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PHOTOS © SERKAN TAYCAN<br />
Mercan is emblematic of this new<br />
identity. The Sufi -electronica artist<br />
who combines Rumi teachings and DJ<br />
decks with performances from Whirling<br />
Dervishes and gypsy musicians and splits<br />
his time between I ˙ stanbul and Montreal,<br />
has a global fan base and has won<br />
numerous World Music accolades.<br />
“I think my music tells the story of<br />
Turkey as a whole. A meeting of both<br />
modern and ancient worlds in the same<br />
country makes Turkey a magical place. My<br />
music simply refl ects who I am, and where<br />
I come from. For me I ˙ stanbul is the city<br />
where angels and demons walk hand in<br />
hand, it is a city of contrasts.”<br />
This thinking led him to invite Ceza,<br />
a rap star from the Asian side of the city,<br />
to collaborate on the track I ˙ stanbul, an<br />
electronic reworking of a Turkish folk song<br />
on Mercan’s latest album 800. “With rap<br />
music you expect to hear some ‘Hey, yo!’<br />
type lyrics. But Ceza writes something<br />
that is exceptionally poetic, with almost<br />
classical overtones, such as: ‘the Marmara<br />
Sea is a treble clef and every seagull is a<br />
single note.’”<br />
A track that combines East and West,<br />
the past and present, in a poetic package<br />
of unexpected contradictions could only<br />
mean one thing: I ˙ stanbul.<br />
Babylon, 3 S . ehbender Sokak, Tünel,<br />
Beyog˘lu, babylon.com.tr<br />
doublemoon.com.tr<br />
kalan.com<br />
easyJet flies to...<br />
Here, Kolektif I ˙ stanbul<br />
use various instruments<br />
to achieve their fusion<br />
sound, from this tuba,<br />
to Bulgarian bagpipes,<br />
an oboe and a Turkish<br />
lute; opposite, albums<br />
released by Ahmet Ulug˘’s<br />
Doublemoon Records<br />
Istanbul from three destinations.<br />
See our insider guide on page 144.<br />
Book online at easyJet.com<br />
WHERE<br />
TO STAY IN<br />
ISTANBUL<br />
UNDER €50<br />
ANTIQUE HOTEL<br />
Stay at this budgetfriendly<br />
crash pad and<br />
you’ll be a short taxi ride<br />
from the burgeoning<br />
fusion scene of the city’s<br />
nightlife hub, Beyog˘lu.<br />
Doubles from €35, book<br />
at hotels.easyJet.com<br />
UNDER €100<br />
OTTOMAN PARK<br />
In the heart of<br />
Sultanahmet with its<br />
must-see sights, this<br />
luxury hotel is also close<br />
to popular nightspot<br />
Nardis Jazz Club.<br />
Doubles from €84, book<br />
at hotels.easyJet.com<br />
UNDER €200<br />
TOMTOM SUITES<br />
After you’ve soaked<br />
up the fusion vibe at<br />
Babylon, totter back<br />
to one of these luxury<br />
suites boasting<br />
bespoke comforts.<br />
From €180, book at<br />
hotels.easyJet.com
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