The well-known Turkish singer Efkan Sesen settles in Steenwijkerwold.

By Hilda Knoll.

STEENWIJKERWOLD - Efkan Sesen (60) came to live in Steenwijkerwold five months ago. Few of his fellow citizens still know that he is a well-known singer and musician in Turkey and among Turkish migrants in the Netherlands.

“I stand at the station, behind me the past, fled from myself.” With those lines, Efkan Sesen starts the song "The new life", only to burst into the chorus a little later: "Life, the new life." Sesen says that he recorded the music video for this song in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. It comes from his 2021 album 'ID'. “This album contains songs that I sing in nine languages: Armenian, Arabic, Kurdish, Laz, Pontos (ancient Greek), Zazaki, Turkish, English and Dutch. These world songs are very diverse: they are about the climate, politics and love.
The song 'The New Life' is about his life in the Netherlands. That life begins in Rotterdam, where he will live in 2018 with his wife Didar and son Sinan. “We came to the Netherlands because my son was going to study at the conservatory,” says Sesen. Shortly afterwards, the family moves to Bergschenhoek. Steenwijkerwold has been the domicile of Efkan and Didar for five months. They choose this place because they want to live closer to their son, who now lives and works in Emmen. “We also wanted to live in a quiet, quiet place outside the city, for my health and to be able to make music,” adds Efkan.
Fifteen albums
Sesen is particularly well known among Turkish migrants in the Netherlands. No wonder, because he has more than earned his spurs in the music world. The resident of Steenwijkerwold has already released fifteen albums. “I write lyrics and compose music, then I arrange my songs,” he says. Sesen also plays guitar and whistle. He is also a studio director and has his own music production company. He regularly performs at cultural and artistic events and festivals. “Music is my everything. Both as a profession and as a hobby. It's like breathing,” he says with a big smile on his face. He is already making progress in this region. He has already performed in Café Gelderingen in January. Sesen: “I was invited and played three songs. It was a very nice atmosphere.” Anyone looking for a singer for a festival or living room concert can book him. “I would like to go to big festivals with my music band. But I can also give a two-hour home concert of 25 songs with a musician accompanying me. Accompanied by my whistle, of course.”
Life in the Netherlands suits Sesen well. He finds the biggest difference with Turkey freedoms and economy. “Based on this, the standard of living is obviously different,” he explains. Many people from other countries experience the Netherlands as hectic, but Sesen does not. “I feel peaceful here, but the Netherlands does have a society of planning and has few surprises.” He thinks Steenwijkerwold is a very nice place. “Our neighbors, the people we meet while walking are very nice. And being close to nature and farms is very good for our soul. It also has a positive influence on me, that is, producing songs.”
Whistle in prison
He tells about his life in Turkey that he was born in Istanbul, but that his family is originally from Georgia. Sesen is politically active in Turkey. In the 1980s, for example, he participated in the fight against the military junta. The government therefore puts him in prison. The special thing about his time in prison is that it forms the basis of his music career. “Instruments were forbidden, but I whistled familiar tunes for everyone for hours.” After his release he continued to develop as a musician in Turkey. By the way, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, both children have also become musicians.

Sesen wants to keep making music in the future. “I like to participate in projects that appeal to people in order to bring cultures together.” He is also working on a new album, which will be called 'Colours and Whistles Vol 3'. Then he starts his Dutch song again: “It starts again, I am a free fugitive in Amsterdam. Life! The new life…” it sounds with a warm tenor voice.
Anyone who wants to listen to Efkan Sesen's songs will find a lot of his work on Spotify. He also invites you to subscribe to his YouTube channel (Sesen Muziek@EfkanSesenmusic).