Gaye Su Akyol (born 30 January 1985) is a Turkish singer, painter and anthropologist.
Biography
Akyol's father is the painter Muzaffer Akyol; her mother was a civil servant, but she passed away in 2014. She graduated from the anthropology department of Yeditepe University in 2007. After that she built her career as a painter with exhibitions both in Turkey and abroad. Before her solo career, she also performed in music bands Mai, Toz ve Toz and Seni Görmem İmkansız alongside Tuğçe Şenoğul.
In 2017, she composed a few songs for the soundtrack of Red Istanbul a film directed by Ferzan Özpetek.
Inspirations include singer-songwriter Selda Bağcan and the grunge band Nirvana.
Band members
The lineup on Istikrarlı Hayal Hakikattir: Gaye Su Akyol – vocals, percussion, electronics Ali Güçlü Şimşek – electric and acoustic guitar, backing vocals Görkem Karabudak – bass and acoustic guitar, keyboard, electronics, backing vocals Ediz Hafızoğlu – drums Guest musicians: İlhan Erşahin – saxophone Barlas Tan Özemek – classical guitar (şahmeran) Ahmet Ayzit – violin, ud, electro saz, cümbüş Ismail Darıcı – percussion Oğuz Can Bilgin – trumpet
Discography
Studio albums
Develerle Yaşıyorum (2014) Hologram İmparatorluğu (2016) İstikrarlı Hayal Hakikattir (2018) Anadolu Ejderi (2022)
EPs
Yort Savul: İSYAN MANİFESTOSU! (2020)
Awards and recognition
Gaye Su Akyol received Best Artist award at Songlines Music Awards 2019. Gaye Su Akyol is also considered as an important figure for the LGBTQI+ community and featured on the cover of Gzone Magazine. In 2020, she appeared in trans biographical documentary film called İris, directed by Volkan Güleryüz.