SALİH KORKUT PEKER: ELEKTRO-AKUSTİK CÜMBÜŞ, ÇAĞLAMA, PERDESİZ GİTAR/ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC CÜMBÜŞ, SAZ, FRETLESS GUITAR
HAKAN GÖRKEM BIYIK: BAS/BASS
ONUR ERTEM: DAVUL/DRUMS
Yasak Helva, a band comprised of three musicians with diverse musical backgrounds in death metal, pop rock, arabesque, Turkish folk music, jazz, and grunge, label their music as “electric folk.” On stage, they use electro-acoustic cümbüş, saz, bass, and drums, drawing inspiration from Anatolia, the Balkans, the Middle East, and the Caucasus, while occasionally making references to classic jazz and rock tunes.
Their energy and concept quickly garnered attention, and the group performed at notable events such as the 14th Tunis Carthage Jazz Festival, the Sziget Festival, one of Europe’s most important music festivals, and the Istanbul Jazz Festival in 2020.
Featured in the 2018 Turkish Psychedelic compilation album “Saz Power,” released in Europe, America, and Japan, Yasak Helva contributed their rendition of the Silifke Zeybeği. In the fall of 2019, they released their debut album “Rektefe.” In 2020, collaborating with Mediterranean Erbaş, known for his throat singing technique from Central Asia, they interpreted the traditional Tuva melody “Eki Attar.” Following their “electronic reggae” version of the 100-year-old Izmir song “To Dervisaki,” released in August 2021 under the Gülbaba Records label, they continued their journey with interpretations of the famous 70s ethnic disco hit “Eastern Journey” and the dance melody “Reyhani” from the Mardin region in 2022.