If you think of names synonymous with Studio 54, Istanbul’s AHMET SENDIL does not necessarily spring to mind. However the veteran DJ and producer started his illustrious career at the Turkish leg of the club back in the late ‘80s. With over 20 years in the business Sendil is attributed with popularising dance music in his home country. Although he admits Turkish techno is not the most banging.
“Honestly, I don’t like Istanbul at music,” says Sendil ahead of his upcoming Australian tour. “Here nobody appreciates your success, there is a lot of bad propaganda, no support and no love. Istanbul is nothing with music; there aren’t any great clubs or crowds. It’s so bad for a city which has a 20 million population because the most popular genre is commercial music.”
Ahmet Sendil has enjoyed residencies in some of the world’s top underground clubs including Switch, Club 14 and Club 20. He developed a strong following in the newly burgeoning minimal scene, but wanted a ‘real job’ so turned his attention towards production.
“After DJing for so long, I wanted to go into producing to start a regular life,” he explains. “Before my marriage my life was not so regular. Also the music sector was changing, to the point where you cannot be only just a DJ. You need to be a musician to get gigs, to get fame… you know everybody is DJ.”
With a Friday night residency on the hugely popular French FG DJ Radio (formally Radio FG), Sendil was able to push his minimal sound even further.
“In past years I had my own minimal style,” Sendil says. “Anyone who listens to my new tracks on Beatport could say ‘Yes, that’s Ahmet’. I name it ‘sexy happy minimal’. I have been performing with Radio FG since it was launched [1981]. They used to do live radio sets there; I miss my live performances.”
The station exclusively broadcasts dance music, which suited Ahmet perfectly for a time, but it wasn’t long before he felt the need to expand to further outlets in order to distribute his new production. In 2003 the producer launched his first label M-Vitamine to release his own tracks and that of his friends. It wasn’t long before a second label was in the pipeline.
“Some of my friends and I were trying out some electro tracks in late 2007,” remembers Ahmet. “One of my friends gave me the idea of trying different genres with a new label, and so Bosphorus Underground was born. The name comes from a rap star in Turkey, he always used ‘Bosphorus Underground’ in his lyrics.”
The BU has given Sendil the freedom to experiment in other styles of dance. He feels his first love, minimal, is not as fashionable as it has been in recent years.
“The genre that I was so popular with has lost popularity,” he says. “I tried to create a new sound and new style for myself.”
You can catch tasty Turk Ahmet Sendil and his ‘sexy, happy minimal’ at Effigy on Thursday September 9 at Hippo Bar. Supported by Yohan Strauss, String Theory, Fourthstate, Luke Ellis, Biggie and Gabriel Gilmour. Free entry. Grouse!
