Madrid-based Turkish vocalist Elif Sanchez has released a new video for “Ayrılıq,” an Azerbaijani folk song she credits as a turning point in her shift from instrumentalist to singer.
Elif shared: ‘“Ayrılıq” is a very special song for me. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that my singing career began with this song. When I was studying at Berklee, I identified myself mainly as an instrumentalist. I sang only because I enjoyed it, not because I thought of myself as a singer. One day, the producer of the Berklee Middle Eastern Festival asked me to perform the Azerbaijani folk song “Ayrılıq.”
“At the time, there was no Azerbaijani singer at the school, and they knew I could sing in Azerbaijani. I was very nervous, because I had never truly seen myself as a vocalist. But I wanted to help, so I agreed. I performed the song at the concert with Azerbaijani pianist Emil Afrasiyab, and from that moment on, people kept calling me to sing.
“That performance changed everything. This song has accompanied me throughout my life. “Ayrılıq” speaks of separation, not from a loved one, but from a homeland. Even though I chose to live abroad, the longing never ended. I still don’t live in Türkiye, but my heart always beats with it. To this day, “Ayrılıq” is the song I sing when I feel like crying.”
Born and raised in Istanbul in a family immersed in Anatolian culture, Sanchez began classical training on oboe and cor anglais at age 10 at Istanbul University State Conservatory, where she later graduated with an Outstanding Achievement Award. She performed with the conservatory’s symphony orchestra from age 16 while also studying jazz vocals on a full scholarship at Bahçeşehir University.
Sanchez entered Berklee in 2013 on an international tour scholarship and later shared stages with artists that include Jacob Collier, Tigran Hamasyan, Terence Blanchard, Antonio Serrano, and Dream Theater. She also performed at venues such as Boston Symphony Hall and Boston Opera House. In 2015, she formed the Mediant Collective quartet, which drew the attention of producer Javier Limón and led to her debut album and concerts in Greece, Spain, and Türkiye.
Her mix of Middle Eastern and Latin influences later reached Univision, which helped expand her U.S. performance schedule. Sanchez graduated from Berklee in 2017 and received honors that include the Bill Pierce Award and the Mediterranean Music Award, then continued work in New York.
She released her self-titled debut, Elif Sanchez, in 2021. Her second album, Mi Voz, produced by Limón, included the duet “Kurşun Adres Sormaz Ki – Vuelve” with Kenan Doğulu. She also recorded “Benim İçin Öldün Artık” for Selami Şahin Şarkıları 1 and contributed “A Donde Te Has Ido” to the Limón-produced Viajeras project.
After relocating to Madrid in 2023, Sanchez continued touring internationally and released “Bésame Mucho” with Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez. Her next album, Stages Of Love, is scheduled for February 21, 2026, and will feature original songs in Turkish, English, and Spanish.
Author: World Music Central News Room
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