We were lucky to catch up with Sezin Ahmet recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Sezin, thanks for joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

Being a full-time musician is different from working an office job in terms of actual work hours. The work we do includes driving (a lot), taking flights, rehearsing, preparing, playing at the actual gig, and carrying our own instruments. Therefore, the “creative” part of it is just a fragment of what we do.

However, playing gigs is not the only work option we have. There are other opportunities, such as recording and teaching. I started playing gigs when I was around 15. Over time, I began traveling, recording, and eventually teaching. This is by no means a set order, and it is different for everybody. Life guides everyone differently, and there is no such thing as speeding up the process. Speed is irrelevant.

Having said that, the mentors we have provide guidance; however, it is all about the journey itself. Who we are now is shaped by what we go through, and that sequence is set for a reason.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I got into music seriously when I started taking classical guitar lessons at the age of 10. I loved playing music so much that pursuing any other profession never even crossed my mind. A few years after I began those lessons, I started playing the electric bass and later the upright bass.

I had always been intrigued by jazz, even as a child, so I was naturally drawn to it. Looking back, I think I was attracted to jazz because it provides so much room for self-expression. In many ways, the word “improvisation” is a self-explanatory definition of what jazz offers.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Art is an expression of creativity, and creativity can be a source of healing. There is a whole science behind frequencies and how music affects our minds and bodies. To put it simply, music is a gift…

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I don’t think there is a single human being on the planet who is non-creative. People just create in different ways. The key is to realize how each of us creates through what we do and make it more fun.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sezinahmet.com
• Instagram: sezinahmet
• Facebook: Sezin Ahmet Turkmenoglu
• Soundcloud: sezinahmetturkmenoglu

Image Credits

Roy Kim, Craig Cochrane, Nora Paradiso, Dave Koz Cruise photography, Somma Cruise photography