Istanbul is the cultural city of the world… and in it is Dogus Cabakcor.
Dogus is Istanbul’s premier DJ, and his music is what keeps Istanbul’s elite dancing all night long.
First things first…how do I know him? Well, let’s go back…
Dogus has been a great friend to me for 3 years and due to the unfortunate part that we live in two different countries, let alone 2 different continents, is rough. But regardless, whether in person, or just via BBM (I know, it’s an addiction), our friendship does grow.
- Dogus Cabakcor
This stylish DJ gets the nightlife of Istanbul going with his eclectic mixes and positive energy making him one of the most coveted DJ’s in not only the city, but the country.
Aside from spinning at hot spots in Istanbul, Dogus also played sets in Miami Beach, and will be spinning in the trendy resort town of Cesme, Turkey.
Dogus Cabakcor, who is the resident DJ for parties thrown by Melisa Cakarlar, has gained immense popularity by DJ’ing her events since 2008.
Spinning at a South Beach venue.
By travelling outside the city of Istanbul, he expands his clientèle by not only the Istanbul social scene (although, they tend to flock to his venues), but also the various cultures that are vacationing in the region.
With fans from all over the world, Dogus has made a name for himself, and unlike most DJ’s, he’s so confident in his sets, that he refuses to take requests. (He wouldn’t play “Alors on Danse” when I asked, that’s the sign of a skillful and confident DJ).
- Dogus Cabakcor
Dogus recently DJ’ed the parties for ICONS OF FASHION, one of Istanbul’s most fashionable nights out.
He is currently DJ’ing Pool Parties at Hotel Les Ottomans, and will be doing it weekly bringing his sexy, funky house tunes to the party-goers as they sip their drinks and swim in an infinity pool overlooking the Bosphorus.
For a link to all his up-coming and past events, check it out here:
http://www.cabakcor.com/live.html
- Icons of Fashion
Who is Dogus Cabakcor?
(Biography Courtesy of Dogus Cabakcor, edited by Le Fashion Monster)
Recognized by widespread music lovers, Dogus Cabakcor has garnered popularity from his performances at private parties held at venues like; W Lounge, Lucca, Ulus29 Lounge, and Fashion Circus.
Dogus expresses his emotions through his music, and his sets are based on those of; happiness, love, sadness, melancholy, anger, rage, old and new…
His listeners are drawn into a realm of innovation with exciting concepts underlying each distinct color he explores.
“Colors of The Universe” is his first release which was inspired by the idea that short words can carry deep meaning, which is why his sets are named by different colors.
The second album “Lubricated Beats” is meant to have the listener feel every possible good emotion on this earth and to amplify their attitude.
In addition to his musical career, besides being blessed with his cool and friendly character, Dogus also acts as coordinator at the creative workshop called HangarIstanbul. He plays a key role in fusing together the different groups of creative people with backgrounds in virtually every aspect of the arts.
INTERVIEW WITH A DJ
I interviewed him today, and answers are in both Turkish and English.
1. What inspired you to start DJing? DJ’lige baslama fikri nasil ortaya cikti?
Kendimi bildim bileli ritme karsi tepkim vardi ve ortaokula geldigimde yavas yavas Turkiye`deki DJ`leri takip etmeye baslamistim. Daha sonra 2002 senesinde kendi otelimizde amator olarak basladim, ilk ekipmanlarimi o zaman aldim. Muzige karsi olan tutkumun yavas yavas artmasiyla kendi cevremdeki partilerde ve tanidigim mekanlarda calmaya basladim. 2008 yilbasi gecesi performansimdan sonra muzigin hayatimdan cok fazla zaman aldigini dusunerek sadece dinleyici olmaya karar verdim. Ancak bu kararim 11 ay kadar surdu ve 2008 Kasim ayinda yer aldigim bir parti ve bu partideki performansim sonrasinda profesyonel olarak bu ise basladim. Daha sonraki performanslarimda dinleyicilerimden aldigim pozitif tepkiler ve enerjiyle yoluma devam ettim ve bir cok A+ partide yer aldim. 2010 senesi benim icin cok onemli bir sene oluyor, 2 ay Miami Beach`de kalip performans sergiledim ve dunyaca unlu bir cok DJ ile tanisip onlarda bir cok fikir edindim. Su anda bana gore Turkiye`deki en iyi dans muzik radyosu ve ekibi olan FG 93.7 bunyesindeyim.
As far as i know myself, I had reactions to music and when I was right our of elementary school. I started to follow some domestic DJ’s to learn more about the various kinds of music. Later in 2002, I ordered my first DJ equipment, and got a gig at a hotel . After couple of months, my passion about music had grown immensely and I started to play at some of my friends’ parties and a few local clubs. After a New Years Eve performance in 2008, I quit DJ’ing because it took much of my time and didn’t pay anything. Naturally, this separation only took 11 months and on Oct 2008, I played at a party and after my successful performance, I started my DJ’ing career as a professional. As I kept performing, I got multiple positive feedbacks so that I could go on with it. The positive feedback allowed me to play at many A+ parties. In 2010, a very important year, I stayed 2 months at Miami Beach, played at several clubs there, met with worldwide known DJ’s and got many ideas. Currently, I am with FG 93,7 which is the best dance music radio and community of Turkey and even worldwide.
2) What kind of clientele do you cater to? (Ex: Types of parties) Ne tarz yerlerde caliyorsun? (Orn: Nasil partiler?)
Caldigim mekanlar ve partiler tamamiyla `upscale` oldugu icin belirli bir kitleye hitap etme durumum soz konusu. Daha cok ozel partilerde oluyorum, ama kaliteli ve keyifli muzik dinlemek isteyen bir kitle oldugunda hep ordayim.
The types of people I cater to are those of the ‘upscale’ clientèle. I do mostly private parties, but I will perform as long as there is a good crowd ready to have a good time.
3) Is there a difference between the music you play for events and the music you play for yourself? Partilerde caldigin ve kendi dinledigin muzik arasinda fark var mi?
Dogrusunu soylemek gerekirse caldigim ve dinledigim muzik birbirinden tamamen farkli. Performanslarimda deep, funky, tech ve progressive house music caliyorum. Aslinda en keyif aldigim progressive house music fakat caldigim mekan ve kitle dogru muzigi secmemde oncelik olusturuyor. Radyo setlerimde ise tamamen progressive house music hakim. Gunluk hayatta ise daha cok lounge ve alternative music dinliyorum. Sanirim beni sakinlestiren ve dinlendiren seyleri seviyorum.
The music I play and listen to are totally different. In my performances I play, deep, funky, tech and progressive house music. The place and the crowd is very important for me when I am selecting music. For my radio sets, I always play progressive house music. On my off time, I listen to lounge and alternative music. I really enjoy music that calms and relaxes me.
4) How would you describe your DJ style (technique)? DJ tarzini (teknigini) nasil tarif edebilirsin?
Benim icin en onemli sey parca secimi. Parcalarimda vokal olmasi en belirgin ozelligim aslinda. Siradan, hic bir ozelligi olmayan parcalara setlerimde yer vermiyorum. Mixing yaparken genelde parcalarin notalarina gore secim yapiyorum ve mixing sirasinda yumusak gecisler tercih ediyorum.
To me, the most important part of my technique is to the find the right songs. Each song tells a story, and will help me tell mine as I DJ. I used a lot of vocals, which is important. I don’t do anything ordinary, and I am very selective with my music choices. When I mix, I generally base my selections on the musical notes in order to have a smooth and flawless transition.
5) How would your describe your style (fashionably)? Stilini (modaya uygun olarak) nasil tarif edebilirsin?
Benim icin muzik ve fashion bir butun. Performansim oncesinde calacagim mekana ve partiye gore kiyafetimi belirlerim. Bir kiyafet ne kadar guzel ve moda olsada onun icinde kendimi rahat ve mutlu hissetmiyorsam kesinlikle giymem. Rahat ve acik renkli kiyafetleri az aksesuar kullanarak giymeyi tercih ederim.
To me, fashion and music is one. I try to dress according to the event I am DJ’ing or attending. But, if I am not comfortable in what I am wearing, no matter how trendy or “in” it is, I will not wear it. I like light colors and comfortable clothes with light accessories as a personal style choice.
6) Who are your fashion icons? Moda ikonlarin kimlerdir?
Acikcasi moda ikonu olarak gordugum ve takip ettigim kimse yok, kendi tarzimi kendim belirliyorum.
I don’t really follow anyone, but I personally like the way I dress. I would have to say, I am my own Icon.
7) Your 5 GO TO pieces in your wardrobe year round? Gardorobundaki olmazsa olmaz 5 sey nedir?
Yelek – Vest
Gomlek– Button down shirt
Saat – Watch
Farkli Tarzda Ayakkabilarim – Assorted Dress Sneakers
Ceket – Blazer
8 ) Tell Le Fashion Monster readers 4 things about you that may surprise us. Le Fashion Monster okuyucularini sasirtacak hakkinda 4 sey soyler misin?
18 yasima kadar dag bisikleti yariscisiydim ve Turkiye 3.` suydum
I was a mountain biker till I was 18 and was the third in Turkey.
Hareketli ve cok sosyal bir hayatim olmasina ragmen isim olmadigi zamanlarda sessizligin ve huzurun pesindeyim.
I may appear to have this active and social life as a constant, but I actually like to rest and have quality time in silence, it’s serenity for me.
1987 yilinda dogdum.
I was born in 1987, people don’t usually believe that.
Ismim Ahmet Dogus olmasina ragmen `Ahmet` pek tercih etmedigim bir isim.
My first name is really Ahmet, and my second name is Dogus, but I don’t prefer `Ahmet` that much.
9) Top 5 stores you shop at? En cok alisveris yaptigin 5 marka?
Armani Exchange
River Island
Dolce & Gabbana
Zara
And of course, H&M
10) Living in the U.S for just over a month, what did you like/dislike about the music scene in comparison to Turkey? Amerika’da bir ayin uzerinde vakit gecirdin ve Turkiye ile muzikal anlamda kiyaslamak gerekirse hosuna giden/gitmeyen seyler neler oldu?
Turkiye`de muzik fazlasiyla `tutucu`. Yani insanlar yeni muzige pek sicak bakmiyorlar ve devamli dinledikleri muzikle eglenmeyi seviyorlar. Amerika`da bu kural sadece kucuk club`larda gecerli fakat dunyaca unlu club`larda bu kural islemiyor. Oralarda en yeni parcalari hatta henuz yayinlanmamis parcalari dinlemek mumkun.
In Turkey, a lot of the music is constricted. People aren’t open to new songs, and they particularly only like songs that they know, they only dance to music they do know and listen to radios a lot. It’s also like that in small clubs in the U.S., but in larger and more famous venues, they try play the newest and “unreleased” tracks and people tend to be more accepting of it there.
11) Living in the US for just over a month, what did you like/dislike about the fashion in comparison to Turkey? Amerika’da bir ayin uzerinde vakit gecirdin ve Turkiye ile modayi takip etmek acisindan kiyaslamak gerekirse hosuna giden/gitmeyen seyler neler oldu?
Turkiye’de markalarin ve magazalarin azligi malesef insanlarin modayi takip edebilirligini azaltiyor. Amerika’da olanaklar daha fazla, fiyatlar ve kampanyalar daha cok, bu yuzden herkes modayi daha sik takip edebiliyor. Ayrica Amerika’da insanlar istediklerini giymekte daha cesurlar fakat burda `diger insanlara` ve `gidilen mekanlara` gore giyinebiliyorlar.
In Turkey it’s hard to keep up with the latest fashions, because they don’t carry all the brands. In U.S., it’s easier, and the sales and prices aren’t as inflated as they are in Turkey which makes it easier for people to follow trends and be up to date on fashion. In U.S., people dress however they want, no matter what. In Turkey, people dress for different parts of the city.
Check out his website for downloads of all his sets, and albums as well as LIVE information and photospreads.
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