Dinar Bandosu
Istanbul
Dinar Bandosu is a psychedelic rock band from Istanbul, Turkey rooted in the tradition of
70s and 90s Turkish psychedelia. Aiming to transmit their sound universally from the past to
the future, they extend the limits of neo-Ottoman culture. Their music sounds like a mixture of
Erkin Koray, Mogollar, Okay Temiz, Barıs Manco, Mavi Isiklar, Syd Barrett’s “Punk” Floyd, The
Doors, 13th Floor Elevators, Primal Scream, Pixies, The Stooges, Velvet Underground, Joy Division,
Spritualized, 70s’ Turkish movie soundtracks, krautrock and Turkish art music. The early Dinar
Bandosu contributed a Syd Barrett mixed cover of "Interstellar Vegetable Man" to a global fan
compilation, recording project. Dinar Bandosu plays psychedelic groovy Ottoman folk rock and
they have two official releases: "Saykodelikdesik" (2007) and "Aya da Gidelim Osman" (2010)
from Utopya Muzik (www.bagimsizmuzik.com).
"Dinar Bandosu" takes its name originally from one of the underground Turkish poets called
Ece Ayhan. In his one of his writings, there is an imaginary band of the Turkish intellectuals
and artists playing a variety of Western and Turkish musical instruments. Nevertheless, this
band always stood as an imaginary project as these intellectuals and artists never played any
musical instruments. "Dinar" is a town in the province of Afyon (which means opium in English)
in western Turkey. Afyon used to have huge amount of fields of opium until the U.S. banned
production in the 60s.
Dinar Bandosu started playing music by covering psychedelic anthems. In early 2003 they
had an offer from “Have You Got It Yet?” - Syd Barrett global compilation project and they
recorded an interesting version called “Interstellar Vegetable Man” which had good feedback
from critics. Afterwards, they began to record their own songs in 2005. The band was reformed
and after a few member changes, the sound of Dinar Bandosu became a bit garage and more
experimental, neo-Ottoman psychedelia.
“Their music, which is free-minded, is not dependent on the
administrative borders of geography. It is revolutionary and full
of black-humor!”
Dinar Bandosu released their first official album "Saykodelikdesik" in June 2007. The album
was recorded at M.I.A.M., the Center for Advanced Studies in Music at Istanbul Technical
University, by: Aziz Berk Erten, Mehmet Ates (producer) and Dinar Bandosu. It was released
by Ütopya Muzik. The album was well received by the media (even the mainstream). The first
video “En Güzel Kadın Istanbul” from Saykodelikdesik was broadast on the country’s top mucic
channel. After releasing the first album, Dinar Bandosu played numerous summer festivals and
events up until their second album release which was released early 2010.
The second album, "Aya da Gidelim Osman" was recorded by Serhat Ersoz (of the
band "Mogollar") in his recording studio S.E.S. Mixing and mastering was handled by: Serhat
Ersoz, Oguzcan Sehiraltı and Dinar Bandosu. The album was completed by the end of May 2009
and was released from Utopia Music on 1st February 2010.
"Aya da Gidelim Osman" means: "Let's go to the moon Osman". Symbolizing the enslaved
and insulted human kind today. Osman is the name of the dog of band member Asaf Zeki
Yüksel. The concept of the album refers to escape from the world and its unsightliness on the
40th anniversary of the moon landing (if that really happened). The album consists of anti-
racism and sexism, relations, social awareness and unity in the communities through the unique
psychedelic and groovy elements of the band. Additionally, Eugene Hutzovina and Oren Kaplan
from the gypsy-punk band Gogol Bordello participated in the recording of two songs in the
album: "Sulukule Hatırası" [In memory of Sulukule (Sulukule is a historical site in Istanbul where
gypsy musicians used to live and were deported)], and "Gogol Bordello Istanbul'da" (Gogol
Bordello in Istanbul). Both albums are available on www.bagimsizmuzik.com.
Dinar Bandosu was re-formed in mid-2012 and started to write new songs for their third
studio album.
Current members of Dinar Bandosu are: Asaf Zeki YÜKSEL (ney, theremin, trumpet, analog
synthesizer, hose, and backing vocals), Yılma KARATUNA (drums, percussion, and backing
vocals), Ali Asaf SARICA (vocals), Douglas VEGAS (electric guitar and keyboard) and Erdem
AYDAS (bass guitar and baglama).
Official website of the band: www.dinarbandosu.com
MEMBERS
Asaf Zeki YÜKSEL: Analog synthesizer, ney, theremin, trumpet, hose, backing vocals
Yılma KARATUNA: Drums, percussion, backing vocals
Ali Asaf SARICA: Vocals, percussion
Douglas VEGAS: Electric guitar and keyboard
Erdem AYDAS: Bass guitar and baglama
DISCOGRAPHY
2003 | Syd Barrett “Have You Got It Yet? - Complete Works Compilation / Participation
with “Interstellar Vegetable Man”
2006 | “Istanbul Icin Isyan Vakti” (Underground EP), Frekans Music, Istanbul, Turkey
2006 | Frekans Vol. 1 Compilation / Participation with “Saban’in Ruyasi” and “Saykodelikzade
Mahmut Pasa”
2007 | “Saykodelikdesik”, (first studio album), Utopya Music, Istanbul, Turkey
2010 | “Aya da Gidelim Osman”, (second studio album), Utopya Music, Istanbul, Turkey
DinarBandosu’s tracks
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