NIHAL SARUHANLI
Drummer // Percussionist // Istanbul
Nihal Saruhanlı is an Istanbul based drummer/percussionist. She grew up in her hometown Izmir. She started her piano lessons in her early childhood. She tried to express her artistic vision in visual arts for some years, but she continued her bounds with music during these years. Her musical journey on drums begun in 2008. She became a professional drummer in 2011. She took lessons and workshops from Okay Temiz, Amy Salsgiver, Rui Faustino, Jaska Lukkarinen, Giovanni Hidalgo, Volkan Öktem, Ferid Odman, Erdem Göymen, Cem Aksel and Horacio ‘El Negro’ Hernandez. She studied Jazz Certificate Programme in Bahçeşehir University. She also participated in Berklee School of Music Percussion Festival in Boston.
Crossroads
She has played and still playing with many talented musicians/bands like Ezgi Aktan, Kalben, Okay Temiz, Nilufer Verdi, Sevket Akıncı, Amy Salsgiver, Carlton J. Smith, Aida Nadeem, İstanbul'dan, Saadet Türköz, BAHR, Ethnophonics, Öykü Aras, Asena Akan, Babetna, No Land, Deniz Tekin, Ayse Tütüncü, Natalie Greffel, Ceyda Pirali, Rise Ozkan, Şenay Ocak, YLang Trio, Mert Pekduraner. She has performed in festivals like IKSV Caz Fest, Akbank Caz Fest, Nilüfer Caz Fest, Zeytinli Rock Festival, Kuşadası Gençlik Festivali, Bozcaada Caz Festivali. She played with American soul singer Carlton J. Smith at Helsinki Finland. Besides the concerts and festivals she also recorded more than 10 albums and singles with different musicians/bands. She also has 2 publishings, Pieces & Parts No.1 (2023) and Boyutların Müziği (2025). She is continuing her concerts, recordings sessions and festival tours.
Bands
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Bahr
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Mert Pekduraner
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No Land
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Ezgi Aktan
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Rize Özkan Quartet
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Deniz Tekin
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Ceyda Pirali
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Şenay Ocak Quartet
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YLang Trio
Single / Album
1 / Ezgi Aktan
İyi ki (Album / 2016)
Kapanın Elinde Kalıyorum, Bulanık, Sordum, Gülmüyorum (Gece / 2017)
Acıtır Zaman, Var Mısın Sen?, Hayal Değil (Bulanık / 2022)
Çok Severdim (Şeffaf / 2024)
Geri Dur (Single / 2025)
2 / BAHR
I Resist (Album / 2020)
Cursed Home pt.1 (Album / 2022)
3 / Mert Pekduraner
Kıyı, Bahar, Gülleri Elinde (2021)
Geriye Ne Kaldı (Album / 2021)
Dialogues In The Dark (Album / 2022)
4 / Nihal Saruhanlı
Pieces & Parts No.1 (Single / 2023)
Boyutların Müziği (Album / 2025)
5 / İstanbul'dan
Yola Çıktık (Album / 2021)
6 / Ars Longa
Hayalet Radyo (Album / 2019)
7 / The Mush Project
Om Cuddle (Single / 2018)
Helix (Album / 2018)
Owl (Album / 2018)
The Mush@Movies (Album / 2019)
8 / Güler Özince
Unutmadım Hiç (Single / 2021)
Balkon Sohbeti (Single / 2022)
Her Şey Dahil (Single / 2022)
Evde Yoktun (Single / 2022)
Hayaller Hayatlar (Single / 2022)
Başka Nehirler (Single / 2023)
Yargılar Şelale (Single / 2024)
9 / Öykü Aras
İçimize Doğru (Album / 2021)
10 / Haşmet Asilkan
Bundan Sonraki Günlerimiz Hatırlamakla Geçecek (Album / 2019)
11 / Ethnophonics
Sigara, Passants, Saba (Primaraj Koloroj / 2019)
12 / Kalben
Ben Uyurken Tut Beni (Murathan Mungan 2020 Model / 2020)
Ben Her Zaman Sana Aşıktım, Derdimin Çiçeği, Ateşböcekleri, Yol (Eski Yeniler / 2021)
Kalbim Yeniden, Bi'Şeyler, İçinden Ben Çıktım, Pişmaniye, Düşünürüm (Eski Dünyanın Yangını / 2022)
13 / Istobi
White Rose, Cooking for One, Tonight, Hell So Cold and Blue (2015)
14 / Burak Karakaş
Suratını Asma (Sadece / 2018)
15 / Suat Armagan Kocak
Tuhaf (Single / 2019)
16 / Ruşen Alkar
Hedi Hedi, Kem ü Kür (Hedi Hedi / 2019)
17 / Şevket Akıncı
Eldorado, Take Shelter (Radyo Ekoton / 2020)
Grandgousier (Dünyada Saat Kaç? / 2021)
Embraceable You (Meskün Mahal / 2022)
18 / Hakan Kurtaş-Kalben
Tesadüfen (Single / 2020)
19 / Selin Baycan
Ocak (Single / 2020)
20 / ANDA
Kıyı Kuşları, Sen ve Ben (Single / 2021)
21 / Selin Sümbültepe
Eksik Vals (Single / 2023)
22 / Selin Karaağaç
Bahar (Single / 2024)
23 / Bade Nosa
Hesap (Single / 2025)
24 / Nedim Güvenç - Olta
Barista Nuri (Single / 2025)
BOYUTLARIN MÜZİĞİ
Album
Inspired by Ursula K. Le. Guin's book 'Changing Flight', 'Boyutların Müziği' is the music of of different dimensions. Chosen text from the book meets the sounds created for every dimension, gives the atmospheric sounds of these places and cultures
