The "Welcome To Bilkent" Concert of 2006, organized by the
Bilkent University Student Council, took place at the Bilkent Odeon on the 19th of
September. KARGO, one of the most popular Turkish rock bands, was on stage for Bilkent
newcomers and other Bilkenters. As Bilkent News, we were given the chance to talk to the
band (Koray Candemir on vocals and guitar, Serkan Çeliköz on keyboards and back vocals,
Selim Öztürk on guitar and Burak Karataş on drums) before they took the stage.
Bilkent News: What was your reason for creating an album composed only of
cover songs?
Koray Candemir: For five months, we performed a bar program and we played
these cover songs there. At first, it was just for fun. Since people listening to the
covers were having so much fun, we were also enjoying the songs. Listeners' responses to
the songs were so astounding and remarkable that the record company suggested we make an
album out of the covers and we thought, "why not?" However, the production phase
was not as easy as we expected it to be.
Bilkent News: Is there a new album coming out in the near future?
Koray Candemir: Probably in one year's time there will be one.
Bilkent News: Do you feel fulfilled with what you have accomplished until
now?
In other words, are you satisfied with where you stand musically?
Selim Öztürk: We truly are. It's been twelve years in our musical
career as a band and now we are totally in control of what we do.
Koray Candemir: Yet, there are still some things that we want to do in
the future, both in terms of music and lyrics. Something in English may be on our agenda.
Bilkent News: For the last few years, the increase in the number of
Turkish rock bands has been the hot spot of the music industry. Do you think this
expansion will continue?
Koray Candemir: This boost, this expansion, is an illusion. We indicated
this two years ago. There is no such thing as the sudden and intense increase in the
number of Turkish rock bands. Excellent music is being created, great breakthrough Turkish
rock bands emerge; this is actually what's going on.
Bilkent News: Do you see a difference between Ankara and İstanbul, in
terms of the opportunities that these cities provide for new bands to emerge?
Selim Öztürk: Usually, great bands come out of Ankara; they may even be
much better than the ones present in Istanbul. However, they should always go to İstanbul
in order to make a breakthrough, in order to show how good they are and can be, because
Istanbul is the center for music.
Bilkent News: Do you know of any bands from Ankara that can be successful
in Istanbul?
Serkan Çeliköz: Ankaralı Turgut. Why doesn't he go to İstanbul
anyway?
Bilkent News: If you were not a member of Kargo, what would you rather be
doing?
Serkan Çeliköz: I was educated in music all my life, so I can't think
of doing anything other than music.
Koray Candemir: Music, once again, would be our field of interest, I
guess. Even if Kargo didn't exist, we would still be active in terms of music.
Interview: İpek Atik
(COMD/IV)
Photograph: Yeliz Atıcı (COMD/IV)
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