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Turkish singer and songwriter Melike Sahin has taken a major step toward international recognition as her album Akkor has been accepted for consideration in four categories at the Grammy Awards—one of the most prestigious honors in the global music industry.
The 68th Grammy Awards will be held in Los Angeles on February 1, 2026. Sahin’s Akkor has been accepted for evaluation in the categories of Best Global Music Album, Best Engineered Album (Non-Classical), and Best Immersive Audio Album.
Additionally, her song Canin Beni Cekti will compete in the Best Global Music Performance category.
According to the Recording Academy, which organizes the Grammys, these entries will be part of the first-round voting process open to Academy members before the official nominations are announced on Nov. 7.
Born in Istanbul in 1988, Sahin traces her roots to Divrigi, a town in eastern Türkiye. She developed a deep interest in music at a young age and studied vocal techniques under the late composer Timur Selcuk at the Contemporary Music Center.
After earning a sociology degree from Bogazici University in 2012, she spent several years as a vocalist for the acclaimed psychedelic folk group Baba Zula.
Before launching her solo career, Sahin also performed with her own ensemble, “Meliksah ve Saz Arkadaslari,” in Istanbul’s Beyoglu district, offering audiences a repertoire inspired by arabesk—a genre that blends Turkish folk melodies with emotional, often melancholic lyrics.
Sahin’s international breakthrough came in 2017 when she performed three songs for French director Tony Gatlif’s film Djam, also appearing in a concert at the Cannes Film Festival before the film’s world premiere.
That same year, she began her solo career with singles such as Bi’ Firlatsam and Deli Kan.
Her debut album, Merhem, was released in February 2021, introducing her distinctive blend of modern Turkish sound and deeply emotional storytelling.
With Akkor, Sahin now aims to bring her unique artistic voice to a global audience, representing Türkiye’s contemporary music scene at the Grammy Awards.
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