While searching for a name for my new independent record label, I began researching the word “iKi.” It has always had a powerful resonance for me in Turkish. “iKi” is the word for the number 2. There’s a kind of skeptical honesty in being two instead of one. As an adjective, it also means “one more than one.” Another word derived from “iKi” in Turkish is “iKilik,” which refers to duality or a binary structure. This sense of duality has long been one of the clearest ways to describe my existence, worldview, creative vision, and approach to making music. 

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In Japanese, Iki (いき, most often written as 粋) is a traditional aesthetic ideal. It originated among the urban commoners of the Edo period and is deeply rooted in Tokyo’s aesthetic and philosophical history. “Iki is an expression of simplicity, elegance, naturalness, and originality. It is fleeting, straightforward, restrained, and spontaneous. Iki is never ostentatious. In Japanese culture, the word ‘iki’ is used to describe qualities considered aesthetically appealing—and when attributed to a person, their work, or possessions, it’s a profound compliment.” 

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Years ago, I had made a list of words that could summarize the kind of musical world I wanted to represent with a record label. Every word on that list seemed like a piece of the identity I was seeking. The name “iKi” felt like the perfect reflection of my dual life between Japan and Turkey at the time. And so, the search came to an end. 

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My ideal for the label is to create a welcoming space for contemporary musical expression rooted in the lives of urban individuals. I envisioned a platform that brings together short or long-form modern compositions, improvisations, electronic and electroacoustic works, and othered or unheard sounds that struggle to reach their audiences. 

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As a contemporary music platform, iKi Muzik treats music not only as an aesthetic field of production but also as a form of intellectual and social expression. This approach became even more visible through Cep Seminerleri (“Pocket Seminars”), a series of independent online gatherings I’ve been organizing since 2023. In these seminars—titled “Traces of Women in Music,” “Listening Culture,” and “The Politics of Unfamiliar Sounds”—we explore themes such as gender equality, polyphony, and the role of music in public space with participants from diverse backgrounds. 

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To me, music is not just something we listen to—it is a democratic medium that enables empathy, mutual understanding, and collective thinking. That’s why iKi Muzik is not only about the production of sound but also about the ways we listen and reflect together. My hope is to create a meaningful space, especially for young musicians and listeners, to feel inspired and empowered. 

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Throughout my creative life, I’ve had the chance to work with many brilliant and unique individuals. Here are some of the wonderful artists and supporters who have collaborated with iKi Muzik: 

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Musicians: Tolga Tüzün, Serhan Erkol, Barış Dağhan, Nobody Presents, Ali Onur Olgun, Kerem Can Dündar, Mehmet Ali Şimaylı, Denüz Güngören, Marcello Allulli, Emanuele De Raymondi, Keisuke Ohta, Issei Igarashi, Hakuei Kim, Şevket Akıncı, Orie Hirayama, Cymin Samawatie, Angelika Niescier.

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Mix & Mastering: Emre Malikler, Scott Hull (Masterdisk NY), Jordi Vidal Franch, Halil İbrahim Işık (Keyboard İstanbul), Erim Arkman, Tolga Tüzün, Michael Nielsen, Can Kuman.

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Photographers: Zeynep Özkanca, Hüseyin Taşkın, Seyhan Camgöz, Ebru Baranseli.

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Painters: Ekinakis, Seval Gülün, Özgür Rakıcıyan.

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Designers and visual artists: Ozan Aktuna, Taylan Sinan Yılmaz, Esra Şaşmaz, Berk Çakmakçı.

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Studios: Hayyam Studios, Istanbul Bilgi University Studios, MIAM Studios, Retox Studio Berlin, Hakan Kurşun Home Studio, Nuccia Studio Rome, Studio Sound Dali Tokyo, Genonsha / ZImagine Tokyo, Studio Dede Tokyo.

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Stay tuned! 

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