Photo by Kubi Ozturk
´ I think the monopolisation of the underground scene
(in Turkey) is the biggest challenge for emerging talented artists. It no longer matters how skilled you are and success relies more on having the right connections to get a chance to be noticed.´
We are pleased to welcome a new crew member with the 9th act of the series: KOR.
While mastering the technical aspects of music production via studying audio-engineering in Berlin, passion is the driving force of the creative work of KOR over the years. Recently moved to Berlin for his further endeavors as an audio engineer and producer, KOR garnished the set with his unreleased arsenal.
When it comes to his sonic orientation, he drives from fast-forwarding, banging tracks to euphoric trance infused emotional vibe. We also did not forget to get some technical inside on his studio production tricks.
Brace yourselves to dance to some KOR tunes in the post-pandemic world.
NCOUNTERS: Where did you grow up? How were you introduced to the music that you produce? How was the music scene? What were the challenges for emerging artists?
KOR: I grew up in Ankara which is the capital city of Turkey. And it is safe to say that Ankara resembles Berlin in many ways. After moving to Istanbul in 2014, I realised my interest in electronic music was more than just a hobby. I guess it was inevitable for me to ultimately take up music as a profession, but moving to Istanbul was definitely what triggered my urge to actually do it. For several years, I ambitiously improved myself as a producer; creating my own music and going beyond just being a DJ. And when I reached a level of proficiency, I started booking gigs and continued pursuing my career as a DJ and producer throughout my last two years in Istanbul. I was first introduced to the underground scene in 2015. At the time, I had a flatmate who was also a producer/DJ, and he was actively doing gigs in different venues. I had the chance to join him for some of his gigs and in no time, I was completely drawn to the scene.
I think the monopolization of the underground scene is the biggest challenge for emerging talented artists. It no longer matters how skilled you are and success relies more on having the right connections to get a chance to be noticed. However, particularly in the last two years, the demand for underground music has vastly increased. As a result of becoming much more mainstream, countless clubs & venues started to open, and thus created more opportunities for upcoming talent.
Photo by Kubi Ozturk
´ I thought that the harsh reality of extreme individualism and the gloomy atmosphere would, by far, be my biggest challenge but the outcome of the Covid-19 pandemic surpassed those concerns easily`
When did you move to a new city? How has your experience with the music scene been so far, as an emerging artist and migrant? What are the difficulties and challenges you have faced?
My primary motivation for moving to Berlin was to pursuit my sound engineering studies. In addition to that, I knew Berlin was the right place for building an international network and as I have stated before, the effort of making quality music is not enough for upcoming artists nowadays. I moved to Berlin in the March of 2020, which I believe was one of the worst times to do so, due to the corona crisis. Initially, I thought that the harsh reality of extreme individualism and the gloomy atmosphere would, by far, be my biggest challenge but the outcome of the Covid-19 pandemic surpassed those concerns easily. I have been living in Berlin for almost a year now and I have come to realize that this city can be both challenging and rewarding at the same time, depending on your progress. It is so easy to get lost in Berlin therefore, I try to stay passionately focused on my purpose. Luckily, I do not feel like a complete stranger in Berlin since there is huge community of Turkish originated people living here. It is almost like Ankara but better, in many ways. :)
Photo by Kubi Ozturk
How do you overcome with creative-blocks in your studio?
Everyone has own ways for that. Mine is walking.
Can you share with us a ´trick´ from your production process in studio?
I always tend to exaggerate effects before finding sweet spot. This helps me understand what it does to sound easily. Trust your taste
What are your future plans and expectations?
I do not have a specific plan for the future yet, but I can say that my main goals are to maintain a sustainable life and to share my music with people. Based on my experience in Berlin, I can tell that I want to stay here for at least a decade. As it is my biggest priority, I undoubtedly want to keep music centred in my life and build everything else around it. I have never divided music in to genres. Personally, I have always evaluated music based on its quality. Hence, it is hard for me to say that I will be focusing on producing music in any particular genre in the future. My approach and passion for music is far from anything that my words could describe. Finally, my expectations in the short run, is going to raves and being able to socialize with new people again without having any fear or worries.
Photos: Kubi Ozturk
Editor: Pinar Kaya
Graphic Layout: Can Hatunoglu
NCOUNTERS, Berlin (2020)