Gaye Su Akyol

Biography

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 died 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. In November 2023 she recorded her first performance for the Seattle radio station KEXP.
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

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.