Cem Yıldız

Cem Yıldız brings the musical traditions of Anatolia into the sound of today’s Istanbul. Electrified saz, vocals, electronics and powerful beats come together in a hypnotic, contemporary sound rooted in the heritage of the ashiks, Anatolia’s musician-poets, and driven by folk, psychedelia and electronic music.

A graduate of the Istanbul State Conservatory, Cem Yıldız has developed a unique and instantly recognizable musical identity. His collaborations with Acid Arab on tracks such as Stil, Ejma, Döne Döne and Atlas have helped take his sound far beyond Turkey.

From Sónar Barcelona and the Montreux Jazz Festival to Nuits Sonores, Les Trans Musicales, Rio Loco and Garbicz Festival, Cem Yıldız has performed on major international stages across the electronic and world music scenes.

At Balkan Trafik, expect a full-on electro-Anatolian trance: the roots of Anatolia propelled straight into the heart of the Brussels dancefloor.