Coffee Break with Isolate founders: Murat Uncuoglu & Alican
On the surface, it’s a label which has been slowly establishing itself across the radio waves of Istanbul and further ashore for the past two years. But the story of Isolate has been basking in the midst of the Turkish heat much longer than that. A friendship formed off the back of music and mutual respect for each other’s talents since the early 2000s, Murat Uncuoglu and Alican had already experienced the trials and tribulations of running a label back in 2006, which sadly was not deemed for success.
But as we press the fast forward button to the present moment, with experience gathered from the original label and that of their joint party along the way, here stands Isolate - arguably one of the strongest and instantly recognisable labels today thanks to its consistent releases packed with big intense melodies, lustrous soundwaves and equally bold artwork to match. Having just premiered Murat and Alican’s special joint track ‘Patchwork’, we grabbed this as the perfect opportunity to nail some questions down from them both.
Hi there, Murat and Alican. We’re very lucky to have you both stop by and chat to us today. Where exactly are you as we speak, and how are you taking your coffee currently?
Murat and Alican: Hello, thanks for having us :) We are in our studio/office, making plans for the next year and having an espresso after a healthy lunch!
Firstly, it would be great to know the backstory behind your friendship. Where did you meet each other, what was the icebreaker and what has been the key to your successful partnership all these years later?
Alican: Well actually, it goes way back to the early 2000s. Murat was the top DJ here in Turkey and I was a passionate music listener and a beginner in producing it. After I gave him some of the music I was making, we became friends; he invited me to the studio and showed me some tricks. That’s how it all started!
Murat: Alican was a regular at our club nights and we were always discussing sounds and everything. He was a guy very passionate about music. We spent some time in the studio and then started working together. I think we are attracted to similar genres and sounds but also have our own styles. This is very important when working with someone.
Your joint record label, Isolate, has just celebrated its second birthday recently. Congrats! At the time of its formation, what was the music scene like in Istanbul, and did your surroundings propel you in any particular way as the reason for starting the label?
Alican: Thank you! It’s been a fun journey. The idea of launching a record label also goes back to 2006, where we basically failed running a label together – it needed a lot of dedication and attention. We were very busy with other things in our life and couldn’t give it a lot of time it deserved.
Fast-forward to recent times, Isolate started as a party series in Istanbul. We did club nights, parties and festivals and thought we needed to present our musical vision. Music from our friends, artists we love! We will be expanding our Isolate nights to other cities in Europe with our label artists.
With a lot of new record labels forming recently, what do you think is the niche of Isolate for the music lovers and producers who release with you? What’s the number one factor to having an artist successfully release with you?
Murat: Music always comes first. I think all the music we release is special for us - they all speak for the artists themselves. They have a unique identity! For our releases, the most important thing in regards to the artist we look for is the musical approach. We are always looking for those who are reflecting their personal taste, not following trends.
To coincide with Isolate’s birthday, you are releasing your ‘No End’ EP. As Alican has mentioned online, you two don’t release a lot of tracks together - is there any particular reason?
Alican: Although we are very good friends and spend a lot of time in the studio together, we are two different artists and speak differently with our music. We both have made new music individually this year, that will see the light of the day hopefully soon. We really enjoy working together and we think it’s best to save our collaborative work for special moments… Maybe the 20th release on Isolate?
Can you remember the process of the ‘Patchwork’ - the track we recently premiered on our channel?
Alican: I remember how it happened exactly: it was the day we got a new synth in the studio. We were checking the sounds on it and started jamming. We just pressed the record button and completed the track pretty quick. When we tried it the first time on the dancefloor, the reaction was really good, and people came up to the booth to ask about the tune.
Personally, as an avid listener of your releases on the label, I get this feeling that each track really exudes these big and captivating melodies. And to you as individual artists, is this always the vibe you are looking to create?
Alican: I am constantly looking for this little thing in the track that catches you instantly. Sometimes it’s the rhythm or the riff, or the melody in the track for me.
Murat: I try to create a vibe with a unique sound, whether it’s coming from a nice sequence of harmonies or a beat.
When you’re making tracks, how do you build your melodies and what do you do if you ever get writer’s block (as such)? Where do you think you both differ with your melodic structures?
Alican: The writing process always changes, but most of the time I think of the groove and the rhythm first and the melody comes later. If I get writer’s block, most of the time I find myself turning off the computer and continue working the next day :).
Murat: I start with background effects and I try harmonies on it, then it will give me an idea of the groove I need in the track. If I get writer’s block, the delete button is always there for me to erase all.
Being artists before both knowing each other, how do you think getting to know and work together has helped you improve as artists? Any habits you’ve picked up from each other?
Alican: I really enjoy working with other artists in the studio and learning new things from them.
Of course, Murat is the one I worked with most. I really like his approach on completing tracks quickly and taking the demo out of the studio. Listening later in the club or at home to decide how it sounds with a fresh pair of ears and clear mind! I would say it’s one of the most important things I learned from him.
Murat: I’ve always been a little bit messy when working in the studio, however when I worked with Alican I got lots of feedback on how to be organised when working. Most of the time I like to compress, or drive the sound (sometimes a lot) and even get a little bit of distortion - he finds the right limits all the time, and he always comes with the new plug-ins!
Have there been any particular genres which have influenced yourselves as artists and on Isolate’s sound?
Alican: I can’t really talk about a particular genre, but we are really into lots of different styles from prog rock to ‘80s funk and to indie. For the dance music - we have been always fans of deep, melodic sounds and a very warm deep bass.
As well as the bold musical output for the label releases, all the artwork of the eps are similarly designed. There’s an interesting, and almost Cubism approach. CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THE WORKS?
Alican: Our artworks are designed by our lovely and talented friend Anne-Marie Pappas from Hamburg. She has a great eye and a vision for the look of the label, and we love it so much. We love this thing with every artwork, it has a kind of an abstract look but also reminds you of an object. Everyone sees something different in it.
Do you have more plans for the artworks moving forward?
Alican: Sure! The only thing that doesn’t change is the change itself. We know Anne-Marie is already working on new ideas and we can’t wait to see them!
As already stated, your track melodies are really quite big and captivating, and seem to be made for creating these big euphoric moments on the dancefloor. For you, where and when is the perfect place to experience these moments?
Murat: Always the dancefloor – to be able to experience these moments with passionate music lovers is priceless! From a little crowd of 100, or a big one like 5000+ is always super fun!
During the height of lockdown, you were both quite avid streamers with your DJ sets. Looking back on these, has it changed your perception with how you connect your music to listeners?
Alican: It sure was very depressing and tough times for a lot of people… and also for us of course, for as DJs we were really used to living our routine - playing on weekends. So, when that was gone, we both felt like we needed a way to connect with people. Streaming was the only option.
We really had good messages from people all around the world, and also it has helped us shaping and finishing our new music by trying them on the streams to see what parts were working, and what parts were not.
Looking to the close and far future, what are the plans for the label? Any upcoming releases and artists you are able to tell us about?
Alican: We have great music lined-up for the next year :). But before that, it’s safe to say we are closing the year with two super-nice EPs from Invōker and Mehill!
What defines you individually and collectively, both as artists and people?
Alican: I would say I am a calm person, but with my music I really like the diversity. I love surprising people.
Murat: My music is like my personality, deep, emotional with melodies, harmonies and passion!
If you were isolated on an island, who would you choose to be with and which track would you have playing on repeat?
Alican: I would like to be with my crew of around three-four people, and probably playing DJ Koze - ’Amygdala’ album on repeat!
Murat: With my dogs playing Pat Matheny – ‘Are You Going With Me’ (also on repeat).
INTERVIEW BY JOANNE PHILPOTT.