The Circle Space Jazz Concert

From Ceren Temel

A unique project that I had always wanted to experience, that I had imagined...

We performed "I'm the voice and I can't be silenced" at The Circle Space on Monday, September 19, 2022, and it was really worthwhile. It made me feel good about not only my musicianship but also my femininity.

When I first thought of this idea, I was looking for a Berlin-based artist. But I couldn't have predicted how well Gaby and I would get along when I first met her on the Internet.

We meant to do it in Berlin in the first place, but Gaby's trip to Istanbul for another project accelerated this performance. So, making it happen and laying the foundation in Istanbul before Berlin was a great opportunity. The Circle had prepared the space for the event, and we were capable of making use of this opportunity with the support of Zuhal Music.

Frankly, we couldn’t have done this concert in a better place, and the atmosphere of The Circle Space was tailor-made for this performance.

Our first meeting with Gaby was the day before the show, and we also had our first rehearsal. I had a musical composition in my head the night before the performance based on the subjects Gaby spoke about at the rehearsal. Even though it was our first time working together and we didn't know each other, during the show, our energy with Gaby was excellent, and when mixed with the vibe of Circle, I felt like we were a great fit.

Ceren Temel, Gaby Gaby Bila Gunther - The Circle Space

We have previously talked about the necessity of discussing women's rights and gender equality globally to initiate change or even to have our voices heard. I explained to Gaby that, sadly, Turkey is one of the nations with the worst rates of violence against women worldwide and that femicide is on the rise mainly in Turkey. I also asked her to write a poem on this topic. So, we performed it as our last piece after she had written it the night before the show.

At the show’s end, I realized Gaby felt like I did. She expressed her happiness as well as her love for The Circle, Istanbul, and the audience. She was very impressed by the fact that the venue was packed, everyone was paying close attention, and no one was making a sound. She thanked me and suggested that we continue this. I am really grateful to have had such a performance with her, and I can't wait for the next one.

Written by: Ceren Temel