Mehmet Erdem

Born in Manisa in 1978 and from a family originally from Arapgir, Mehmet Erdem trained very early in several instruments, from the mandolin to the bağlama, before settling in Istanbul at the end of the 1990s. Mehmet Erdem began his professional career by joining Kardeş Türküler in 1999, an experience that permanently anchors his practice in a dialogue between Turkish pop, Anatolian folk and acoustic traditions. A singer, songwriter and musician, he develops a sober aesthetic centered on a deep voice immediately identifiable, with arrangements that blend traditional instruments and pop writing, as well as a marked taste for slow melodies and introspective moods. In parallel with his live work, Mehmet Erdem composes for cinema and television, notably the music for the film Deli Deli Olma in 2009. His solo discography revolves around Herkes Aynı Hayatta (2012), Hiç Konuşmadan (2013), Hepsi Benim Yüzünden (2016), Neden Böyleyiz (2018) and bir şarkı vardı ya (2022). Over the years, Mehmet Erdem has also participated in various collective projects and collaborations on the Turkish scene, while pursuing a trajectory between popular song, repertoire inspired by Anatolian music and acoustic formats regularly presented in concert.