Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sezin Turkmenoglu. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sezin, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

I started playing concerts and shows with a variety of bands when I was around 16 and made some bucks. One of my memories is that in order for me to be able to perform at the bars around town, I had to have a family member present.

Sezin, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a musician as well as a teacher. I play bass in studio recordings, concerts, and shows. I also teach music, as I hold a doctorate in jazz performance. Currently, I am an adjunct faculty member at Los Angeles City College’s “Herb Alpert Music Center.” The areas that I teach are electric and upright bass, music theory, small and large ensembles, jazz improvisation, and the history of jazz. I also write music. I think writing music is essential, as it triggers one’s creativity. It pushes your limits and expands your horizons as an artist.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

It is impossible to avoid art; it is a very personal aspect of life. It is a tool to help people become closer to their true selves and purify themselves. Developing an understanding of art may require some work. Society must stretch its boundaries in order to appreciate art by being receptive to it without passing judgment, much like artists go through a difficult creative process. If one can get past the boundaries of judgment, connecting with art can be incredibly rewarding, even though it may feel challenging at first. Fair compensation for artists’ labor is a corollary of society’s appreciation of the arts.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My creative journey as a musician is driven by my desire to play or write music in a unique way. There are thousands of musicians and composers, but since each person is unique, the works produced by each of these artists will differ. The more deeply one explores their artistic process, the more distinctive their work will be.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sezinahmet.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sezinahmet/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sezin.turkmenoglu
• Other: soundcloud.com/sezinahmetturkmenoglu

Image Credits
Craig Allyn, Alyse Korn, Jau Matsueda, Nora Paradiso