What We're Digging Right Now: Jakuzi
We’ve got awhile before we reach Turkey in our ongoing Occur Goes Global series, but a particular darkwave duo has captivated us so much, we had to introduce you to their tunes now. In a nation that was nearly torn apart by a coup in 2016, the men of Jakuzi are sticking out their necks to sing of sorrow and of fluid identity.
Their debut album, Fantezi Müzik (out March 24 on City Slang), carries on the smoky, spooky synth traditions of Joy Division with a splash of millennial optimism. Lead single “Koca Bir Saçmalik” slays like the best of the Killers, with a digital bounce provided by multi-instrumentalist Taner Yücel. And though he doesn’t sing in English, front man Kutay Soyocak has a baritone that has immense cross-cultural appeal.
Despite living in a country known for Draconian censorship, Jakuzi boldly discuss taboo topics. The Gary Numan-like “Lubunya” is considered one of the first pro-transgender-rights songs sung in Turkish. And in a land where machismo is king, Yücel and Soyocak dare to wear their hearts on their sleeves.
More from Melissa Bobbitt (See All)
Occur Goes Global - The Music of Georgia
Melissa Bobbitt 0Georgia on my mind — and I don’t mean the Southern state Ray Charles so adored. Also known as Sakartvelo in its native tongue, this former Soviet satellite straddles East and West. Russia still exhibits...
Feb 20, 2017
Occur Goes Global - The Music of East Timor
Melissa Bobbitt 0Legend has it that the island of Timor formed from an ancient crocodile. The peoples of East Timor have been as resilient as this founding reptile, surviving colonization by the Portuguese and Indonesians to become...
Aug 22, 2016Comments
Recent posts
Subscribe!
Receive updates on what's going on in live entertainment, events, and music.
