Kenan Behzat Sharpe
@kenansharpe.bsky.social
@keymanmts.bsky.social / Assistant Professor at Sabancı University 🌆 / book on Anatolian Rock in progress 🎸 / sometimes journalist 📝 / tweets on art & culture in Turkey 🎶
I wrote about a chilling criminal case against one of Turkey’s most important musicians: Mabel Matiz. He and the girl group Manifest both face prison time over lyrics and dance moves. It’s all part of a new wave of repression in the name of “family values” www.balcanicaucaso.org/eng/Areas/Tu...
Mabel Matiz: Music and Censorship in Turkey
Mabel Matiz, one of Turkey's most famous pop singers, risks prison for his latest song, which has been labeled "obscenity" because it sings of homosexual love: a further crackdown on the LGBT communit...
www.balcanicaucaso.org
October 30, 2025 at 2:40 PM
I wrote about a chilling criminal case against one of Turkey’s most important musicians: Mabel Matiz. He and the girl group Manifest both face prison time over lyrics and dance moves. It’s all part of a new wave of repression in the name of “family values” www.balcanicaucaso.org/eng/Areas/Tu...
The latest single by Mabel Matiz, Turkey’s preeminent pop singer and songwriter, will likely be banned after a complaint by the Ministry of Family and Social Services about it being a “threat to the public order” for erotic song lyrics. Yes, lyrics are now cause for censorship.
September 19, 2025 at 9:39 AM
The latest single by Mabel Matiz, Turkey’s preeminent pop singer and songwriter, will likely be banned after a complaint by the Ministry of Family and Social Services about it being a “threat to the public order” for erotic song lyrics. Yes, lyrics are now cause for censorship.
Amidst all the bad news here & in the world it's been hard to find a time to share the good, but I wanted say that I'm thrilled to have started as an assistant professor in the Cultural Studies program (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences) at Sabancı University in Istanbul!
September 15, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Amidst all the bad news here & in the world it's been hard to find a time to share the good, but I wanted say that I'm thrilled to have started as an assistant professor in the Cultural Studies program (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences) at Sabancı University in Istanbul!
Bad Bunny’nin son albümü bize gösteriyor ki Türkiye gibi coğrafyaların müziklerinin global piyasada nasıl yer bulduğunu önemseyen herkes onun örneğini dikkate almalı. Kendi yerel kültürü ve dilinden hiç taviz vermeden dünyaca ünlü oldu çünkü. 🧵
Bad Bunny’den Çıkarılacak Dersler: Türkiye’nin müzisyenleri Porto Rikolu rapçiden neler öğrenebilir?
✍️ @kenansharpe.bsky.social
🔗 velvele.net/2025/01/30/b...
✍️ @kenansharpe.bsky.social
🔗 velvele.net/2025/01/30/b...
January 30, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Bad Bunny’nin son albümü bize gösteriyor ki Türkiye gibi coğrafyaların müziklerinin global piyasada nasıl yer bulduğunu önemseyen herkes onun örneğini dikkate almalı. Kendi yerel kültürü ve dilinden hiç taviz vermeden dünyaca ünlü oldu çünkü. 🧵
I wrote about women in rock music from Turkey to the US and how successive generations have been ignored or forgotten only later to be remembered and reclaimed. From Fanny to Eroğlu Kızlar Orkestrası, Liz Phair to Şebnem Ferah, you read the essay here:
sheermag.substack.com/p/power-recl...
sheermag.substack.com/p/power-recl...
Power Reclaimed: Generations of Women Rockers From Turkey to the U.S.
For decades, women rockers from the U.S. and Turkey have rebelled against the patriarchal music industry. Their heritage of reclaiming power from "men in suits" continues strong today.
sheermag.substack.com
January 13, 2025 at 2:42 PM
I wrote about women in rock music from Turkey to the US and how successive generations have been ignored or forgotten only later to be remembered and reclaimed. From Fanny to Eroğlu Kızlar Orkestrası, Liz Phair to Şebnem Ferah, you read the essay here:
sheermag.substack.com/p/power-recl...
sheermag.substack.com/p/power-recl...
Listemin sonuna geldik. 2024’ün en iyi 3 albümünü açıkladığım yazı yayında!
Müzik eleştirmeni @kenansharpe.bsky.social 'in 2024’ün en iyi yerli albümlerini derlediği listenin zirvesine ulaştık.
İlk üç albümün yer aldığı üçüncü bölüm, 'Modern başyapıtlar', yayında. #nilipek #melikeşahin #kardelen
velvele.net/2024/12/24/y...
İlk üç albümün yer aldığı üçüncü bölüm, 'Modern başyapıtlar', yayında. #nilipek #melikeşahin #kardelen
velvele.net/2024/12/24/y...
Yerli sahnenin en iyi albümleri: Top 3
Müzik eleştirmeni Kenan Behzat Sharpe, geride bırakmak üzere olduğumuz 2024’ün en iyi albümlerini Velvele okuyucuları için derledi. Üç bölüm halinde yayımladığımız, aynı zamanda yerli müzik sahnesi…
velvele.net
December 27, 2024 at 2:23 PM
Listemin sonuna geldik. 2024’ün en iyi 3 albümünü açıkladığım yazı yayında!
Reposted by Kenan Behzat Sharpe
Müzik eleştirmeni @kenansharpe.bsky.social, 2024’ün en iyi yerli albümlerini derledi. Listenin 8'den 4'e geri saydığımız ikinci bölümü yayında:
"Türkçe müziğinin dünyadaki yeri"
#ezhel #paptircem #mavi #muganni #emirtaha
velvele.net/2024/12/23/y...
"Türkçe müziğinin dünyadaki yeri"
#ezhel #paptircem #mavi #muganni #emirtaha
velvele.net/2024/12/23/y...
Yerli sahnenin en iyi albümleri: 8’den 4’e
Müzik eleştirmeni Kenan Behzat Sharpe, geride bırakmaya hazırlandığımız 2024’ün en iyi albümlerini Velvele okuyucuları için derledi. Aynı zamanda yerli müzik sahnesinin bir fotoğrafını çeken bu lis…
velvele.net
December 23, 2024 at 5:21 PM
Müzik eleştirmeni @kenansharpe.bsky.social, 2024’ün en iyi yerli albümlerini derledi. Listenin 8'den 4'e geri saydığımız ikinci bölümü yayında:
"Türkçe müziğinin dünyadaki yeri"
#ezhel #paptircem #mavi #muganni #emirtaha
velvele.net/2024/12/23/y...
"Türkçe müziğinin dünyadaki yeri"
#ezhel #paptircem #mavi #muganni #emirtaha
velvele.net/2024/12/23/y...
Bu senenin en iyi şarkılarını yazdım, yerli sahnenin 2024'teki trendlerini özetledim. Şimdi de @velvele.net için yılın en iyi albümlerini listeliyorum. Bugün itibariyle geri sayım başladı, 13’ten 9'a kadarki ilk bölüm yayında! velvele.net/2024/12/22/y...
Yerli sahnenin en iyi albümleri: 13’ten 9’a
Müzik eleştirmeni Kenan Behzat Sharpe, geride bırakmaya hazırlandığımız 2024’ün en iyi albümlerini Velvele okuyucuları için derledi. Aynı zamanda yerli müzik sahnesinin bir fotoğrafını çeken …
velvele.net
December 23, 2024 at 3:49 PM
Bu senenin en iyi şarkılarını yazdım, yerli sahnenin 2024'teki trendlerini özetledim. Şimdi de @velvele.net için yılın en iyi albümlerini listeliyorum. Bugün itibariyle geri sayım başladı, 13’ten 9'a kadarki ilk bölüm yayında! velvele.net/2024/12/22/y...
Reposted by Kenan Behzat Sharpe
some fabulous pop here, never mind if you, like me, don't understand the lyrics, feel those big emotions
Here's the playlist link. Read along as you listen. The songs range from pop to indie to R&B, rap, electro, & pop. I spent hooours carefully sequenced the playlist for your listening pleasure, so listen from start to finish for the smoothest flow.
open.spotify.com/playlist/6eE...
open.spotify.com/playlist/6eE...
Best of Turkey 2024
Playlist · Kenan Sharpe · 55 items · 411 saves
open.spotify.com
December 22, 2024 at 9:25 AM
some fabulous pop here, never mind if you, like me, don't understand the lyrics, feel those big emotions
Yıl sonu en iyi albümler listemi paylaşmadan önce yerli pop, rap ve rock sahnesindeki genel trendler üzerine yazdım.
Gerçekten farklı bir şey yapmaya çalıştım bu yazıda. Tek dileğim, 2024’teki müzik hayatımızla ilgili bir tartışma zemini sunması...
Gerçekten farklı bir şey yapmaya çalıştım bu yazıda. Tek dileğim, 2024’teki müzik hayatımızla ilgili bir tartışma zemini sunması...
2024’te Yerli Sahneden Alternatif Sesler!
Kenan Behzat Sharpe, Türkçe rock, rap ve pop müzik sahnesini değerlendiriyor, genel yönelimlere odaklanıyor.
darkbluenotes.com/2024te-yerli...
@kenansharpe.bsky.social
Kenan Behzat Sharpe, Türkçe rock, rap ve pop müzik sahnesini değerlendiriyor, genel yönelimlere odaklanıyor.
darkbluenotes.com/2024te-yerli...
@kenansharpe.bsky.social
2024'te Yerli Sahneden Alternatif Sesler
Kenan Behzat Sharpe, Türkçe rock, rap ve pop müzik sahnesini değerlendiriyor, genel yönelimlere odaklanıyor.
darkbluenotes.com
December 20, 2024 at 3:13 PM
Yıl sonu en iyi albümler listemi paylaşmadan önce yerli pop, rap ve rock sahnesindeki genel trendler üzerine yazdım.
Gerçekten farklı bir şey yapmaya çalıştım bu yazıda. Tek dileğim, 2024’teki müzik hayatımızla ilgili bir tartışma zemini sunması...
Gerçekten farklı bir şey yapmaya çalıştım bu yazıda. Tek dileğim, 2024’teki müzik hayatımızla ilgili bir tartışma zemini sunması...
Send us your paper proposals on James Baldwin's Istanbul!
I'm happy to be a co-convener of this year's Keyman Modern Turkish Studies conference alongside İpek Kocaömer Yosmaoğlu. We're looking forward to a great conference in Istanbul with the support of Sabancı University.
I'm happy to be a co-convener of this year's Keyman Modern Turkish Studies conference alongside İpek Kocaömer Yosmaoğlu. We're looking forward to a great conference in Istanbul with the support of Sabancı University.
December 16, 2024 at 2:38 PM
Send us your paper proposals on James Baldwin's Istanbul!
I'm happy to be a co-convener of this year's Keyman Modern Turkish Studies conference alongside İpek Kocaömer Yosmaoğlu. We're looking forward to a great conference in Istanbul with the support of Sabancı University.
I'm happy to be a co-convener of this year's Keyman Modern Turkish Studies conference alongside İpek Kocaömer Yosmaoğlu. We're looking forward to a great conference in Istanbul with the support of Sabancı University.
Reposted by Kenan Behzat Sharpe
kenan’s playlist last year was fantastic. now 2024 edition is out: 🥳
BEST OF TURKISH MUSIC 2024 🧵
The year is nearly over. The music mags gave their top picks, Spotify got unwrapped, & now it's time for our list of music from Turkey.
Here are my mini-reviews & a playlist of my 50+ favorite songs...
I saw last year's list being shared here, so here's the new one! 🧵
The year is nearly over. The music mags gave their top picks, Spotify got unwrapped, & now it's time for our list of music from Turkey.
Here are my mini-reviews & a playlist of my 50+ favorite songs...
I saw last year's list being shared here, so here's the new one! 🧵
December 12, 2024 at 5:50 PM
kenan’s playlist last year was fantastic. now 2024 edition is out: 🥳
BEST OF TURKISH MUSIC 2024 🧵
The year is nearly over. The music mags gave their top picks, Spotify got unwrapped, & now it's time for our list of music from Turkey.
Here are my mini-reviews & a playlist of my 50+ favorite songs...
I saw last year's list being shared here, so here's the new one! 🧵
The year is nearly over. The music mags gave their top picks, Spotify got unwrapped, & now it's time for our list of music from Turkey.
Here are my mini-reviews & a playlist of my 50+ favorite songs...
I saw last year's list being shared here, so here's the new one! 🧵
December 12, 2024 at 3:05 PM
BEST OF TURKISH MUSIC 2024 🧵
The year is nearly over. The music mags gave their top picks, Spotify got unwrapped, & now it's time for our list of music from Turkey.
Here are my mini-reviews & a playlist of my 50+ favorite songs...
I saw last year's list being shared here, so here's the new one! 🧵
The year is nearly over. The music mags gave their top picks, Spotify got unwrapped, & now it's time for our list of music from Turkey.
Here are my mini-reviews & a playlist of my 50+ favorite songs...
I saw last year's list being shared here, so here's the new one! 🧵
Every December for 5 years now I have made a massive end-of-the-year playlist and accompanying Twitter thread of the best songs to come out of Turkey. I think it's important to highlight the incredible creativity coming out of the country.
You can read it here: en.velvele.net/2023/12/11/b...
You can read it here: en.velvele.net/2023/12/11/b...
December 14, 2023 at 6:26 PM
Every December for 5 years now I have made a massive end-of-the-year playlist and accompanying Twitter thread of the best songs to come out of Turkey. I think it's important to highlight the incredible creativity coming out of the country.
You can read it here: en.velvele.net/2023/12/11/b...
You can read it here: en.velvele.net/2023/12/11/b...
Reposted by Kenan Behzat Sharpe
Check out the new Spotify playlist from the best commentator on Turkish music out there, @kenansharpe.bsky.social
So far I'm loving the new Jakuzi single.
open.spotify.com/playlist/4xc...
So far I'm loving the new Jakuzi single.
open.spotify.com/playlist/4xc...
Best of Turkey 2023
Best of Turkey 2023 · Playlist · 55 songs · 843 likes
open.spotify.com
December 8, 2023 at 11:34 AM
Check out the new Spotify playlist from the best commentator on Turkish music out there, @kenansharpe.bsky.social
So far I'm loving the new Jakuzi single.
open.spotify.com/playlist/4xc...
So far I'm loving the new Jakuzi single.
open.spotify.com/playlist/4xc...
Reposted by Kenan Behzat Sharpe
Excited for this round table discussion on Higher Ed in Turkey in the latest issue of IJMES menasky
November 2, 2023 at 2:04 PM
Excited for this round table discussion on Higher Ed in Turkey in the latest issue of IJMES menasky
Today's the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey. On the one side, you have crowds chanting Erdoğan's name & rejecting all the republic (should have) stood for. On the other, people sharing utterly apolitical messages with Atatürk's photo as if anything from the republic remains under the AKP
October 29, 2023 at 4:45 PM
Today's the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey. On the one side, you have crowds chanting Erdoğan's name & rejecting all the republic (should have) stood for. On the other, people sharing utterly apolitical messages with Atatürk's photo as if anything from the republic remains under the AKP
The more I think about Turkey’s three days of “national mourning” the more frustrated I get. Let me get this right: do a big empty symbolic gesture for Palestine but make not one concrete action against Israel or to stop the massive flow of money to and from Turkey. But ban music and theater, yes…
October 19, 2023 at 1:33 PM
The more I think about Turkey’s three days of “national mourning” the more frustrated I get. Let me get this right: do a big empty symbolic gesture for Palestine but make not one concrete action against Israel or to stop the massive flow of money to and from Turkey. But ban music and theater, yes…
Çünkü müzik, tiyatro, sanat susturulunca savaş bitiyor…
@ntv: Milli yas sebebiyle kültür sanat etkinlikleri iptal edildi
https://t.co/p4g8P49Obq
Foto: AA https://t.co/4ttRGsDclE
https://t.co/p4g8P49Obq
Foto: AA https://t.co/4ttRGsDclE
October 19, 2023 at 12:16 AM
Çünkü müzik, tiyatro, sanat susturulunca savaş bitiyor…
For anyone who missed the debacle, I wrote about the cancellation of the annual Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival and what it means for Turkey's film industry under increasingly absurd censorship. www.balcanicaucaso.org/eng/Areas/Tu...
Turkey’s main film festival cancelled amid growing censorship
The prestigious Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival will not take place this year. The reason? The controversial decision to exclude the documentary "The Decree", which talks about a taboo topic: the ...
www.balcanicaucaso.org
October 16, 2023 at 8:18 PM
For anyone who missed the debacle, I wrote about the cancellation of the annual Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival and what it means for Turkey's film industry under increasingly absurd censorship. www.balcanicaucaso.org/eng/Areas/Tu...