For those who are new to the city or unfamiliar with Turkish artists, Istanbul’s local music scene might seem alluring, if also slightly out of reach. But, there might be a way in. A serendipitous concert craze has recently taken over the hearts and minds of local music lovers in the city. Imagine Couchsurfing merged with last.fm, with a little bit of “flash mob” thrown in — what you get is Sofar Sounds Istanbul.
An abbreviation of “Sounds From A Room,’’ Sofar concerts are distinct in that they allow you to take in a free performance from a stranger’s living room along with a bunch of other strangers. Started in 2009 in Chicago and London, the concept has gone viral in 86 cities including Boston, Beijing and Buenos Aires.
It is based on the element of surprise: You don’t know the concert location and performers until the day before the show. To be invited, all you need to do is to like their Facebook page and sign for the email group.
Since the Sofar concept first arrived in Istanbul in December 2013, dozens of Istanbulites have enjoyed 9 exceptional shows where they discovered more than 25 new local stars. I was lucky to attend a couple of Sofar concerts, including the very first one. I have to say, the first email I received from Sofar piqued my interest. It read: “Show up at this address at the exact hour we tell you…Don’t bring anyone with you…Be quiet…And don’t leave the venue until we tell you…”. While it initially sounded more like a spy movie than a concert, I was determined to experience this secret show at any cost.
And it was priceless: Waiting impatiently and getting acquainted with tons of new-to-me local bands, experiencing an uncommon concert form, where you feel like you’re watching from the comfort and coziness of your own home (assuming that your home has a fully-equipped sound system), and maybe even speculating with strangers about the homeowner’s shaving habits based on the various creams in his bathroom.
Sofar Sounds Istanbul offers more than just a concert, but an “ear-opening” way to connect with the city’s music scene.
Although supported by a team of voluntary sound technicians, photographers and helpers, the driving force behind Sofar Sounds Istanbul are Eda Demir and Gözde Tekay, two young Istanbulites with great taste in music. They were kind enough to answer some questions about Sofar.
What led you to bring Sofar to Istanbul?
Eda: At the time I was working at a firm as a trend consultant and jotting down my ideas on trends. Then I came across the Sofar Sounds project, and I fell in love with it. Just as I was wishing somebody would bring this concept to Turkey, I learned that one of my former coworkers living in London had a roommate from the Sofar Sounds team. It was when I first started talking to them that Gözde and I joined forces.
How do you choose the bands and participants?
Gözde: We are trying to host bands whose music we love and who we think are a good fit for the Sofar concept. We have rather concrete criteria for the host apartments; they must be close to the city center with a capacity of 50-60 people as well as drama-free neighbors.
How do you think Sofar Sounds has affected Istanbul’s music scene?
Eda: If we are able to introduce some of our local gems to an international audience through Sofar Sounds global, we are already satisfied. People have said that we are setting up an alternative music scene in Turkey, I really hope we can do that.
Any news or teasers about Sofar Sounds Istanbul in the upcoming months?
Eda: We are always looking for good music and musicians. And we are almost like real estate agents, constantly looking for new host apartments. We’ve also thought a lot about how we can take this to Ankara, Izmir and Eskişehir…
Gözde: This is a topic that we are always discussing as well. The only complaint we’ve received so far is that there aren’t enough spots for people. But maybe we should focus on what we do well — introducing people to good music.
Baris Mumyakmaz is a contributor to Yabangee
