Freedjom’s Beyoglurush is a fusion of traditional Turkish music and modern electronic beats inspired by Istanbul.
Italian club music label Beat Machine Records is kicking off 2025 by announcing a new catalogue: Terra Tempo. The new catalogue will focus on global sounds, blending traditional and contemporary electronic rhythms. Each release is conceived as an immersive journey, re-imagining the heritage of one or more cultures and immersing it in the modern musical landscape.
The first Terra Tempo release is an album entitled Beyoglurush, by producer Freedjom (Özgür Haznedar). In this project, the Istanbul-born, Berlin-based producer fuses footwork, juke, and other breakneck rhythms with the sounds of Turkish instruments such as the darbouka, bendir, and def. These rhythms are inspired by the dynamic street music culture of Beyoğlu, a historic district of Istanbul renowned for its rich musical expression and organic atmosphere.
Beyoglurush captures the essence of Istanbul, blending traditional Turkish percussion with contemporary electronic beats to reflect the city’s dynamic energy. The album draws on the city’s rich cultural mix and the melancholic imagery of Turkish poet Attilâ İlhan developed in his work ‘Sisler Bulvarı’ (‘Boulevard of Mists’), adding emotional depth to the music. The fusion of organic rhythms and fast modern grooves creates a unique sound that is both timeless and contemporary. With this debut album, Terra Tempo aims to celebrate the world’s cultural heritage, making traditional music accessible and relevant to modern audiences.
Our pre-release extract is the track “Watch Traffic”, which you can listen to in this article. Over the five minutes that make up the track, Freedjom takes us on a frantic percussive journey. The inexhaustible darbouka solo gradually turns into an electrifying footwork beat. The melodic layers complete the track’s ambience, which is already characteristic of the Stamboulian producer’s work.
Pre-order Beyoglurush by Freedjom on Bandcamp, out on 14 February on Beat Machine Records.
