Turkish Psych

Turkish psych emerged as Turkish musicians absorbed the global psychedelic wave and merged it with local folk repertoire. Early rock groups began adapting türkü (folk songs) and Ottoman‑influenced melodies into amplified bands, employing fuzz guitar, Farfisa/VOX organs, and electrified bağlama. This synthesis paralleled the rise of "Anadolu pop/rock," a broader movement blending Western rock with Anatolian folk.

Artists such as Erkin Koray, Barış Manço, Cem Karaca, and bands like Moğollar, Üç Hürel, and Bunalımlar defined the sound: modal riffs, odd‑meter grooves (9/8, 7/8), and poetic, often socially aware lyrics. Producers favored saturated tape, plate/spring reverb, and phasing, while the bağlama or guitar often carried folk melodies rendered with psychedelic timbres. The period yielded numerous 45s and LPs that later became crate‑digging staples.

Political turbulence, shifting commercial tastes, and the 1980 coup disrupted the scene. Some artists moved toward different styles or left the country; rock’s mainstream presence contracted, and many psych‑leaning recordings went out of print, circulating mainly among collectors.

International reissue labels and DJs reignited interest in the 2000s, revealing the depth of the original catalog. A modern revival followed, with acts like BaBa Zula, Gaye Su Akyol, Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek, and international projects such as Altın Gün channeling classic aesthetics—fuzzed saz, modal hooks, and asymmetrical rhythms—through contemporary production. Turkish psych is now recognized globally as a distinctive regional branch of psychedelic music with ongoing influence.