Kesmeşeker (read Turkish version here | listen to music samples)
Introduction
Kesmeşeker, born from the streets of Kadıköy, Istanbul, and leaving its mark on the alternative rock scene with its unique voice, is remembered as one of the groups that has found an important place in the three-decade-long journey of Turkish rock music. Shaped under the leadership of founder and only constant name Cenk Taner, the group became part of local music culture with its musical identity known as the "Kadıköy sound". Kesmeşeker, which took the stage with its first work published in 1991 and became one of the important representatives of the 1990s rock movement, added a philosophical depth by processing themes such as references to the Sufi tradition in song lyrics, the loneliness of the urban person, and social political criticisms.
The decision to put the group on hold for a short period in the early 2000s and return with the "Kum" album in 2004 to continue its musical stance became one of the most notable turning points of this long journey. Recognized by wide audiences with works like "İstanbul İstanbul", "Ne Zaman Gitti Tren", and "Mister Brown", the group solidified its place in music history literature with the "Sar Doksana" documentary in 2016, which took the subject as its theme. Although the lineup frequently changed, this musical heritage gathered around the only constant name in the heart of the band renewed its discographic series continuing with the 2017 "Kadıköy" album by celebrating its 30th year in 2021 with the EP work named "30". Kesmeşeker, during this process, continued to maintain its influence on the alternative rock scene, transforming into a narrative written into Istanbul's cultural memory beyond just being a group.
Biography
Kesmeşeker, an alternative rock group founded in Kadıköy, Istanbul in 1990, took its first step into the music world by taking its name from the English equivalent "Sugarcube". Under the leadership of the founder member and most constant name in the lineup Cenk Taner, with the "Dipten ve Derinden" album published in 1991, they became one of the important groups that left their mark on the 1990s period of Turkish rock music. It is known that the name of their first album carries a meaning composed of Mevlana's quote "either appear as you are or be as you appear"; Kesmeşeker built a unique musical identity containing respect for the Sufi tradition in song lyrics, the loneliness of the urban person, and social political criticisms.
Throughout the 1990s, the group continued its stage life with works such as "Aşk ve Para" (1993), "Tut Beni Düşmeden" (1995), and "İçinde İçindekiler Vardır" (1999), was put on hold for a while in the early 2000s, and Cenk Taner focused on solo works. Kesmeşeker returned with the "Kum" album in 2004 and experienced a new turning point by publishing the "Doğdum Ben Memlekette" album in 2011. The group's music found its place in music history literature with the "Sar Doksana" documentary shot in 2016. The group, which published its "Kadıköy" album in 2017 and celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2021 with the "30" named EP, appealed to a wide audience with tracks like "İstanbul İstanbul", "Ne Zaman Gitti Tren", "Mister Brown", and "Tek Sorumlu".
There are significant inconsistencies in Kesmeşeker's discography and lineup that vary according to sources. Total album count is specified as 8 studio albums in some sources, while in others it is stated as 9 including solo albums, or 10 with the EP. Similarly, the release year of the "İnsülin" album has contradictions between 1997 and 1998. There is different information regarding whether band member Canay Cengen played bass or electric guitar in the "Kadıköy" album recordings. Additionally, Cenk Taner's solo albums ("İzin Vermedi Yalnızlık", "Yoldan Çıkmış Şarkılar") are sometimes counted as part of the Kesmeşeker discography, while at other times they are kept separate from the group's works. It is known that besides founder member Cenk Taner, the lineup changed frequently, the group name is also referred to as "Kadıköy sound", and it appeared in similar styles and collaborations with groups like Athena, Grizu, Peyk.
Style
Since its establishment in Kadıköy, Istanbul in 1990, Kesmeşeker is accepted as one of the groups following a unique line in the alternative scene of Turkish rock music. Its musical identity is strongly identified with the local movement known as the "Kadıköy sound" and is shaped around Alternative Rock and Rock genres. The group stands out not only with its melodic structure but also with its world of lyrics; respect for the Sufi tradition in song lyrics, the loneliness of the urban person, and social political criticisms stand out. Especially the construction of their first album "Dipten ve Derinden" based on a quote from Mevlana is one of the most concrete indicators of how deeply the band's philosophical approach is ingrained in the music.
The repertoire consists of the most well-known tracks of their periods such as "İstanbul İstanbul", "Ne Zaman Gitti Tren", "Mister Brown", "Gerçekten Özleyince", and "S.O.S.". These works outline the main lines of the group's emotional world in its journey lasting from the 1990s to 2021. However, due to inconsistencies in sources, reaching certain technical details about members' instrument preferences or interpretation techniques during specific periods of the group is limited. Conflicts exist between sources regarding the place of Cenk Taner's solo works in the group discography, album counts, and instruments played by some members, making it difficult to analyze the group's period-specific sound and interpretation world in some points. Nevertheless, it is clearly seen that this long-term process under the leadership of founder member Cenk Taner provided an alternative and content-rich approach to Turkish rock music. Despite changing lineups, the band's maintaining its musical stance and lyrical depth has brought it together with a identity beyond its time.
Songs
Kesmeşeker has taken its place among the important representatives of Turkish rock music with its alternative rock attitude centered in Kadıköy, Istanbul. While the band's musical identity is shaped with lyrics containing the loneliness of the urban person and social political criticisms, respect for the Sufi tradition in song lyrics is also a noticeable element. The work that best reflects this atmosphere is "İstanbul İstanbul"; known as one of the band's most well-known tracks, this song is carved into the listener's memory with the depth of its lyrics and melodic structure.
The first album "Dipten ve Derinden" published in 1991 is a key point for understanding the band's musical philosophy. This work, composed with a setting to Mevlana's quote "either appear as you are or be as you appear", is not only a start but also an important reflection of a worldview unique to the group. In the process following this period, the group reached a wide audience with representative tracks such as "Ne Zaman Gitti Tren", "Mister Brown", "Gerçekten Özleyince", "Tut Beni Düşmeden", "S.O.S.", "İşte Güneş", "En Çok Seni", "Aşk Ve Para", and "Tek Sorumlu".
The band's career line sometimes experienced interruptions, and works put on hold in the early 2000s were completed with the return via the "Kum" album in 2004. In the following period, "Doğdum Ben Memlekette" and the "Kadıköy" work counted as the 10th album published in 2017 followed. When we witnessed the group celebrating its 30th year in 2021, the "30" named EP published is a summary of this long journey. Although there are differences in sources regarding the band's album count and some work dates, Kesmeşeker's being documented as part of music history in the "Sar Doksana" documentary in 2016 and reinforcing its place in the movement defined as "Kadıköy sound" is evident.
Cultural and Historical Context
Kesmeşeker, founded in Kadıköy, Istanbul in 1990, went down in history as one of the local and alternative representatives of the rising Turkish rock music scene of the 1990s. Shaping its musical identity with its name meaning "Sugarcube" in English, the group focused on Alternative Rock and Rock genres within the movement known as "Kadıköy sound". The artist, processing the loneliness of the urban person, social political criticisms, and respect gestures to the Sufi tradition in compositions, reflected the interest in Mevlana's philosophical approach to music especially with the first album "Dipten ve Derinden" (1991).
Kesmeşeker, which took its place in the Turkish rock scene throughout the 1990s, put the group on hold for a while due to solo works of founder member Cenk Taner in the early 2000s and returned to the music world in 2004 with the "Kum" album. The "Sar Doksana" documentary published in 2016 is important in terms of recording the group's position in music history. Extending their works spanning a three-decade time period with "Kadıköy" in 2017 and "30" named EP in 2021, the group is recognized by a wide rock audience with tracks like "İstanbul İstanbul", "Ne Zaman Gitti Tren", and "Mister Brown".
However, there are serious inconsistencies in written sources regarding Kesmeşeker's discographic history and biographical details. Sources give different figures for the total album count ranging from 8 studio albums to 9 or 10 works including solo works. Contradictions regarding the release year of the "İnsülin" album (1997 or 1998) and full agreement has not been reached on technical details such as instrument distribution of lineup members. Additionally, the uncertainty about whether Cenk Taner's solo projects are included in the group's official discography makes clarifying the total number of the group's works difficult. Besides founder and only constant member Cenk Taner, the lineup changed frequently, and among other names identified with the group are voices of the same era like Mavi Sakal, Athena, and Grizu. Due to the lack of official award information and the fact that founder lineup details are not fully registered, some definitions made about the group remain in general "important representative" expressions, and detailed biographical data do not gain clarity in records. Nevertheless, Kesmeşeker holds an important place as the vocal heritage of Kadıköy in the memory of 1990s alternative rock history.
Legacy
Kesmeşeker, founded in Kadıköy, Istanbul in 1990, found a unique place in the alternative movement of Turkish rock music of the 1990s and is identified with the local musical identity known as "Kadıköy sound". The group, showing continuity for three decades under the leadership of founder member Cenk Taner, started its stage life with the first album "Dipten ve Derinden" released in 1991, and solidified its place in the memory of musicians and listeners by celebrating its 30th year of establishment in 2021 with the "30" named EP. The group returned with the "Kum" album published in 2004 after being put on hold for a while in the early 2000s and continued their careers.
Kesmeşeker's musical legacy is defined not only by the works they published but also by the statements and themes they carry. The group, which included the loneliness of the urban person, social political criticisms, and respect gestures to the Sufi tradition in song lyrics, also provided a philosophical depth with the "Dipten ve Derinden" album, which is stated to be composed based on Mevlana's quote "either appear as you are or be as you appear". Tracks like "İstanbul İstanbul", "Ne Zaman Gitti Tren", "Mister Brown", and "S.O.S." are accepted as definitive works in the group's rock discography.
However, there are source-based differences in the group's historical records, especially regarding album count and member lineup. Some of the sources mix Cenk Taner's solo works ("İzin Vermedi Yalnızlık", "Yoldan Çıkmış Şarkılar" etc.) with the group's general discography or report the total album count as 9 or 10 including these works. Similarly, inconsistent information exists regarding the release year of the "İnsülin" album and the instrument task distribution of some members in the "Kadıköy" album recordings. In the band where it is known that members changed frequently besides founder member Cenk Taner, these ambiguities in records reflect the complexity of the group's independent work structure and archival processes.
The group's cultural effect entered music history literature as an official document with the "Sar Doksana" documentary published in 2016. This documentation provided for Kesmeşeker to be evaluated not just as a music group but also as a part of Istanbul's underground and alternative culture. Despite technical inconsistencies in sources, this journey coming from the 1990s to the present and the alternative rock tones produced position Kesmeşeker as one of the local stories of the Turkish rock scene.
Frequently Asked Questions
### When and where was the Kesmeşeker group founded? It is an alternative rock group founded in Kadıköy, Istanbul in 1990. Shaped under the leadership of founder and most constant name in the lineup Cenk Taner, the group took its name from the English equivalent "Sugarcube". They continued their stage life with their first album "Dipten ve Derinden" published in 1991.
### What themes and styles stand out in the group's music? The group is located in Alternative Rock and Rock genres identified with the movement known as "Kadıköy sound". Loneliness of the urban person, social political criticisms, and respect for the Sufi tradition stand out in song lyrics. It is known that the name of their first album is based on Mevlana's quote "either appear as you are or be as you appear" as a sign of the group's philosophical approach.
### Has certainty been achieved regarding the total album count and discographic data of the group? There are serious inconsistencies in sources regarding discographic history. Total album count is specified as 8 studio albums in some sources, while in others it is stated as 9 including solo albums or 10 with the EP. Also, there are inconsistencies regarding the release year of the "İnsülin" album (1997 or 1998) and uncertainties exist regarding whether Cenk Taner's solo albums are included in the group discography.
### What do sources express regarding the group lineup and member information? Besides founder member Cenk Taner, the lineup changes frequently. However, full agreement has not been reached regarding the member lineup and instrument distribution. For example, there is different information regarding whether band member Canay Cengen played bass or electric guitar in the "Kadıköy" album recordings.
### Which are Kesmeşeker's most well-known songs? Works known by wide audiences include tracks like "İstanbul İstanbul", "Ne Zaman Gitti Tren", "Mister Brown", "Gerçekten Özleyince", "S.O.S.", and "Tek Sorumlu". These songs outline the main lines of the group's emotional world in its journey lasting from the 1990s to 2021.
### How has the group's place in music history literature been documented? Thanks to the "Sar Doksana" documentary shot in 2016, the group solidified its place in music history literature. Although the group remains with the expression "important representative" in some definitions due to the lack of official award information and the fact that founder lineup details are not fully registered, it transforms into a narrative written into Istanbul's cultural memory and maintains its influence on the alternative rock scene.