A Discovery That Began with an Email: İnanç Tutku Saraç
- Melih Şafak Özgür
- Aug 5
- 7 min read
Discovering a new artist isn’t always thanks to algorithms. Sometimes, a single email marks the beginning of a new connection.
A few days ago, I received an email that introduced me to İnanç Tutku Saraç, an independent artist creating music in the alternative and indie rock genres. In a sincere and natural message, she shared her press kit and asked me to check out her work.
The first thing that caught my attention was that, rather than the impatience of someone trying to make a name for themselves in music, he was focused on a long-term journey.
İnanç Tutku Saraç, who began playing guitar at age 13, has been writing his own songs since 2020. In his music, which falls within the alternative and indie rock genres, he blends melodic guitar arrangements with poetic storytelling and a modern production style he has developed alongside Orçun Ayata.
After gaining stage experience with various groups, the artist launched his solo career in 2026 and quickly amassed over 160,000 views on YouTube with the three independent singles he released.
However, what really impressed me was what he shared during our brief exchanges.
The 37-year-old artist decided to return to music after working for many years as a white-collar employee in the corporate world. İnanç Tutku Saraç, who says he is still at the beginning of his journey, states that his priority is to release new songs regularly and build his audience step by step.
The artist, who is collaborating with Orçun Ayata on the production of his new work, is also continuing to prepare for live performances. His first goal is to perform for audiences in Istanbul, followed by concerts featuring his own songs in various other cities.
From what he has shared, this project is conceived not so much as a short-term experiment but as the beginning of a long-term musical journey.
After this initial meeting, I asked him a few questions to get to know both his musical background and his creative process better.
Interview with İnanç Tutku Saraç
You mentioned that after working in the corporate world for many years, you decided to return to music. What was the process behind that decision? What was the turning point that led you to that point?
İnanç Tutku Saraç:
Music has been a part of my life at every stage. I’ve played in bands, performed on stage, and written songs. However, my professional career progressed much more rapidly than my musical pursuits. Over the years, I held mid- and senior-level management positions. As a natural consequence, most of my time and energy was devoted to my professional life. Music, however, never left my life; it simply took a back seat for a long time.
I never stopped creating music. However, I didn’t want to release the songs I had using the recording and production quality available at the time. Meeting Orçun Ayata was a major turning point in that regard. Once the songs finally reached the quality I’d envisioned, I felt ready to share them with listeners.
Becoming a father recently also reinforced this decision. While telling my child to pursue their dreams, I didn’t want to be someone who constantly puts off their own dreams.
While working in the corporate world, did you also perform on stage with different groups? How was that period for you? Was it difficult to balance your music and work life at the same time?
İnanç Tutku Saraç:
Yes, I’ve performed with various groups from time to time. However, as the pace of my professional life picked up, it became harder to keep this up on a regular basis. As I took on managerial roles, my responsibilities increased, and naturally, the time I could devote to music decreased. During this period, I shifted my focus from performing to production.
Balancing work and music at the same time was challenging at times. Especially during busy work periods, scheduling rehearsals, recordings, and performances required serious discipline. Looking back, however, I believe that period made a significant contribution to my growth. Most of the songs I’m releasing today are the result not only of the ideas and notes I accumulated during those years but also of the work discipline I gained from my corporate career.
What kind of role did you play in the bands you were part of back then? Were you on stage mostly as a vocalist or as a guitarist? Could you tell us a little about those years and the bands you worked with?
İnanç Tutku Saraç:
I started out in music by playing the guitar. However, in my first band experience, I took the stage as a vocalist, and I mostly took on that role in subsequent bands as well. During my college years, I was also part of projects where I played rhythm guitar at various events and venues. Later, in a band we formed purely for fun while working, I played bass guitar. In addition, I taught myself to play the drums to some extent.
Exploring different instruments gave me the opportunity to think from different perspectives while writing songs and crafting arrangements. However, vocals have always been where I feel most comfortable expressing myself on stage.
Those years were a time of pure learning and self-discovery for me. Working with different musicians taught me a great deal, both in terms of stage discipline and the culture of collaborative creation.
After being deeply involved in band music for many years, how did you decide to pursue a solo career?
İnanç Tutku Saraç:
Collaborating on music and shaping the same song through different perspectives has always been very meaningful to me. However, over time, I’ve realized that decision-making processes in groups can naturally take longer. Since everyone has different expectations, goals, and priorities when it comes to music, the creative process can sometimes slow down.
In a solo project, however, the creative process revolves around a single vision. I can make decisions more quickly—from the song’s lyrics to its arrangement—and bring the idea in my head to life more clearly.
This doesn’t mean I’ve given up on band music, of course. I just think that a solo project is the best way for me to express the story I want to tell and the music I want to create right now.
Looking at the three singles you’ve released so far, which song would you recommend to someone hearing your music for the first time, saying, “Start with this one”? Why?
İnanç Tutku Saraç:
I’d say, ‘Biz Siliniriz.’ Because I believe it’s the right place to start for someone hearing my music for the first time. With its lyrics and atmosphere, I feel it will give them a good sense of the songs they’ll hear from here on out."
Every song tells a different story and conveys a different emotion. But if someone is encountering my music for the first time, I want that door to open with ‘Biz Siliniriz.’ After that, the other songs simply complete the different stops along this journey.
Of these three songs, which one best represents you—which one do you personally feel closest to?
İnanç Tutku Saraç:
I could say, "İçimde Bir Başkası". Because the title itself actually says a lot. While taking on various responsibilities in my professional life over the years, I always tried to keep my creative side alive.
The inner conflict the song describes—and the idea that a person can embody different aspects of themselves at the same time—is the story that most closely mirrors my own life. That’s why it’s the song I feel closest to.
When you write a song, how does the process begin for you? Does a story you want to tell come to mind first, or does a melody draw you in?
İnanç Tutku Saraç:
Usually, I’m struck first by a feeling I can’t quite put my finger on. It doesn’t have a story or lyrics yet; it’s just a sensation I feel inside but can’t fully describe.
I try to express that feeling through melodies first. Once the melody emerges, it makes me feel exactly which emotion it’s conveying. The lyrics then come to support and complete what that melody is trying to convey.
That’s why, for me, writing a song is a process of first capturing a feeling and then bringing it to life through music and words.
What is the most challenging aspect of being an independent musician today? Is it creating music, gaining visibility, or managing to do both at the same time?
İnanç Tutku Saraç:
To be honest, creating music is the easiest and most enjoyable part of this whole process for me. The studio, the rehearsal room, or the songwriting process are where I feel most comfortable expressing myself.
The challenging part, however, is trying to stay visible. These days, an independent musician doesn’t just create music; they also produce content on social media, share their story, and constantly strive to stay visible. I can’t say that this part comes naturally to me, given my personality.
You release a song. Then, all of a sudden, you find yourself caught up in algorithms, content plans, and social media posts. To be honest, the moment I return to writing a new song, I feel like, “Okay, now I’m home.” Because the place I know best and where I’m happiest is music itself.
İnanç Tutku Saraç’s Work to Date
Gelelim Üstesinden (May 2026)
Biz Siliniriz (June 2026)
İçimde Bir Başkası (July 2026)
The Digital World of İnanç Tutku Saraç:
I don’t think being an independent musician today is just about creating good songs. In addition to creating music, maintaining a presence on social media, adapting to the expectations of algorithms, and constantly producing content have become an invisible workload expected of artists.
What İnanç Tutku Saraç shared in our conversation reflects the common struggle faced by many independent musicians trying to strike this balance.
If you ask me, among the three works he has released so far, the piece that moved me the most was "İçimde Bir Başkası." Both in terms of its atmosphere and the emotions it conveys, this was the work that resonated with me the most.
I look forward to following his upcoming releases and the new stories he’ll share on stage.
Melih Şafak Özgür
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