PSYCHEDELIC LEANING TURKISH ARABESQUE W/ SİNAN ÖZER

Arabesque music is an often overlooked gem from my native land. I am equally excited and anxious to submit my first mix of music that are so near and dear to me Turkish arabesque started gaining popularity in the 60's as a fusion of Arabic and Anatolian sounds. The lyrical themes are almost always unrequited love. When looking at the genre as a whole, deeper sentiments of rebellion against state, life, and sometimes even god are revealed. It is no surprise that the genre was banned by the state during the chaotic political climate of the 70s. The ban didn't last long but it's effects resonated into late 90s with mass media shunning the re-emergence of the genre. I remember our elementary school teacher lecturing us, a group of 10 year old students, about the destructive path arabesque fans take, as if she was giving a lecture on drug abuse. A silly exaggeration from sillier times, but also a testament to the power of this music With the mix, I tried to find a niche within the niche to hopefully peak listener interest to dig deeper into the genre. Odd time signatures driven by darbukas, melodies of high pitched traditional wind instruments backed by violins, shifting vocal pitches that mimic crying, and lyrics sung from the heart rather than the diaphragm are the central musical themes on this mix. To lean into the psychedelic aspect, I included some Arabesque leaning good ol' psych Anatolian rock. To round of the trip we visit neighbouring Azerbaijani Gitara, a prime example of Turkic Psychedelia with a tinge of Arabic influence. I hope you enjoy!