Virtuoso, composer, and storyteller: Volkan Öktem at Babylon with his #7 project!

Volkan Öktem began playing drums and performing live at the age of 11. Since the 1980s, he has collaborated with musicians ranging from Tuna Ötenel and Aydın Esen to Tarkan and Sertab Erener, both on stage and in the studio. He has also been part of versatile groups such as Habbecik, Laço Tayfa, Quartet Muartet, and MadenÖktemErsönmez.

The musician’s first album, #7, crafted from years of experience, was released in 2023. Comprising entirely his own compositions, the album blends Öktem’s thematic compositional approach with modern arrangements and diverse styles. He shares the influences of the various aural styles he has explored throughout his nearly 40 year musical career with his audience, showcasing his virtuosity as well as his identities as a composer and storyteller.

Volkan Öktem, accompanied by Ercüment Orkut, Barış Doğukan Yazıcı, Halil İbrahim Işık, and Serhat Şensesli, will take the Babylon stage on Tuesday, April 8.