1) If we assume that we’re in the zero point. Could you tell us about Coskun Akmeric’s journey up to the present?
I had a pretty usual childhood but music was always a prominent part of my life. I went to London for university in 2006, and lived there for 6 years in total. After university I studied Audio Engineering and Music Production and then started Gecko Chamber with my friend Cem Serter. Through the unexpected success of the project we found ourselves doing what we do. One of the most special experiences of this unexpected success was definetely performing at Rock’n Coke in 2013. Since I moved back to İstanbul, I’m producing and performing solo under my real name but Gecko Chamber is still an active project. In the beginning of this year, things started to speed up after I got signed to Varied Records. Also in February, we launched a project with Selen Gülün and performed twice in Istanbul. We are going to record our first two tracks in June.
2) For many of us, electronic music was not the first music we heard. How did you become involved in electronic music?
I’ve been playing music since I was a kid. In the earlier days, classical music was in the forefront because I was playing the piano. But as I grew into my teenage years I took an interest in Rock and Metal music and of course started playing the guitar. During the university years I started experimenting with synthesizers and recording stuff. I guess after that point electronic music started to get ahead of other styles for me and establish a significant importance in my life.
3) It’s very common with the listeners of electronic music to start DJing or even take a step further and undertake producing. How did you start making your own music, what set you off?
I started the other way around. At first, my only aim was to just make music and, I never thought I’d be a DJ. When I came to the point that I was comfortable with playing my productions to other people, we formed Gecko Chamber and started playing our music live. After a while, due to increasing demand, and our live set being only 1 hour as opposed to 2-3 hours club slots, we continued performing as DJs.
4) I think that the discographies of producers are their audio journals. When I listened to your music, the first thing that striked me was the deepness of bass and, minimal sounds evolving around it. How would you describe your music?
I think music is the silence between the sounds like Claude Debussy said. Building on that idea, I attach great importance to silence in my productions. Sometimes even more than the sound! If I were to describe my music I guess I would say; psychedelic noise games somewhere between Dub Techno and Deep House.
5) In the past year, you have released many tracks on different labels. Which labels did you work with until today?
The first track of my solo career was released on Low Brow Music. After that I released EPs and tracks on Mainakustik, Houseworx, and Look Ahead Records. In January 2014, I joined Varied Records from Germany and released an EP on their sub-label Reduced. Right now, I work exclusively with Varied/Reduced but there are always exceptions and, one of them will come out this summer on Hannover based Yippiee.
6) I’m sure a musician as productive as yourself must have numerous sources of inspiration. What are you muses? Is İstanbul one of them?
The sound itself inspires me the most. The sound, and the psychological and psychedelic effects of something that’s thought to be intangible but in fact as concrete as a rock. Naturally, the city I live in and my surroundings always have a great deal of influence in my work like anyone who does anything creative. Also the place where I spent more than half of my adult life; London, and the places I visit and explore too. But the driving forces for me are moods and emotions more than places and objects.
7) How would you position yourself in the electronic music scene in 3 years?
In 3 years I’ll be 30 years old, and as I was organizing my thoughts I suddenly realized my thoughts got too serious. Therefore I pass on this one.
8) As a musician who performs in Turkey, what do you think about our local electronic music scene?
There are too many DJs. There’re some small organizations and communities that I find successfull and decent. Like every other style, electronic music is not just a genre of music but is a culture. Although the music is good, I think the culture itself didn’t quite settle in our country yet but it’s rapidly developing.
9) Finally, where can we catch you perform in the near future?
In İstanbul, I’ll be performing at Rave Mag’s party on the 13th of May and after that at Minipax Festival on the 21st of June. But you can listen to my radio show every Monday between 23:00 – 00:00 (GMT +2) at Radyo Babylon. Other than that, there’s this interesting project; I’m doing the soundtrack of a play called “Kalem” by Mekan Artı which will participate in the 19th Istanbul Theatre Festival. The premier is on the 3rd of June at Salon İKSV.