year has a lot in store for you. Do you have a sense of what you’ll be taking on and what you’re excited about?
As if you knew my answer from before! I am indeed continuing with as much passion as before on all the levels I work on – I have many projects as a singer, activist and also as a psychologist (I have a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology).
I am planning something big for the eighth of March, International Women’s Day. Can’t say too much because its not completed yet. But, I will be happy to welcome all of your readers to my concerts – they are very intimate and I talk freely with the listeners about upcoming projects and so on. If you want to support my work and/or check out my next concert dates, follow me best on Instagram. Thank you for having me!
Some of Liana Georgi’s upcoming live performances include:
23.01. Hanci Sahne, Istanbul
01.02. The Steps, Sofia, Bulgaria
05.02. Bova, Istanbul
To keep up with Liana Georgi, be sure to follow her on Instagram. You can keep up with all her video releases (including “All for love”) on her Youtube. Her official website and Facebook page are also available to stay tuned in.
Photos courtesy of Liana.
