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ROCKER DISCOVERS HIS ORIGINS
Hurriyet Daily News
Oct 20 2011
Turkey
Turkish Rock and alternative musician YaÅ~_ar Kurt is a highly symbolic
figure for conscientious objectors; his dissident song, 'Korku' (Fear),
which was released in the late 1990s, virtually amounted to a political
march and resulted in his trial for 'treason.' Kurt recently spoke to
the Daily News about the release of his latest album, 'GuneÅ~_ Kokusu'
(Smell of the Sun), as well as his Armenian origins. 'I am trying to
discover myself. Every individual ought to be free in this decision,'
he says
Prominent Turkish rock and alternative musician, YaÅ~_ar Kurt, has
embraced his spiritual identity, faced trial forhis music's content
and seeks to honor his hero on stage. Now, after eight years, he has
also released a new album, "GuneÅ~_ Kokusu" (Smell of the Sun).
"Despite everything, my fans have continued to embrace me. This goes to
show that I have addressed a righteous and solid following," he said.
Kurt became baptized at the age of 40 after learning that he was
actually of Armenian origin. "I am trying to discover myself. Every
individual ought to be free in this decision and live the way they
feel. One ought not to carry their identity around as if it were his
or her fate. I am a proselyte for both sides, neither side accepts me.
The sense of not belonging sticks to you like your destiny. Is being
human not the most important thing?" Kurt told the Hurriyet Daily
News in a recent interview.
He had been asking his family about his identity since the age of 13
but never received a reply, Kurt said, adding that he felt extremely
angry when he learned the truth after 40 years. "Still, I want to
hear the language of peace." he added.
Artist wants to honor his hero
"I lived unaware of my true identity in this land, which was visited
by indescribable pain, but I want peace and dialogue. The peace that
I am describing is a peace where one does not prevail over the other,"
he said, adding that his relatives were unnerved and reacted negatively
when he revealed his true identity.
Kurt's greatest wish is to stage a screen play about the life of
Gomidas Vartabed, who represents a milestone in the development of
Armenian music.
"Besides our physical resemblance, Gomidas is also a significant
figure for humanity, and for Turkish-Armenian relations," Kurt said,
adding that everyone who saw him was struck by their likeness.
Gomidas, an ethno-musicologist whose real name was Sogomon Sogomonyan,
is known for his extensive research, studies and compilations of
Turkish, Azeri, Kurdish and Iranian music in addition to his crucial
contributions to Armenian music.
Gomidas was arrested alongside with 250 other Armenian intellectuals
on the evening of April 24, 1915, the date which is commemorated as
the beginning of the events of 1915, just as he was on the brink of
deciphering the coded notes of Baba Hamparzsum, a prominent figure
in Turkish Classical Music. Having personally witnessed the deaths
of many of his friends, Gomidas lost his mental balance and spent
the rest of his life in a Paris mental asylum.
A symbol of conscientious objection
Kurt also stands as a highly symbolic figure for conscientious
objectors; his dissident song "Korku" ("Fear"), which was released in
the late 1990s on the album "Göndermeler" (Allusions), amounts to
a political march against military service. Kurt was sued and tried
for treason because of the album.
"I was going to be sentenced to 12 years in prison, had I not been
acquitted," he said, adding that the ban on the album was still
in effect.
"My album is banned. I cannot re-introduce it to the market, but I
can add the songs to my new albums one by one and sing them in my
concerts - it's truly a contradiction. Because the album was banned
by the Culture Ministry I must file a lawsuit against the state to
lift the ban [and] I was tried at a military court," Kurt said.
He lived as a fugitive for years to avoid military service, Kurt said,
adding that he finally served 28 days in the military in the early
2000s through draft regulations that allowed him to conduct partially
exempted and paid service.
"Militarism is the fundamental cause behind all the world's problems.
I cannot lay my hands on a weapon. Bearing arms is not the only way
to serve the country. I can look after the elderly in a nursing home,
or do cleaning work, but I did not want my hands to touch a weapon,
and I still do not want to do so," he said.
Hurriyet Daily News
Oct 20 2011
Turkey
Turkish Rock and alternative musician YaÅ~_ar Kurt is a highly symbolic
figure for conscientious objectors; his dissident song, 'Korku' (Fear),
which was released in the late 1990s, virtually amounted to a political
march and resulted in his trial for 'treason.' Kurt recently spoke to
the Daily News about the release of his latest album, 'GuneÅ~_ Kokusu'
(Smell of the Sun), as well as his Armenian origins. 'I am trying to
discover myself. Every individual ought to be free in this decision,'
he says
Prominent Turkish rock and alternative musician, YaÅ~_ar Kurt, has
embraced his spiritual identity, faced trial forhis music's content
and seeks to honor his hero on stage. Now, after eight years, he has
also released a new album, "GuneÅ~_ Kokusu" (Smell of the Sun).
"Despite everything, my fans have continued to embrace me. This goes to
show that I have addressed a righteous and solid following," he said.
Kurt became baptized at the age of 40 after learning that he was
actually of Armenian origin. "I am trying to discover myself. Every
individual ought to be free in this decision and live the way they
feel. One ought not to carry their identity around as if it were his
or her fate. I am a proselyte for both sides, neither side accepts me.
The sense of not belonging sticks to you like your destiny. Is being
human not the most important thing?" Kurt told the Hurriyet Daily
News in a recent interview.
He had been asking his family about his identity since the age of 13
but never received a reply, Kurt said, adding that he felt extremely
angry when he learned the truth after 40 years. "Still, I want to
hear the language of peace." he added.
Artist wants to honor his hero
"I lived unaware of my true identity in this land, which was visited
by indescribable pain, but I want peace and dialogue. The peace that
I am describing is a peace where one does not prevail over the other,"
he said, adding that his relatives were unnerved and reacted negatively
when he revealed his true identity.
Kurt's greatest wish is to stage a screen play about the life of
Gomidas Vartabed, who represents a milestone in the development of
Armenian music.
"Besides our physical resemblance, Gomidas is also a significant
figure for humanity, and for Turkish-Armenian relations," Kurt said,
adding that everyone who saw him was struck by their likeness.
Gomidas, an ethno-musicologist whose real name was Sogomon Sogomonyan,
is known for his extensive research, studies and compilations of
Turkish, Azeri, Kurdish and Iranian music in addition to his crucial
contributions to Armenian music.
Gomidas was arrested alongside with 250 other Armenian intellectuals
on the evening of April 24, 1915, the date which is commemorated as
the beginning of the events of 1915, just as he was on the brink of
deciphering the coded notes of Baba Hamparzsum, a prominent figure
in Turkish Classical Music. Having personally witnessed the deaths
of many of his friends, Gomidas lost his mental balance and spent
the rest of his life in a Paris mental asylum.
A symbol of conscientious objection
Kurt also stands as a highly symbolic figure for conscientious
objectors; his dissident song "Korku" ("Fear"), which was released in
the late 1990s on the album "Göndermeler" (Allusions), amounts to
a political march against military service. Kurt was sued and tried
for treason because of the album.
"I was going to be sentenced to 12 years in prison, had I not been
acquitted," he said, adding that the ban on the album was still
in effect.
"My album is banned. I cannot re-introduce it to the market, but I
can add the songs to my new albums one by one and sing them in my
concerts - it's truly a contradiction. Because the album was banned
by the Culture Ministry I must file a lawsuit against the state to
lift the ban [and] I was tried at a military court," Kurt said.
He lived as a fugitive for years to avoid military service, Kurt said,
adding that he finally served 28 days in the military in the early
2000s through draft regulations that allowed him to conduct partially
exempted and paid service.
"Militarism is the fundamental cause behind all the world's problems.
I cannot lay my hands on a weapon. Bearing arms is not the only way
to serve the country. I can look after the elderly in a nursing home,
or do cleaning work, but I did not want my hands to touch a weapon,
and I still do not want to do so," he said.