Is Turkey's 'Sufi rock' the equivalent of Christian rock?

An everlasting debate in Turkey revolves around how much authentic elements of traditional culture will fit into rock music produced in this part of the world. Musician Hağan Tayanç, who uses the stage moniker “Hicret” (Hejira), brought a new angle to the debate by taking nothing but the musical form of rock music from the West and refusing all other cultural elements.

Tayanç is a practicing Muslim and reflects this in his compositions, called nasheeds, or hymns, including poems by Muslim poets. He labels his music “Sufi rock” after the tradition of Sufism. Tayanç did not invent the term – it is a form also practiced by Pakistani rocker Salman Ahmed – but he is currently the sole practitioner in Turkey.

When asked what he thinks of Ahmed and whether he had any contact with the musician, Tayanç said that although Ahmed is successful, he and examples coming out of Pakistan under the “Sufi rock” label do not fit into his idea of rock music. Instead, he considers them to be successful ethnic music artists. Tayanç said Yusuf Islam, Carlos Santana and Malaysian band Al-Farabi were more deserving of the “Sufi rock” label. He added that a concert with Al-Farabi was in the works.

Rocking in the Muslim world

The first step of Tayanç’s musical journey began when he started to practice Islam. “I do not have to listen to reed flute [music] or nasheeds because I started to pray. I am a rock music fan.”

He said he felt torn between the music he loves and the religion of his faith, which led him to create the kind of music he likes to hear. Currently, a reed flute player accompanies him on stage and as he covers the nasheeds on his terms.

Tayanç released his debut album titled “Yunus Gibi” this year and is preparing a follow up, which will be heavier. Tayanç's current style is highly influenced by Pink Floyd and can be described as “old-school progressive rock.” But Tayanç said he would try a bolder sound with stronger harmonies next time. German industrial metal giants Rammstein was his example of the sound he intends to capture in future albums, “with better harmonies,” he added.

Criticism from Islamic circles, rock fans

Tayanç said the Muslim community in Turkey is discussing the very concept of music from the last 20 years; it is that new. According to Tayanç, certain leaders of the community were claiming that only monadic music – or that with only one melody – was acceptable before, while other forms were not allowed. “The same people today accept their mistake,” Tayanç said.

“Since everything is new, there is not much produced [by the community]. Therefore, they are not there yet in terms of rock music. Since there is no other example around, the first reaction happens to be, ‘Who are you to use Yunus Emre, Mehmet Akif; they are our people.’ When they see that I am also a practicing Muslim, it turns into ‘OK brother, but why are you playing such a loud type of music?’” Tayanç said.

Rockers who have criticized Tayanç use the argument that rock music symbolizes freedom, and religion is just the opposite. Tayanç disagreed and said this perspective comes from being ignorant about religion and that he pays no attention to this approach.

When asked to explain, he said: “I do not have to offer an antithesis. Religion does not have a structure that is against freedom. If you want to consume alcohol, you define it as the limitation of your freedom when it is not allowed. It is forbidden to consume alcohol according to Islam. It is that simple. But living Islam is another thing.” Tayanç said Mohammed, the prophet of Islam, brought freedom to people and freed slaves, he forbid financial interest and prevented the killing of little girls, for example.

A rock fan but not a rocker

Tayanç describes himself as a fan of rock music but not a rocker in terms of its general understanding: “Rock music features drugs and anarchy, even though they are wrong. When I was listening to rock in the ’80s, we were nice kids, never used drugs and did not drink much and get wasted. We had a punk band at Hacettepe University, but we were not the type to use drugs and wreck the place. We were normal.”

Tayanç's love of rock is limited to the notes, the harmonies. He did not believe in its culture, even when he was not a practicing Muslim. The one thing he said he could support from the cultural point of view is that rock music is critical of the system. “I make the same criticisms, but I do not accept the other things that come with [the rock culture],” Tayanç said.

When asked what he thinks about Christian rock and whether he perceives it to be similar to what he does, Tayanç mentioned the American metal band Savatage, now split, though the band was not generally classified in the genre. Tayanç said he would put his signature on many of the band’s songs, especially “Believe” from its 1991 album “Streets.”

Tayanç said it is hopeful that a band was saying those things in the West, where people are distancing themselves from God. “I believe a person can be closer to Islam when he is close to his own religion,” he said. “That is why I am hopeful.”

Tayanç said he intends to act as a bridge to portray “the warm face of religion to rock fans and popularize rock music among religious people.” Whether he will live up this claim only time will tell.