Mustafa Özkent

Mustafa Özkent creates a sonic world that feels both ancient and futuristic. It is a high-octane blend of Anatolian melodies and deep, heavy funk that prioritizes the groove above all else. The music is characterized by its incredible rhythmic precision, featuring double-tracked drums and percussion that create a wall of sound designed for movement. It is the sound of 1970s Istanbul at its most cosmopolitan and experimental.

What truly sets Özkent apart is his maverick approach to instrumentation. He famously modified his guitars with additional frets to capture the microtonal nuances of Turkish traditional music while plugging them into psychedelic wah-wah pedals and fuzz boxes. This creates a 'liquid' lead sound that snakes through tight, disciplined arrangements of Hammond organs and driving basslines. It is instrumental music that speaks with more personality than most vocal-led tracks.

For the uninitiated, the 1973 masterpiece 'Genclikle Elele' is the essential starting point. It is a flawless document of what fans call 'Anatolian Funk,' offering a sequence of tracks that sound like they were sampled by a 90s hip-hop producer decades before the genre existed. It is perfect for anyone who loves the intersection of global psychedelia and hard-hitting rhythmic soul.