Following on from his much-loved EP 'Black Or White' earlier this year, Munich-based artist Cagri Raydemir returns one again to deliver his wondrous new EP 'Absence'.
Channelling more of that broad and immersive prog-inspired aesthetic he has developed for himself over the years, this new four-track collection makes for a wonderfully rich and tantalising listen. With its diverse approach to instrumentation perfectly set to his rousing vocals throughout, 'Absence' sees him continue his ascent as one of the more alluring names doing the rounds today.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has inspired him most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Electric guitar. It all began with a cheap lefty Squier Stratocaster when I started to learn how to play, back when I was 13. I used that guitar in many gigs, and broke a lot of strings.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
Mostly rock/metal. I started to get interested in music via listening to rock/metal bands, the usual suspects. I was a teenager in the 90s, and compared to what we can access today, the amount & diversity of accessible music was much lower & narrower when I was younger.
What was the first album you remember owning?
As far as I remember, the first album I bought was Dangerous by Michael Jackson, in cassette tape format. It is one of my favorite albums. And, after nearly 30 years, it still sounds great.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
When the Water Breaks by Liquid Tension Experiment. Though, I think you need a band and utmost technical prowess to write & perform that. Maybe in another life.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
The end-to-end process for music production is rather intertwined for me. So, I am trying to keep the options open and be flexible, as opposed to having fixed rituals. Nevertheless, for me, the whole process of releasing an EP or album starts with songwriting. In general, I write the lyrics and pick up an acoustic guitar to come up with the song structure, chord progression & vocal melodies. When I believe the song acoustically makes sense, then I start recording, arranging, mixing and so on.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Mammal Hands, Kovacs, Mark Lanegan, Michael League, Tina Dico, Tigran Hamasyan, Magma and more. Although the music I make tends to fall under the generic umbrella of rock (more specifically alternative, acoustic, prog), the genres I listen to are not necessarily guitar-oriented. Throughout the years, my taste has changed & expanded to include singer-songwriter stuff, fusion, jazz, folk.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Depeche Mode. I have been a fan for many years. Recently, I have attended their concert in Munich, during the Memento Mori World Tour. The band’s interaction and combined energy with their audience is unique & strong. They can sound and feel both energetic & dark, which I believe is a good combination for music. And, from a promotional standpoint, opening for such a band would mean multiplying your reach, via playing to tens of thousands of people on a single night.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Music is not my profession. I do it for the love & joy of it. Hence, I do not claim to be a musician. Though, I think making music makes it easier to stay in the moment. Speaking in particular for middle ages, it gets harder to center yourself in the face of increased responsibilities and overall challenges concerning survival. I believe, arts in general (including music) and philosophy are essential tools to utilize, in order to center one’s own self.
And what is the most frustrating part?
I would prefer to use the term challenge instead of frustration. The main challenge is to be able to allocate the amount of time, effort and concentration it takes to have decent & recurring output. In my case, I do bypass many fields in life, to be able to allocate time to music production (mostly weekends & off-days), on top of my daily job/profession.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Occasionally, I get feedback from my close friends regarding specific details of the songs (structure, sound, melodies, lyrics ...). However, I think a major feedback/advice would be something along the lines of “listen to your soul, create in your own terms and do not box yourself in any genre”. Which, I am reminding myself at times.
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Cagri Raydemir's new EP 'Absence' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.