Melike Şahin, the modern Turkish Diva, shining gem from Istanbul, is a singer, songwriter and composer who navigates across Anatolian pop and Middle Eastern sounds, coupling resolutely contemporary and traditional music. Her musical journey started as the lead singer of legendary Turkish psychedelic group BaBa ZuLa, leading her across 5 continents and over 40 countries. She now has become one of the most prominent artists in Turkey with over +++++ streams and sold out shows across the country, earning her nickname of "Turkish Sade” after her memorable performance at London Jazz Festival.
Sahin’s solo career took off in 2017, mustered a solid and rapidly growing audience with the release of her much awaited debut album Nasir in 2021.
Melike Şahin's debut EP, "Nasır,”(meaning callus) delves deep into themes of womanhood, equality and the language of affection, and narrates finding the remedy in one's hands. “Album artistic manifestation’indan bahseden, melike’den bir quote”
Sahin uses every opportunity that’s lent by her wide fame in Turkey to support women and queer communities, albeit the risk of garnering backlash from polarized audiences. She is the first Turkish ambassador on the infamous Spotify EQUAL playlist, being featured on the digital billboard in Times Square. In 2022, Sahin dedicated her prestigious “ELLE Most Stylish Artist of The Year” Award to women and LGBTQ+ communities. The track “BEDELİNİ ÖDEDİM," -I’VE PAID THE PRICE- has transformed into a feminist anthem in Turkey, frequently sung during marches and featured on feminist protest banners. “Melike den bir quote bu konu ile ilgili”
The lyrics "I've paid the price for everything you love in me, I've paid the price for everything we kept silent about, If I fall again, if I get defeated once more, I start over, It's not possible to break, look, I straightened up again...I deserve every inch of this stern smile" represent a poignant narrative within the feminist movement in Turkey, resonating widely across activists combating violence against women and serving as a common expression of resilience and empowerment.
Sahin has also attracted international attention with foreign collaborations over the years. Following their sublime 2019 collaboration, “Sakla Beni”, which was championed by BBC Radio 6 Music’s Lauren Laverne, production king Kutiman and Turkish songstress Melike Sahin reunite on Anatolian psych anthem, “Elmi Tut (Hold My Hand)”. The Turkish & Middle Eastern psych sound of Erkin Koray, Baris Manco, Selda Bağcan, Omar Khorshid & Aris San is brought bang up to date with swathes of hallucinatory synths, filtered basslines, hard-as-nail drum breaks and Kutiman’s magic touch.