The Voice of the People Through the Power of Music

Hello, I am Davut Güloğlu. Throughout my nearly 30-year artistic career, I have never seen music merely as a form of entertainment; I have embraced it as a bridge of the heart between my people and myself. I have always made it my priority to carry the cultural values of my homeland into my songs and to give voice to the emotions of my people. I firmly believe in one truth: as long as art speaks for the feelings of the people, it can never disappear. For this reason, through my music I strive to share in both joy and sorrow, and to become a voice for society.

I believe that art has a powerful ability to unite and heal people. After the devastating earthquake our country experienced in 1999, I felt grateful if my song “Nurcanım” was able to bring even a small moment of joy to our nation. Today, in the face of the economic difficulties that have persisted over the last few years, I aimed to lift people’s spirits once again with my song “Hayat Devam Ediyor” (Life Goes On). Music is the most sincere way of sharing both pain and happiness; when the right notes touch the heart, we can heal our wounds together. I have always emphasized the power of art to bring people together through shared emotions. With this belief, I also strive to carry my music beyond borders and build bridges of friendship between cultures. In my projects extending from Uzbekistan to Greece, it is a great source of pride for me to convey messages of peace and brotherhood through the sound of our kemençe.

As a son of the Black Sea region, I blend Black Sea music with global sounds through a style I call ethnic pop. By incorporating traditional instruments such as the kemençe into the foundation of my music, I both preserve my own culture and introduce it to the world. In fact, at the beginning of my career I experimented by playing the kemençe over Michael Jackson’s musical backings. Today, hearing songs like “Katula Katula” and “Nurcanım” played from the streets of Manhattan to Germany and Greece shows the strength of our culture reaching different parts of the world. Unfortunately, we have also witnessed how many musical traditions—from arabesque to Black Sea melodies—were once looked down upon. Yet no music that touches the heart of the people can ever be erased. As a folk storyteller, I defend the values of my people through my songs and strive for these values to receive the respect they deserve both in our country and around the world.

Throughout my artistic life, I have always been proud to remain one of the people. Because I am also part of my people—a son of Rize and of Türkiye. I have never seen myself as superior to anyone; I have always stood among people, shoulder to shoulder with them. I have deliberately stayed away from the artificial glitter of popular culture, because I believe there is often a form of corruption within it. Even today, the Davut among my 13 siblings is the same Davut Güloğlu who stands on stage. Without losing touch with my roots or my society, I continue to produce and move forward together with my people.

An artist should be a role model for society not only through their work but also through their way of life and moral stance. We all know that masters such as Ferdi Tayfur and Müslüm Gürses earned a lasting place in the hearts of the people not only through their art but also through their ethics and spirituality. They showed us that when art meets social responsibility, it creates a lasting impact. In my own life, I strive to remain loyal to moral values and to be a positive role model for younger generations. Because if an artist becomes detached from society and loses the ability to set an example, the influence of art on society weakens as well.

I always tell my younger brothers and sisters: both in art and in life, morality and spirituality must come first. A generation that knows its culture and protects its core values will succeed not only in music but in every field. A true artist is not only someone who seeks applause, but someone who also accepts responsibility toward their society. For 30 years, while performing my art, I have always considered serving society as my highest priority. If my music has touched people’s hearts, that is the greatest happiness for me. My goal from now on is to continue along the same path and leave future generations a rich legacy in both art and moral values.

Let us remember that loyalty must be shown today, not postponed until tomorrow. If we stand by our values and support one another, both art and society will move toward brighter tomorrows. As an artist, I will continue with the same passion to be the voice of my people, to touch hearts with my songs, and to spread goodness. Because life goes on, and we walk toward the future with the hope that lives within our songs.