In this interview about their upcoming album, "Her Şey Dahil" (All Inclusive), Vurgu and Zeynep Sağdaş sincerely answered our questions about their past and future. They are excited to be the first in Turkey to combine R&B and Rap in an album. We will be releasing this album on our website soon, and at the end of the interview, we present to you the song "Yalan Bu Dünya" (This World is a Lie), featuring Deniz. Enjoy listening…

BeX : First of all, could you please introduce yourself in detail for those who will be meeting you for the first time? Who are Zeynep Sağdaş and Vurgu?

Zeynep Sağdaş : I was born in 1983. For me, music has always been the most important thing in life. I started making music professionally in 2002. I was featured as a duet vocalist on Soner Arıca's Best Of album. Okan Bayülgen, Yaşar, Hakan Altun, and others were also on that album. I was also featured as a noname artist alongside them. It was a great experience for me, and above all, a beginning. After that, I participated in several similar projects. I was featured on a few albums released in France, and Mercan Dede was even on one of them. These were New Age style works. I did backing vocals for Demir Demirkan at two concerts. I made a jingle for Alem FM with Ali Güven. I also made a jingle for PowerTürk. A work I did with Burak (Vurgu) on Radyo Hit Mix has fallen into their hands and is currently in the top 20 =) I met Burak in March 2008. At the time, they were working as Olympos. After we met, things progressed to the point where we wanted to do something together. Since I've been listening to R&B, Soul, and Blues music since I was little, I thought I should try something like that too, something that would add something to my skills, so I started working on rap. This has greatly contributed to my songwriting and composing. And now, I believe we are making a collaborative album with Burak, which is the first time in Turkey that R&B and rap are combined. I'm also featured as a feature artist on the upcoming album of people I've worked with underground, including Vurgu, Beta, Sir Mc, and Gekko. That's what I can say about myself.

Emphasis : My name is Burak. I'm currently a university student. I started with the guitar. I started playing guitar when I was 9-10 years old. I have 9 years of flamenco training. This led me to start rap. I started with rap, mostly in a melodic vocal style. I've collaborated with Zeynep, Pit10, Beta, Sir MC, Frekans, Cevap, and many others. I've been actively involved in rap music for 3 years. I started this work somehow under the umbrella of Olympos Records.

BeX : What is the name of your upcoming album, which is in the final stages of preparation? And can you tell us a little about the album?

Zeynep Sağdaş : The album is titled "Herşey Dahil " (All Inclusive). It will have 11+1 tracks. There's no intro or outro. We didn't feel the need to include one. It's R&B, so we didn't feel the need for an intro and outro. Also, the reason we say 11+1 is because the features are very good, but there's one feature we're waiting for; if it's ready by the time the album comes out, it will be on the album. We don't want to give its name now, let it be a surprise =)

BeX : Why is the album called "All Inclusive"?

Zeynep Sağdaş : The reason is this. We had a song called "Gazla," it had a great story. I was playing something, Burak was kidnapping me in his car, and so on. It was a good song, and when we looked at the beats on the album, they were hard beats, and we started with the intention of making an album with a hard concept. But then suddenly, different types of beats started to appear on the album, so it became "Everything Included." So we said, since it's "Everything Included," let's call the album "Everything Included" because it really has everything in it, even a love song! =)

Emphasis : The album includes songs like "Love," hard battle tracks, and all kinds of songs. That's why we named it "Everything Included."

BeX : Who are the artists we'll see featured on the album?

Highlight : The confirmed names are Pit10, Hayki, Yas, and Deniz. These four names are currently confirmed, and as we said, there will be one more name, if we can get it ready.

BeX : So, who have you worked with as a beatmaker?

Highlights : The beats feature Rashness, Oxxe, CashBeat Prod. beats, Sir MC, Hayki, and Willy Boy.

Zeynep Sağdaş : The song we made with Hayki and Yas, the four of us in one track, turned out really well, listeners can already look forward to it =) It's a really original and beautiful track.

Emphasis : The album recordings were made in my own home studio. It's a really good album, we wholeheartedly endorse it. Because we worked very hard on it. The beats and features are excellent, and we definitely believe it's one of the best albums of recent times.

Zeynep Sağdaş : I absolutely believe it's a very successful album, and I'll put my signature on it. Both the names and the concept will attract a lot of attention; everyone can be sure of that. We did everything we could. It's an underground album, and we know how important the underground is. I especially believe in the importance of the underground. The overground scene has its own requirements, but we made this album underground, and we did it with pleasure. We say, wait and don't withhold your support.

BeX : You must be following the internet and forums. What would you like to say about the comments and posts of the listeners in the forums?

Zeynep Sağdaş : Criticism is important. People are motivated to do things on their own, and it's something they genuinely want, but I try not to take criticism too seriously. Because I'm trying to do something, and even if I consult my parents, they might say things that would discourage me or dampen my enthusiasm, even just out of a protective instinct. But those are their truths and their falsehoods. So, if I'm doing something, and I'm sure of my decision, and I'm putting my signature on what I've done, then subsequent criticism doesn't really change anything for me. I'll look at it, listen, and improve myself accordingly, but prejudiced comments in forums don't really bother me. I won't be swayed by praise, nor will I be crushed by criticism. People shouldn't succumb to jealousy and should write their genuinely well-intentioned opinions. Please, don't write defamatory comments about someone just because their fan disagreed with someone else.

Emphasis : I think this: I left Olympos, and this information was shared on these forums. However, some comments were along the lines of, "How long was he at Olympos before he left?" But nobody knows that Pit10 is my friend of three years, and we still work together. There's no animosity between us; he's even featured on our album. People can be hurtful without knowing the facts; nobody realizes how much effort went into these projects, nobody understands that, I think.

BeX : There are certain criteria that listeners use. For example, you might have been in Olymp for 3 years, but your name hasn't been mentioned even 3 times, and according to the listeners, it's like you're not really there, unfortunately.

BeX : The question is, what was your reason for leaving Olympost?

Emphasis : Group work isn't as easy as it seems, especially in Olympos. It's true there have been many people coming and going, but the people currently working at Olympos are still my friends. The new members are also my friends. Our paths may have diverged musically, but we haven't parted ways as friends, and I think Tuhan joining was good for Olympos, not bad.

Zeynep Sağdaş : They want to get together and make a song, but they can't. Because Burak lives in Tuzla, they are very far apart. That also had an effect. Also, Burak wanted to make a solo album, but Server (Pit10) said, "If you're in Olympos, let the album come out of Olympos," but since they couldn't find a common time, Burak's album was postponed. So, it's a separation that happened due to time and distance.

Emphasis : Group work is really difficult. For example, I live in Tuzla, Sever (Pit10) lives in Etiler, so we can't always get together, but we've only parted ways musically. For instance, Pit10 has a feature on our upcoming album. We've only separated as a group. Pit10, Beta, and Tuhan are still my friends; we have no problems whatsoever.

BeX : In the underground scene, who are the names you follow and find successful?

Highlight : Deniz, Pit10, Hayki, Yas, and Sansar Salvo are the five names that caught my attention. The others seem ordinary to me, but of course there are good names out there; these are my favorites.

Zeynep Sağdaş : Well, I follow everyone. I listen to everything in the entire music industry, not just underground work. I like Deniz, whom I follow. Actually, I'm looking for a female vocalist who does rap or R&B. I met Yas during the album we made with Vurgu. I liked Yas's songs and vocals. I really like Gekko. There are probably names we've missed, apologies =)

BeX : Could you tell us a little about the topics covered in the album? For example, are there any works related to current events, wars, or the situation in our country? Or diss tracks?
Zeynep Sağdaş : Let me speak for myself. Yes, there are certain names I've been subtly criticizing, that's true. On the other hand, there are also things that bothered me and that I mentioned in my diary. Especially recently, regarding the events in Palestine-Gaza, I thought about doing something, but I didn't because I thought too many people would turn this into a publicity stunt and use it for their own gain. We looked at everything more generally.

Emphasis : Yes, exactly as Zeynep said, really. The album contains all kinds of tracks. There are love songs and battle tracks. I didn't touch on any political issues. There are one or two people I criticized, but they'll understand what I mean.

Zeynep Sağdaş : We have a song called "King of the Deceivers," in which we made fun of some people quite a bit =). Anyone who wants to can take offense, it turned out to be a pretty funny song.

BeX : Are there any songs or tracks you're considering making a music video for?

Emphasis : We'll have a song called "Gazla" (Move Up). We're planning to shoot a music video for it. It's a perfect song for a music video; its theme is a bit like a short film. The people shooting the video are a great team, professional people who complement each other well. They're Okan Bayülgen's assistants. They genuinely enjoy what they do, and that's what's important to us.

BeX : Rapstar is a competition that has recently come to the forefront, what are your thoughts on it?

Zeynep Sağdaş : I'm going to talk about all the competitions, like Rapstar and Popstar, in general. Television is something completely different. I especially want to say this to people who are working hard and want to get somewhere in this field: Keep trying. Don't give your money to these kinds of competitions because they are television projects, and the whole thing is based on ratings. You go on air, they get ratings and money through you, you become famous for 15 minutes, and after that program ends, it's really hard to be recognized again. So everyone should continue to work and create. If you strive, you will eventually reach your desired goal.

Emphasis : Everyone earns their own money, ultimately. I think there's no such thing as bad publicity. An MC who appears on the show might genuinely be liked by a producer. If they are liked, their career could flourish. So, Rapstar could be a program that supports rappers. Even if it wasn't created with that purpose in mind, I think it's still an opportunity.

BeX : Emphasis, could you tell us a little about the projects you're planning for the future?

Emphasis : We have another project coming up soon, it hasn't started yet but a lot of it is ready. The beats are ready, and we know who we'll be collaborating with. It will most likely be finished by the end of the summer. Besides that, there might be a solo album of my own after that.

BeX : Zeynep, is that you?

Zeynep Sağdaş : I estimate a single will be released in the summer of 2009, and a pop album in the fall. I also definitely want to make an R&B solo album for the underground scene. For this, I'm looking for good beatmakers who can create R&B beats. Besides Willy Boy =) And I'm looking for male or female vocalists who can sing R&B well. I will definitely make this underground album.

BeX : Finally, is there anything else you'd like to say?

Zeynep Sağdaş : I want to emphasize this again. Whether you're in Pop, Metal, or Rap, the people who take you where you are are your audience. Everyone should really put in the effort and create something, and listeners should examine and research who puts in the effort and rate them accordingly. I thank everyone who has been by my side.

Emphasis : Everyone should earn their living through hard work and put their signature on it. I think they shouldn't listen to anyone else's opinions. I believe that every action you undertake is your own security. Once you've secured that for yourself, listening to what others say becomes pointless. Everyone should have confidence in themselves, and thank you to everyone who supports me.

BeX : I would also like to thank you on behalf of Assassination.De. Thank you for dedicating your time to this interview and for answering our questions so sincerely.

www.myspace.com/zeynepsagdas

www.myspace.com/vurgu55