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Volkan Konak is a Turkish folk musician who was born in Trabzon on February 27, 1967, and died in Famagusta on March 31, 2025. His 2006 album was recognized by MÜ-YAP as a gold record.
Early Life
Volkan grew up in Maçka, Konak, and was exposed to the Black Sea region’s diverse culture. Following his basic and secondary schooling in Maçka, Volkan Konak enrolled at the Istanbul Technical University Turkish Music State Conservatory in 1983 to develop his love of music. He finished his undergraduate studies in 1988 and went on to obtain a master’s degree in social sciences with a folk music concentration in 1991, continuing his musical adventure.
Career
In 1989, Konak released his debut album, Suların Horon Yeri, marking the start of his professional music career. This record exposed him to a wider audience by showcasing folk music from his native Maçka area. Over the course of his career, he started writing his own songs and combining the poetry of well-known Turkish poets like Sabahattin Ali, Yaşar Miraç, and Nâzım Hikmet.
In 1993, he released his album Efulim, which was an important turn in his career and paved the way for further ambitious ventures. Konak’s fan base grew even more with the publication of Gelir Misin Benimle in October 1994. His military duty momentarily stopped his musical career, but when he returned, Volkanik Parçalar, his third album, was an immediate hit.
He frequently praised Turkey’s geographical and cultural variety in his writings. His attempts to incorporate aspects of Eastern Anatolia, Central Anatolia, and Cyprus into Black Sea folk music were demonstrated in his 1997 album Pedaliza. Numerous honors resulted from his music’s popularity, including Politika magazine’s 1997 “Best Music Artist of the Year” award.
The attraction of Konak expanded internationally as well. He further cemented his standing in the international music industry in 1993 when French producer Alain Finet bought one of his compositions.
After a three-and-a-half-year hiatus, Konak released Şimal Rüzgarı in 2000 and Maranda in 2003. In particular, his 2006 album Mora garnered him a Gold Record from MÜ-YAP. The popular song “Gardaş,” composed in honor of fellow Black Sea folk performer Kazım Koyuncu, was included on the CD.
In 2012, Volkan Konak released Lifor, an album that showcased his continued evolution as an artist. The first video clip from this album, “Nerdesin (Karagözlüm),” became a fan favorite, and his heartfelt rendition of Neşet Ertaş’s “Aşkın Beni Deleyledi.”
Personal Life
Volkan Konak was married to Selma Konak, and they had three children together: North, Volcano, and Deep.
What was Volkan Konak’s cause of death?
Volkan passed away on March 31, 2025,, at the age of 58, in Famagusta State Hospital. However, he died after having a heart attack on stage while giving a concert on 30 March 2025.
