Derun are a Turkish duo whose organic house / downtempo style infuses traditional instruments with electronic sounds. Travelling the world as popular underground DJs, they are also talented producers known for their music on labels such as Bar 25 Music, Cosmic Awakenings, Pipe & Pochet and Akbal Music.

Most recently, Derun dropped their new three-track EP ‘La Sombra del Viento’ on Sabo’s Sol Selectas record label, and we decided to take this opportunity to learn more about the release…

WWD: Hi guys, it’s great to be talking with you today. What part of the world are you currently based, and what’s the current situation with nightclubs and COVID-19?

From İstanbul with Love! We have two studios, one in Istanbul and the other in Çeşme. When we’re not on the road, we spend most of our time in the studio. Istanbul’s scene, like the rest of the world, took a major blow. While it seems to have recovered for the time being, we hope that Omicron does not hinder the recovery, but the new variant does seem to be spreading wildly as I write these lines.

WWD: To our ear, your music has a strong middle eastern influence. Could you describe your sound for those not familiar with your style and influences? 

As children growing up in İstanbul, it was impossible not to be affected by the multi-cultural world and chaos of the city. While walking on the streets of İstanbul, you hear something from the Mediterranean, the Middle East, the Balkans and the modern, plus classical music of Europe. We’re sure you’ve heard this a lot, but music is truly universal in İstanbul. This city is living proof of the universality of music. Whatever we’ve heard so far, you can find it all in our music as intense layers.

WWD: We hear a lot of real instruments in your tracks, are those usually samples or live recordings that you made in the studio? 

This is asked of us a lot; How can you create such a fluid and organic sound? The answer is; the samples we’ve collected over the years, the live recordings and the way we use them. Also, like a regular job every day, we’re turning Spotify upside down to shake out the hidden gems.

WWD: What are the main pieces of electronic equipment you have in your studio, are you mainly hardware or software based?

We like to use analogue synthesisers alongside acoustic instruments, and that is something you hear a lot in our music. We are Moog lovers, but lately we also enjoy using the magnificent synthesisers produced by Arturia. In addition to those, we also use a lot of software, but only if it produces a good sound. At the point in technology that we’ve come to, there are now great virtual instruments that can produce analogue quality sound.

WWD: Your latest release is on Sabo’s label Sol Selectas, could you talk us through the tracks and their concept?

We’ve been getting a huge reaction to our latest EP, and the songs have been pushing up the top 100 charts since going on sale. The whole concept of EP is based on our multicultural background and roots. We are no different from Andalusians, who were under the influence of Arabs half a century ago or Ottoman culture that blends east and west. Our music is a blend of human history, because İstanbul is such a historic place, and this EP is a tribute to our cultural roots.

WWD: This is not your first time working with Sol Selectas, how did you first make contact with the people behind the record label? 

Our connection with Sabo dates back to 2019. “Yedi Kule”, which is now considered a downtempo/electronica classic, was our first Sol Selectas EP. Sabo was one of the first people to trust us with an official release, and he has been pushing our music ever since.

WWD: The release also features a collaboration with ARKADYAN, and I’d love to know more about them?

ARKADYAN! What a great band! They are very talented and hardworking. It’s really admirable for them to be so productive while constantly travelling the world, and it’s always a pleasure working with them!

WWD: What’s coming next in your schedule, anything exciting planned for 2022? 

We are planning a tour to the Americas soon. We also have many shows in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, which were postponed due to the pandemic, and those will also take place this year. We see ourselves as a constantly spinning wheel. We are always on the road, and go wherever the road takes us.

In terms of production, we are currently working on a remix for Sabo, and an EP for our dear friend Lannka (Bercana) plus another EP for Mollono’s 3000 Grad Records. We are excited for all of those releases and are constantly producing new tracks, as for us, this is an endless process of passionate creativity.

WWD: Thanks for taking the time to talk with me today, is there anything else you would like to add before we finish?

We thank you, and wish everyone a wonderful year.