Turkish arranger, composer, and drummer Murat Yeter has released FOLK, an ambitious record that pulls together some of the country’s most recognizable artists to reimagine traditional Anatolian folk songs for a contemporary audience. The project pairs centuries-old melodies with modern production, with the aim of introducing Türkiye’s musical heritage to a new generation of listeners at home and abroad.
The lineup reads like something of a supergroup for Turkish music. Earlier tracks from the project included Kenan Doğulu opening the album with his take on “Halay,” alongside contributions from Serkan Kaya, Sidenur Töre, Rubato, Mahmut Tuncer, and Tuğçe Kandemir.
The latest additions bring even more range to the record. Candan Erçetin lends her voice to the Ankara folk standard “Bahçenizde Gül Var Mı” (“Do You Have Roses in Your Garden?”), while Emre Altuğ reworks “Dere Boyu Kavaklar” (“Poplar Trees Along the Stream”) with his signature Balkan-inflected sound. Folk veteran Zara takes on “Garip Bir Kuştu Gönlüm” (“My Heart Was a Strange Bird”), and actor Oktay Kaynarca steps in with his own rendition of the classic “Gesi Bağları.”
For Yeter, FOLK is less a single project than the culmination of a career — one that stretches back more than four decades, starting in Istanbul’s Kasımpaşa neighborhood and running through wedding halls and traditional music venues before reaching international stages, including the Houston Jazz Festival. He’s described the album’s mission as carrying the spirit of Turkish folk music to global audiences while keeping the songs themselves intact — timeless, not modernized beyond recognition.
By fusing traditional melody with present-day arrangement, FOLK sets out to connect generations and put the depth of Anatolian folk music in front of listeners far beyond Türkiye’s borders. The album landed on all major streaming platforms on Friday.