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Guitarist Nilay Tuter and drummer Ali Yildiz, who founded Türkiye's first deaf music group, say they've had the chance to perform in the U.S. but haven't found the same support at home.
Now they want to reach every corner of the country with their music and make their voice heard.
Despite their hearing loss, Tuter and Yildiz feel music through its rhythm, and in 2024, they made history by founding "Moon Deaf Music," Türkiyes's first deaf band.
The musicians want to prove that deaf people belong in every corner of the arts, but every time they tried to book a concert in Türkiye, doors closed in their faces because of their disability.
Having already played mini concerts in several countries, most notably the U.S., the musicians now hope to tour city to city across Türkiye, bringing their music to people nationwide and raising the visibility of deaf individuals in the arts.
"We want to teach music to both deaf people and people with other disabilities," Guitarist Nilay Tuter said she lost her hearing at five months old due to a high fever.
"Ever since that day, I've always tried to hear with hearing aids. Without my hearing aid, I can't hear at all. It's been hard, but I've managed to adapt," she said.
Tuter said that despite her hearing loss, she thrived academically, and after finishing school went on to work at a state bank.
She said she'd always been drawn to music but never dared to pursue it because of her disability.
"I always loved music, but of course it wasn't easy. At 12, I started listening to music and getting more interested in it. Around that time, I decided to learn guitar and started taking lessons. That's when I realized I had both an interest in music and a talent for it. Over time, that passion led us to decide to form a band," she said.
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She continued, "We founded Türkiye's first deaf music group. Now we've started bringing our music to Türkiye and to the world. We've played concerts in America many times. We get no recognition at all in Türkiye, but we're valued in America. We haven't been able to play a single concert in Türkiye. We also want to build a bigger group and teach music to both deaf people and people with other disabilities. That's how we want to raise awareness."
Ali Yıldız, Türkiye's first deaf drummer, said he faced many challenges but never gave up on his education.
After finishing school, Yildiz went on to work at a bank and said he's been playing drums since he was 20.
Yildiz, noting how central music has become to his life, said, "music became a way for me to hold onto life. As the first drummer in this field, I wanted to set an example, and in 2024 we founded Türkiye's first deaf music group. We keep getting invited to play in America, and we play there constantly. But unfortunately, we haven't been able to perform in Türkiye, and our music isn't valued here. We want support so that deaf people in Türkiye can make music too."
For Tuter and Yildiz, music has enriched their lives and helped them overcome obstacles. They want it to become a tool for breaking down prejudice and barriers.
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