Nasip Kısmet’s music fuses the Anatolian lyrical poetry traditions with the eclectic and overlapping rhythms and melodies of ethnic jazz, fusion and psychedelic folk. With a mixture of instrumentals and sung pieces, Nasip Kısmet connects to audiences on a spiritual level. Even when their audiences don’t understand a word of Turkish, they are still moved both figuratively and literally by sounds and rhythms that resonate deep within music lovers of all nationalities.

The band’s name comes from a Turkish phrase “nasip kısmet”, idiomatic for native speakers, that expresses the idea of fate or destiny. Similar to the Spanish phrase “Que sera sera”, it is used in Turkey to suggest that one has surrendered to the current of events beyond their control. Submerging themselves in the flowing river of time and circumstance, they accept what comes—be it good or bad—with arms, eyes, and heart open wide.

Bandleader Arif Erdem Ocak cut his teeth as a performing musician in the thriving music scene in Ankara. His first band, Seksendört, first topped the Turkish charts more than 15 years ago. With a string of popular hits, the band built a devoted following, but Arif had his sights set on a musical career in the West. He moved to Budapest in 2010 and established himself as a solo performer. His unique percussive guitar style, with his trademark hammer-ons and pull-offs, quickly marked him as a musician with a difference. His sound was unlike anything music fans in Budapest had heard before.

Arif’s long lasting dream of making Turkish music in a multi instrumental formation came to life in 2019 when Arif met Cem Aksel, who is considered as one of the best jazz drummers of Turkey, in Budapest. Soon after this meeting, Dániel Mester, who was performing with Turkish musician Karsu Dönmez and therefore was familiar with Turkish music, joined Arif and Cem with Saxophone and Clarinet. With Márton Eged on Bass Guitar joining them, the band had its first performance in late 2019. After Cem Aksel moved back home to Istanbul, Dávid Szegő joined the band on drums and percussion respectively, and the line-up was completed by Derya Ocak’s (Arif’s sister) addition on vocals.

After the release of their first 3-song EP (Nasip Kısmet - 26 March 2021) and the Covid restrictions lifted, Nasip Kısmet’s following grew remarkably quickly, and they were soon booking gigs at popular Budapest venues such as A38, Szimpla Kert, Mom-Kult, Turbina Muzikum and Opus Jazz Club. The band will have their LP Release concert on 23 April at Akvárium Klub and the audience will have the chance to listen to their live performances throughout the year.

Although the pandemic caused a long pause in their musical activities, the band used this period to record their first LP. The LP was recorded live in SuperSize Studio and published in DSD format in January 2022 and released on digital formats (Live At Supersize Recording) on 22 April 2022 by Hunnia Records.

The LP consists of 10 tracks, while 2 of them are Nasip Kısmet’s own instrumental pieces, most of the songs are well known Turkish folk songs with high energy. Especially the songs originated from the North of Turkey, Black Sea region where the siblings Arif and Derya were born, have a strong effect on the audience with their unique rhythms. However, the band wanted to release their single with a song from Ankara: Ankara’nın Bağları (AKA: Büklüm Büklüm). They explain the reason for choosing this song: because this was the song the audience reacted the most beautiful way. This was the song that made everyone dance.