Elif Sanchez – Así pues… (Pasion Turca, 2026)
Turkish singer-songwriter Elif Sanchez’s fourth album , Así pues…, was recorded in collaboration with Madrid-based multinational string quartet O Kwarteto. On this occasion, the exquisite project brings together musical influences from Brazil, Spain, Greece, and Türkiye.
The album features songs beautifully performed in Spanish, Portuguese, Turkish, and Greek. Guest appearances include famed Brazilian guitarist and composer Guinga, harmonica virtuoso Antonio Serrano, Turkish guitarist Cenk Erdoğan, and Greek musician Dimitris Bakoulis. Additional contributors include Ismail Lumanovski, Panagiotis Andreou, and Engin Günaydın. Overall, it is a truly delightful, stirring, impeccable, and timeless convergence of chamber music and folk traditions from the eastern and western Mediterranean regions and Brazil. O Kwarteto serves as the album’s central ensemble, connecting its diverse musical influences.
According to Sanchez, “Así pues… is an album that tells the story of a journey through different cultures. We embraced the cultures we feel deeply connected to—places we have lived in—and invited artists who represent those worlds in the most authentic and meaningful way. That made this project even more personal. We are honored to collaborate with Guinga, Antonio Serrano, Cenk Erdoğan, and Dimitris Bakoulis as featured artists, alongside Ismail Lumanovski, Panagiotis Andreou and Engin Günaydın as guest artists. These are musicians we have admired for years, and working with them feels nothing short of euphoric. Guiding the entire journey is O Kwarteto, the string quartet that weaves everything together. Así pues… takes you on a journey through Brazil, Spain, Greece, and Türkiye. Just lie back, and enjoy the ride.”
Sanchez began her musical education within her family before enrolling at the Istanbul State Conservatory, where she graduated with the Outstanding Achievement Award. In 2017, she completed her studies at Berklee College of Music, receiving both the Bill Pierce Award and the Mediterranean Music Institute Award.
Her stellar recording career started with a debut album that combined Turkish folk music, classical music, and jazz. Subsequently, she released MI VOZ in 2021, a collection produced by composer and guitarist Javier Limón. The 11-track album included “Vuelve (Kurşun Adres Sormaz Ki),” a duet with Kenan Doğulu.
In the years that followed, Sanchez collaborated on “Tres Palabras” with Paul Sanchez and recorded “A Donde Te Has Ido” for Limón’s Viajeras project. She also contributed her interpretation of “Benim İçin Öldün Artık” to Selami Şahin Şarkıları 1, a tribute release marking the 57th anniversary of Selami Şahin’s music career.
Further collaborations included “Verdad Amarga” with Rycardo Moreno and two recordings with pianist Alfredo Rodriguez. The pair also performed together at the Madrid Jazz Festival and later released “Bésame Mucho” as a single.
Most recently, Sanchez rolled out her third album, Stages of Love, which explored themes of love through original songs in Turkish, English, and Spanish. The release followed a series of singles, including “Kırmızı Buğday,” “Ayrılıq,” and “Me Skotose Giati Tin Agapousa,” alongside “Verdad Amarga.”
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.