Turkish Producer Serhat Durmus Dives Into His Latest Single

Serhat Durmus is a trailblazing trap producer lighting up the scene in Turkey with tracks that tie his unique influences together in harmony.

Despite being 22 years old, Turkey-based artist Serhat aka Serhat Durmus has already spent a decade in and around the music scene. Widely considered not just a rising icon for trap producers, but a pioneer in the local Turkish electronic music community, his vision and technical skill are developed well beyond his years. This makes sense, given that Serhat’s love affair with music, and in particular drum patterns and production, began at the age of 12.

Today, Serhat continues to push himself to create new music that uniquely blends elements from his traditional culture and classic trap, such that it is both accessible to international audiences but also speaks to the inner identities of his Turkish fans. His newest single, “My Feelings” featuring Georgia Ku, is a reflection of this creative vision – using Serhat’s production as an epic backdrop against Ku’s vocals. Any fans of tracks from the likes of Major Lazer and DJ Snake will flock to the vibes he sets on this one.

After listening to his releases, one thing is certain – Serhat is establishing himself as a powerful voice of this generation of music. His success in this realm has already been confirmed with massive streaming numbers and domination of platforms like TikTok as well, so when we had the chance to chat with him we jumped at the opportunity. Check out “My Feelings” on your preferred platform and read on for the conversation.

Stream Serhat – “My Feelings” (feat. Georgia Ku) on YouTube:

Hi Serhat, thanks so much for taking the time to chat! You’re a leading trap music producer coming out of the scene in Turkey. How did your journey with music begin? Can you tell us more about how you got into music production in the first place?

When I was in my early teens, I used to hang around in a local music studio with my friends. I didn’t really make any music yet, so I was mostly watching them create. One day, a scheduled drummer did not show up so I was encouraged to try it out and it sounded surprisingly good for actually playing for the first time. My friends thought that I had practiced without them knowing but I actually hadn’t. From that day on, I was hooked on music and I got my first electric drum kit and later on, got into recording and producing myself.

Over the past few years, you’ve become known as a rising star in the trap music scene. Why did you decide to produce this style of music specifically and what about your sound do you think sets you apart?

I’ve been listening to trap music for a long time so it came quite naturally and it has become a culture for me rather than just a genre. Trap is the type of genre where I feel that I can express my energy in the best way. The sounds I use are often ethnic and I try to combine traditional Turkish sounds and melodies together with more atmospheric modern electronic sounds.

You have a new single with Georgia Ku called “My Feelings” that’s due out soon, can you tell us a little more about this track and the production process behind it?

I believe “My Feelings” captivates my signature sound of combining big soundscapes and atmospheric vibes with heavy bass elements. When I first heard Georgia’s voice, I was really shocked. Her voice and feel is just amazing so I’m very happy with the result.

When you created this song did you experience any challenges, creative or otherwise, due to the ongoing pandemic? How has COVID affected how you have approached these recent releases versus those from the pre-COVID era?

COVID has put us all in a very, very sad and tough situation. Everyone is having a hard time. Pre-COVID I was always able to get together with friends and collaborators to create music or go out and have a drink. Unfortunately, these kinds of things are impossible now. Apart from that, I’m happy to be able to work from home and I hope you’re all safe!

How do you feel about being known as a leader in the Turkish electronic music community? Is there a lot of pressure that comes with that, and how do you navigate it?

It makes me proud to be in a position to represent my country with my music. To challenge myself and not to bore my fans I try to create songs with different vibes all the time. My fans are constantly expecting new music from me, and when you have that sort of pressure it makes me work even harder.

For those who haven’t had the chance to experience the electronic music scene in Turkey, what do you feel makes it stand out as unique and special? Is there anything you think would surprise people?

It’s definitely the instruments. We use a lot of ethnic and traditional instruments, and I think that’s what makes it different.

Who are three other acts coming out of Turkey that you think we should have our eye on and check out?

You should definitely check out BÖ, Noes, and Akra.

Last, what’s next for Serhat? Any new projects we should look out for?

I have some big surprises for you all! I have so many songs that I can’t wait to get out there. You can expect a lot of music from me during 2021 and as soon as the pandemic is over, I hope to get out touring and playing live for you!