Hayko (read Turkish version here | listen to music samples)
Intro
Standing out as one of the diverse voices of the Turkish rock scene, Hayko Cepkin has created a unique musical identity under the stage name "Hayko" by blending rock, heavy metal, and industrial metal with electronic and Arabesque elements. Born in Istanbul in 1978, the artist started his professional music career in 1997 and laid the foundations of his solo career with the album "Sakin Olmam Lazım" released in 2005. Cepkin, known to the public with works such as "Tanışma Bitti", "Sandık", and "Aşkın Izdırabını...", touches upon themes of love, agony, and inner struggle with songs like "Ölüyorum", "Paranoya", and "Dans Et" in his discography. He also secured the "Best Male Rock Music Artist" award at the Kral TV Music Awards, considered one of the important turning points of his career. Continuing his career with the albums "Sandık" in 2010, "Aşkın Izdırabını..." in 2012, and "Karantina Günlüğü" in 2020, he is a multidisciplinary artist who has experienced acting with the film "Çocuk" and composed music for the film "Balans ve Manevra" in addition to his musical identity. Although confusion has occurred in sources with a different pop musician born in 1949 who uses the stage name "Hayko", the focus of this page is the rock artist Hayko Cepkin born in 1978 based on current data.
Biography
Hayko Cepkin, born in Istanbul on March 11, 1978, is a versatile rock musician who has left his mark on the Turkish music scene with the stage name Hayko. A graduate of Getronagan Armenian High School, the artist started his professional music career in 1997 and launched his solo career with the album "Sakin Olmam Lazım" in 2005. Recognized for his musical identity that blends Rock, Heavy Metal, and Industrial Metal genres with Electronic and Arabesque elements, Cepkin drew attention by recording this first solo work alone in his room and playing it to his neighbors.
Important milestones in his career include albums such as "Tanışma Bitti" (2007), "Sandık" (2010), and "Aşkın Izdırabını..." (2012). The artist's discography continued with "Beni Büyüten Şarkılar Vol.1" in 2016, the EP "Kabul Olur / Dans Et" in 2019, and the album "Karantina Günlüğü" in 2020. Besides being known for songs like "Ölüyorum", "Dans Et", "Paranoya", "Fırtınam", and "Yol Gözümü Dağlıyor", collaborations such as "Aşk Kitabı" performed as a duet with Nilüfer and "Korkma" performed with Ogün Sanlısoy are also prominent among his works. The Best Male Rock Music Artist award from the Kral TV Music Awards received throughout his career has solidified his effectiveness in the Turkish rock music scene.
Beyond musical works, Hayko has also found a place in cinema and media; he worked as a composer in the 2005 film "Balans ve Manevra", portrayed the character İsfandiyar in the 2008 film "Çocuk", and appeared as both host and actor in the 2012 "Acayip Hikayeler" project. The artist's versatility is also supported by experiences in different fields, such as being a co-pilot in the Ege Rally in 2014. The artist has realized works with names such as Ogün Sanlısoy, Aylin Aslım, Nilüfer, Cem Adrian, Koray Candemir, Demir Demirkan, Murathan Mungan, and Kurban. Unlike the 1949 born pop singer Hayık Aram Tataryan, the career of the 1978 born rock musician Hayko Cepkin is being followed. According to current sources, the artist is alive and continues his musical journey in the post-2020 period.
Style
Standing out as a musical identity that pushes boundaries in the Turkish rock and metal scene, Hayko Cepkin has built his repertoire on a multi-genre synthesis. He creates a unique atmosphere by integrating industrial metal touches, electronic foundations, and the traditional Turkish "Arabesque" melodies into the heavy backbone of Rock and Heavy Metal. While the evolution of these genres is observed in the process ranging from his solo career starting with "Sakin Olmam Lazım" to "Karantina Günlüğü"; album works such as "Tanışma Bitti", "Sandık", and "Aşkın Izdırabını..." mark the main turning points of this musical journey. When evaluated through song titles, titles such as "Ölüyorum", "Paranoya", "Fırtınam", and "Yol Gözümü Dağlıyor" indicate a world of emotion centered on inner struggle, suffering, uncertainty, and intense emotional conflicts. Collaborations such as "Aşk Kitabı" or "Korkma" performed as a duet with Ogün Sanlısoy show that these themes are processed with broader musical perspectives. Although detailed data regarding the technical analysis of his vocal character is not found in sources, the balance he establishes between the harsh and lyrical tones of the preferred genres emerges as a defining feature of the artist's interpretation style. The weight of the themes he processes, the musical tools he chooses, and this inter-genre fluidity are the most important elements defining Hayko's unique stance in the Turkish rock scene.
Songs and Highlighted Tracks
Hayko Cepkin's musical identity goes beyond songs fueled by hard rock and heavy metal tones along with electronic and Arabesque elements. In the process extending from 2005 when he started his solo career with the album "Sakin Olmam Lazım" to the present, a few important tracks stand out, engraved in the listener's mind. Especially names like "Ölüyorum", "Dans Et", and "Paranoya" are known for their melodic structure that reflects the artist's inner conflicts and dark themes. "Fırtınam" and "Yol Gözümü Dağlıyor" are also other strong works that have found their place in his discography.
Duet works show Hayko's window opening to different styles. While "Aşk Kitabı" performed with Nilüfer once again certifies the bridge he built between rock and Arabesque, the song "Korkma" that emerged through Ogün Sanlısoy collaboration contains the synergy of two strong names on the rock scene. Album transitions in the discography are the main gates where these songs are embraced. While "Tanışma Bitti", "Sandık", and "Aşkın Izdırabını..." albums form the cornerstones of his career; works shedding light on different periods were produced with 2016 released "Beni Büyüten Şarkılar Vol.1" and 2020 released "Karantina Günlüğü". The 2019 released "Kabul Olur / Dans Et" EP work presents the song "Dans Et" in a special format.
Although sources contain different records regarding the release year of the "Sandık" album as 2010 and 2022, considering the artist's general career flow and professional milestones, this period is evaluated based on the year 2010. Also, to avoid confusion with a different pop singer born in 1949 (Hayık Aram Tataryan) known by the stage name "Hayko"; all works listed here belong to the 1978 born rock musician Hayko Cepkin.
Context
In the rock and alternative culture of the Turkish music scene, in the segment extending from the end of the 1990s to the present, Hayko Cepkin is positioned as an important figure standing out with his multi-genre structure and industrial tones. The artist born in 1978 Istanbul started his professional music career in 1997 and formalized his solo career with the album "Sakin Olmam Lazım" released in 2005. The artist, who uses only "Hayko" as his stage name, although causing name confusion with the 1949 born pop singer Hayık Aram Tataryan in sources, the recognized name in the rock and metal field of Turkish music is the 1978 born Hayko Cepkin.
Recognized by albums such as "Tanışma Bitti", "Sandık", and "Aşkın Izdırabını...", the artist has created a unique musical atmosphere in Turkey by combining Heavy Metal and Industrial Metal foundations with electronic and Arabesque elements. Cepkin, who enriched his discography with projects like "Sandık" released in 2010 and "Beni Büyüten Şarkılar Vol.1" released in 2016, maintained his artistic stance in the current period with the album "Karantina Günlüğü" released in 2020. Receiving the "Best Male Rock Music Artist" award at the Kral TV Music Awards reinforced his effect and recognition within this genre. The artist, who makes collaborations with names from different musical disciplines such as Ogün Sanlısoy, Nilüfer, Aylin Aslım, and Kurban, has also experienced music composing and acting in projects like "Balans ve Manevra" and "Çocuk". This diversity determines Hayko Cepkin's place in history not only as a rock singer but as a versatile artist pushing the boundaries of Turkish music.
Artist Legacy
Hayko Cepkin, who stands out with multi-genre structures that push boundaries in the Turkish rock scene, is a name known for his musical evolution since his professional start in 1997. The artist who formalized his solo career with the album "Sakin Olmam Lazım" in 2005, created a unique atmosphere by adding Electronic and Arabesque elements to his Rock and Heavy Metal based structure. Albums such as "Tanışma Bitti", "Sandık", and "Aşkın Izdırabını..." have remained in memory as the most prominent examples of this unique musical synthesis.
The "Best Male Rock Music Artist" award from the Kral TV Music Awards received throughout his career is an important milestone showing that this different style found its response in the industry. Works in his discography like "Sandık" released in 2010 and "Karantina Günlüğü" released in 2020 document the artist's long-lasting musical journey. The artist who uses the stage name "Hayko", creating a separate identity from the 1949 born pop singer mentioned in other periods of music history due to name similarity, has cemented this name in the context of rock music.
In addition to his musical legacy, he has also contributed to the cinema world with composition works in the film "Balans ve Manevra" and acting in productions like "Çocuk". The career of the 1978 Istanbul born artist has been enriched not only with album releases but also with experiences in different disciplines. Confirmed to be alive by current sources, Hayko Cepkin maintains his place in history as one of the colorful and polyphonic narratives of Turkish rock music with his works extending from 2005 to the present and awards such as the Kral TV award.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hayko the only musician using the stage name? No. In current sources, there has been name confusion between the 1949 born pop musician Hayık Aram Tataryan and the 1978 born rock artist Hayko Cepkin. However, the focus of this page is the 1978 born and Hayko Cepkin who left his mark on the rock music scene.
What are Hayko Cepkin's musical style and the themes he processes? The artist creates a unique identity by adding electronic and Arabesque elements to rock, heavy metal, and industrial metal themes. His songs generally process inner struggle, agony, uncertainty, and intense emotional conflicts. Although detailed data regarding the technical analysis of his vocal character is not found in sources, the balance between the harsh and lyrical tones of the preferred genres determines the interpretation style.
What are the most important albums and songs in his career? He started his professional career in 1997 and started his solo career with the album "Sakin Olmam Lazım" in 2005. His standout albums include "Tanışma Bitti", "Sandık", "Aşkın Izdırabını..." and "Karantina Günlüğü". He is known for songs like "Ölüyorum", "Paranoya", "Dans Et", "Fırtınam" and "Yol Gözümü Dağlıyor".
Are there any inconsistencies in the records of his discography? Yes, sources contain different information regarding the release year of the "Sandık" album as 2010 and 2022. Considering the artist's general career flow and milestones, this period is evaluated based on the year 2010.
Has he participated in other art forms besides music? Yes, the artist has realized multidisciplinary works. He composed music in the 2005 film "Balans ve Manevra", portrayed the character İsfandiyar in the 2008 film "Çocuk", and experienced hosting in the 2012 "Acayip Hikayeler" project.
Is there an important award the artist has received throughout his career? Hayko Cepkin has received the "Best Male Rock Music Artist" award at the Kral TV Music Awards, which reinforced his effectiveness in the Turkish rock music scene.