About this user
maNgas story began when Yağmur Sarıgül Yamyam (Guitar) seperated his ways with the cover band he played with at local bars. His plan for his new band was to combine rock music and electronic music bringing hard guitar riffs and rap vocals together. maNga began to form when Özgür Can Öney (Drums), Efe Yılmaz (Turntable),Ferman Akgül (Vocals) and Cem Bahtiyar (Bass Guitar) joined the new band. The band began playing nu metal and hard rock songs. As a result the band was named maNga after the traditional Japanese cartoon art, bringing five different characters, five different music styles and five different world views together. Under the name of maNga, which is a familiar name to almost anyone in the world, they have started an intenational musical carreer.
maNgas recording adventure began in 2001 when Ferman suggested to join the song contest Sing Your Song. maNga took second place in the Sing Your Song contest with their first song Kal Yanımda. After this success, they began writing the songs which would later be recorded in their first album. When they recieved a phone call from Haluk Kurosman, producer they met during the song contest, they concentrated more on writing songs and giving concerts. They began touring Turkey, giving more then 50 concerts and sharing their music with different crowds.
Their debut album which carried the same name with the band maNga was released on December 14th, 2004 under Sony Music Turkey and GRGDN label. In this debut album, maNga sang Kal Yanımda featuring Koray Candemir from Kargo, İz Bırakanlar Unutulmaz featuring Deniz Akyüz from Vega, and Dursun Zaman featuring Göksel. Selling more than 180.000 copies, maNga was given the Golden Record award. maNga album was also released in Japan and sold many copies. Bir Kadın Çizeceksin was included in the Easports Fifa 2006 soundtrack.
In 2006 maNga album was rereleased as maNga+ including the Cem Karaca song Raptiye Rap Rap and Kandırma Kendini. maNga+ came with a DVD that featured the music videos of this first album.
After the albums release, maNga had many concerts and participated in many national and international festivals (Sziget Festival, Mannheim Turkish Rock Festival, Wembley Arena, London) Giving more than 250 concerts nationwide maNga came together with music lovers who appreciate the maNga music.
Traveling through different cultures and meeting many different people, more than 4 years after their debut album, maNga got into a new time period catching a smoother, more characteristic, warmer and more melancholic sound. As the band members grew up in these 4 years, their world views changed and the variety and kind of music they listened changed. This change reflected on maNgas sound, and their second album Şehr-i Hüzün which had a pre-recording period of 23 months. The joy of the first albums great success came with great responsibility and a mission to top the debut album. The second album Şehr-i Hüzün, a product of many comprimises and hard work, was released on April 15th, 2009 under GRGDN & Sony Music label.
Şehr-i Hüzün album consists of 16 songs, adding up to more than 60 minutes of music. Instruments such as reed flute, piano, tambour and traditional music instrument called bağlama create a beautiful blend of western and orient sounds bringing out minor melodies that portray love, existential lonelines, death and melancholy. It is difficult to categorize the new maNga music that brings together rock, rap, electronic music, sufist music, and traditional turkish music. Famous philosopher poet Karacaoğlan and Ömer Hayyam are quoted in the songs Üryan Geldim and Hepsi Bir Nefes.
Listeners can also get a CD+DVD version of the album that includes a 150 minute maNga documentary wich was produced by Ferman Akgül. The documentary tells the story of maNga from the days it was first formed until the coming out of the new album.
maNga has conquered the hearts of their fans once again with two following videos from their new album Dünyanın Sonuna Doğmuşum and Beni Benimle Bırak.
Moreover maNga has won Best European Act by MTV Europe Music Awards 2009 On 5 November 2009. After this award maNga have released their third video Cevapsız Sorular, which was shot in Budapest by Gürcan Keltek. In 2009, maNga has taken numerous of awards including the best video, the best band, the best song, the best album and the best performance.
Taking the winds of Best European Act to their back, maNga is now heading for the 55th Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo, Norway to represent Turkey.
maNgas lead vocalist Ferman Akgül declared about Eurovision:
We are entering the most exciting and the most intense period of our lives as a band. Our purpose is to represent Turkey without leaving our artistic style.
Guitarist Yağmur Sarıgül added:
I strongly believe, we will do our best for Turkey as a team. I thank to national Television channel and all Turkish fans who supported and trusted maNga.
Hometown
Istanbul
Country
Turkey
Occupation
Musician
Schools
Gazi University