In Conversation with Anastasiia Piletckaia, Art Curator

Istanbul is a melting pot of yabangees from different backgrounds and professions. I was fortunate to meet Anastasiia Piletckaia quite soon after relocating to the...

In Conversation with Musician Enzo Ikah

Foreigners living in big cities all have something in common: the desire to live a better life. Most of them remain anonymous, but some,...

In Conversation with The Away Days: Seven Years Later with Istanbul’s...

Many years ago - seven to be exact - Yabangee sat down for an interview with a young band that was making serious waves...

In Conversation with Kerem Siral of Minimal Group

Meet Kerem Siral, the founder of Minimal Group, a start-up that is currently active in the e-commerce sector. We spoke about his company’s projects,...

In Conversation with Falling Notes’ Karina Morera

Falling Notes is one of Istanbul's newest up-and-coming bands. The five-piece features Alican Tokdemir on drums, Umutcan Karamahmutoğlu on guitar, Sinan Çalışkan on bass, Yusuf Karaoğlu on both guitar...

In Conversation with Alfredo and Zafira Araujo Velazquez, Danzart and Culture...

I will never forget the opening night of Danzart and Culture Boutique, when my friend Alfredo and his wife, Zafira, invited me to come...

Ask an Expat: Agata Blaszkowska

Meet Agata Blaszkowska, a woman who has worked on rural development programs in eastern Turkey and more recently collaborated with her friends on a...

In Conversation With Che Sudaka

Che Sudaka, a band with a pure South American soul, will be playing at KadıköySahne on Thursday, 6 March. One of our writers, Mustafa Çankaya, was able...

In Conversation with Leeann Murphy of Moon Istanbul & the Turkish...

The recently released Moon Istanbul & the Turkish Coast is a not-so-ordinary guidebook. At 480 pages in full-color, it's the perfect companion for any trip...

In Conversation with Şebnem Erçelik of Shibu Design

Attention jewelry lovers! Meet Şebnem Erçelik of Shibu Design. Şebnem designs creative pieces that capture the vitality, culture and spirit of Istanbul. To see...

In Conversation with Soraya Raeispour, Counseling Psychologist and Psychotherapist

We first had the pleasure of meeting Soraya Raeispour in 2016, when she arrived in Istanbul with boundless enthusiasm, ready to embark on a...

In Conversation with Omar Berakdar of Arthere

Arthere is a gallery and artists’ workspace in the Yeldeğirmeni neighborhood of Kadıköy. After nine months of preparation, it opened in December of last...

In Conversation with Artist Doug Russell (Part 1)

In 2008 I visited Turkey for the first time as a student from the University of Wyoming.  Together with nine of my classmates, I...

In Conversation with Anne Solhaug Tutar, founder of Natura by Anne

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle in Istanbul isn't actually all that easy. While you might stay active trekking about the city or visiting the gym, there...

Ask an Expat: Fernando Berges

Istanbul has a rapidly expanding Spanish community that mainly consists of young people who have come here looking for better career opportunities. Meet Fernando...

In Conversation with Swedish Cultural Attaché Suzi Erşahin

As a dweller of Nişantaşı, I am lucky enough to be located in one of the centers of the Istanbul arts and cultural scene....

In Conversation with Liana Georgi: Artist, Singer-Songwriter, and Pride Advocate

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)...

In Conversation with Sandrine Ramboux, Founder of C@rma

Sandrine Ramboux is a Belgian expat who has called Istanbul home for the past decade, together with her husband and two daughters. A 20...

In Conversation with Omar Johmani, Future Game Designer at Bahçeşehir University

Turkey’s economic and infrastructural growth over the past decades has made it an attractive place for people all over the region, which from the...

In Conversation with Janelle Berberoglu, Co-Founder of Chikirina

For those that have kept up with Chikirina since early 2015, it's quite clear that this brand of high-quality yoga and Pilates activewear has especially...

Backstage with the Cast and Crew of Beauty and the Beast

Not only was I able to talk to producers Dan Hinde and Seth Wenig while backstage at Beauty and the Beast, but I also caught up...

Ask an Expat: Ali Halabi

Meet Ali Halabi, a transplant from Beirut who came to Istanbul in 2012. Although currently preoccupied with his start-up Volt, a ride-sharing app, Ali...

Band Profile: The Young Shaven

There’s a music scene brewing in Istanbul, and it has been for the past few years. It’s no longer all cover bands and Türkü....

In Conversation with Dylan Ware of The Infinity Chamber, Istanbul’s Metamorphic...

Dylan Ware has long been an established yabancı on the radar of Istanbul's music scene. Having lived in Turkey for over a decade, the...