Mercan Dede is pioneering links between Turkish Sufism and contemporary Western electronic music. Dede, born Akin Alical, actually exists as two musicians - as Mercan Dede he is now renowned as one of the world's foremost Turkish Sufi musicians, each year travelling globally to work with dervish musicians. And as Arkin Allen he can be found as a DJ at rave events across North America where he specialises in hard techno beats.
Dede is Turkish born but has resided for some time in Montreal. As a musician and producer he subtly fuses the Eastern spiritual traditions of Sufi music with contemporary ambient sounds to create a unique mix of old and new, sacred and secular, East and West. An adherent of Sufi spirituality, Dede brings his holistic understanding of sound, the rhythms of nature and of the universe to his interpretations of Sufi maqams, as well as to his original compositions. Dede is an accomplished musician, playing the ney (reed flute), bendir, frame drum, zarp and udu drum, and has produced and played on four solo recordings: Sufi Dreams (1997), Journey of a Dervish (1999), Seyahatname (2001), and NAR (2002). He has also worked as a producer and performed live with the likes of Peter Murphy, Natasha Atlas, Omar Sosa, Maharaja (formerly Musafir) and Groove Ala Turca.
The Mercan Dede Ensemble, founded in 1997, represents the culmination of Dede's extensive musical experience over the past decade, both in Turkey and North America. The ensemble includes both Turkish and Canadian musicians in its fluid line-up.
Dede believes the traditional Sufi understanding of music as a means to uplift and harmonize the soul is reflected in the rave/nightclub scenes of Europe and North America. Dede's ability to mix Eastern rhythms with house and techno beats has found him playing everywhere from underground raves to Womex in Essen. The word 'dervish' means threshold; a Turkish newspaper recently suggested Dede was a "dervish for the modern world."
Garth Cartwright, October 2003
Read other peoples comments
Wonderfull display of modern sufi music, there is an english sufi musican called "Celt-Islam" his band Celt-islam-soundsystem , is the best so far i have herd that truly combines western and eastern sufi elements , check out there sites ; www.celtislam.co.uk
www.myspace.com/celtislamsoundsystem
maybe celt islam and mercen should collaborate ? that would be a very intresting combination ideed, wa alaykumsalaam , abdur-rahmaan al inglisi
ABDUR-RAHMAAN
I think he is great....lovely man and great inspiration to the younger generation. Sufi music is strongly related to Alevisim....which is culture spread over Turkey and is not really excepted by the Muslims in Turkey...but with Mercan Dede's help...we are spreading the notion of shaman culture.
Leyla
He doesn't even know how to play Ney, he is just a fashion star...
Forget him if you want real sufi music...
realist
you are the best musican hard . and i wish you the best luck thrugh you music journey.
rhs .from saudi arabia
Wonderful music, I have two of Dede's CDs add would love to see the music played live - not too long I hope!
Steve B
he is fantastic dj , his music and mixes deeply impressing ,
erdem
real great songs but very hard to find them. iΒ΄m searching for months now and can`t find some of his records!
Tolga from germany
perfect sound. thanks
Bayram
I heard this band in a chill out complation before and then bought one of there album's. I think its a very unique sound and musically takes me into another dimension. I cant think of anything similar around!
Jake from London
you are the best Mercan Dede, insallah you win this award .........
Emine from Paris
just a perfect sound...
feride
I think he is wonderful musician,I hope he will win this awards...
Burak Malcok
make him the winner;-)
yeliz
he is great!!! I like his music
Alex
Just great! This was the first time that I listed to his music. I enjoyed very much. How come I did not know him till now?
Hakan Comlekci
cool music making souls hot
sencer
Classical Sufi music is an ancient form of trance which promotes a feeling of universal love. Illusion? Perhaps. But it works. Sufi music must survive and evolve since we desperately need to develop ways to express sacred love through electronica. Mercan Dede is a pioneer in a potential musical revolution.
I would have chosen "Hayalname" from Mercan Dede's "Seyehatname" album to better demonstrate the power of Arkin's vision.
Bulut from Madison, WI - USA
Intellectually uplifting, masterfully fused,silky smooth, trance-like melodies are hallmarks of Mercan Dede.
Mec
This is something incredible, I was really impressioned. Now, then I can say that I enjoy music. Thank you very much...
Frank Erdogan
finally a young konevi- a reflexiond of RUMii appear with soul and sound.. keep on going brother..
mehmet zincirli
Exellent music, it is a mixture between oriental and western music. Something to enjoin, just great!!
Ayse Ates
Masterfully fused, silky smooth, trance-like exotic melodies which are intellectually uplifting!
Cem
This guy is pushing the bounderies of classical Turkish Sufi music - you've
got to see him live to experience the trance !
Etem
I have had the privilege of growing up together with this guy in Turkey. He is a sensitive human-being and the owner of an ever-searching dervish soul. May he find peace in music and let others do so for the rest of his life.
Tayfun from Toronto
Sufi and Ney , I am glad to see and listen on the Web
Just Great!
Derya M. Kingston
I heard their music at Montreux Jazz Festival & Jazz a Viennes. It was incredible, it lifted my heart and my feet in dance, I would like to hear more and more from this incredible group.
Sally
