Mor ve Ötesi

Mor ve Ötesi is a Turkish alternative rock band formed in Istanbul in 1995. The original lineup consisted of Harun Tekin (vocals and guitar), Kerem Kabadayı (drums), Derin Esmer (vocals and guitar), and Alper Tekin (bass). The band’s name translates to “Purple and Beyond,” a play on the Turkish word “morötesi,” meaning “ultraviolet.”

In September 1996, they released their debut album, “Şehir” (“The City”), and performed their first live concert in Ankara. Following the release, bassist Alper Tekin departed and was replaced by Burak Güven. Their second album, “Bırak Zaman Aksın” (“Let Time Flow”), was released in January 1999. Shortly after, guitarist and vocalist Derin Esmer left the band and was succeeded by Kerem Özyeğen. The 1999 Kocaeli earthquake influenced the band’s thematic direction, leading them to explore more social and political issues in their music.

In August 2001, Mor ve Ötesi released their third album, “Gül Kendine” (“Smile at Yourself”). This period marked a shift in their musical style and lyrical content, attributed in part to the addition of guitarist Kerem Özyeğen. In May 2003, they released the “Yaz” EP, which included a cover of Ajda Pekkan‘s song “Yaz Yaz Yaz.”

The band’s fourth album, “Dünya Yalan Söylüyor” (“The World is Lying”), was released in March 2004. This album became their most commercially successful, selling over 300,000 copies. It featured political commentary, particularly criticizing U.S. activities in Iraq and globally. In the same year, they received a Golden Orange Award for their single “Bir Derdim Var,” which was part of the soundtrack for the film “Mustafa Hakkında Her Şey.”

On May 9, 2006, Mor ve Ötesi released their fifth album, “Büyük Düşler” (“Great Hopes”). The album addressed political issues in Turkey and personal experiences of the band members, including themes of loss and relationships. Three singles were released from this album: “Şirket,” “Küçük Sevgilim,” and “Ayıp Olmaz Mı?” “Büyük Düşler” was named Best Album of the Year by Rolling Stone Turkey and Best Rock Album of the Year by Blue Jean magazine.

In December 2007, Turkey’s national broadcaster TRT announced that Mor ve Ötesi would represent Turkey at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 with the song “Deli” (“Lunatic”). They qualified from the semi-finals and finished in seventh place in the grand final, held in Belgrade, Serbia, on May 24, 2008, scoring 138 points.

Following their participation in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest, Mor ve Ötesi continued to produce music and perform extensively. In late 2008, they released the album “Başıbozuk,” which included new studio tracks, live recordings, and remixes. The album featured the song “İddia” as its lead single.

In 2010, the band released their sixth studio album, “Masumiyetin Ziyan Olmaz” (“Your Innocence Won’t Go to Waste”). The album consisted of 11 tracks, with “Yorma Kendini” (“Don’t Tire Yourself”) as the lead single. The band maintained their collaboration with producer Tarkan Gözübüyük for this project.

Their seventh studio album, “Güneşi Beklerken” (“Waiting for the Sun”), was released in December 2012. This album comprised 12 tracks, with “Oyunbozan” (“Spoilsport”) as the lead single. The band worked with producer Serdar Ateşer for this project.

In 2016, Mor ve Ötesi celebrated their 20th anniversary by releasing a special box set containing all of their published work. They also released the single “Anlatamıyorum” (“I Can’t Explain”) in the same year, accompanied by a music video directed by Serdar Ferit, filmed in Istanbul and Helsinki.

The band released their eighth studio album in 2022, “Sirenler” (“Sirens”). The album included tracks such as “Forsa” and “Dünyaya Bedel,” both released as singles prior to the album’s launch. The band held an album launch event at Çiçek Pasajı in Istanbul on January 21, 2022, during which they filmed the music video for the song “İstiklal.”