BEHIND THE SOUND: CENGIZ
From the vibrant streets of Istanbul to the thriving Broken Beat scene of London, Cengiz has cultivated a sound that expertly blends his love for jazz, house, techno, soul and more. Blessing many dancefloors across the world in the process.
A dedicated DJ, record collector, avid producer and a club night curator. Cengiz has earned recognition from icons like Gilles Peterson, Lefto, IG Culture, and Jamz Supernova with releases on seminal labels like CoOp Presents, Dance Regular and Boogie Café. His regular nights, Bruk Therapy, continue to grow the Broken Beat scene in the capital giving many artists a spotlight to be heard.
We caught up with Cengiz to explore his track ‘J O Y’, which has been captivating audiences across festivals throughout the summer, and to dive into the influences and ideas that shape him.
Tell us about your song on the compilation.
"J O Y" originally began as a dubplate that I wasn't feeling much. So I kept the drum tracks and started digging through records for inspiration. I came across a beautiful electric piano section on a Brazilian record, which later on became the foundation of the track. I wanted something soulful with grit for the dance floor, and to bring it to life, I invited saxophonist David Kayode, who I’d seen at an Orii jam session, to add a live layer. His freestyle really captured the spirit of the tune.
What sounds, genres, and artists do you draw inspiration from normally in your creative process?
I'm inspired by a wide range of genres, jazz, techno, breaks, spoken word, it all feeds into my creative process. Recently, I've been leaning more toward big room sounds, exploring how they can complement and evolve what I've been doing so far.
Do you have a fixed way of creating music? Where do you normally start an idea form?
These days, inspiration often strikes while I’m listening to music. I’ll hear a loop or a distinct element within a track, sometimes it’s a rhythmic texture I’ll sample, other times a musical phrase I’ll try to transcribe and reinterpret. That fragment usually becomes the foundation around which the entire track is built. Sometimes that initial fragment doesn't make it into the final track at all and that’s okay. Maybe it was just meant to spark the process.
Any words of wisdom for anyone wanting to realise a creative project?
Don’t create for likes, streams, or recognition. Stay true to yourself and avoid getting caught up in the noise. Create with intention, without expecting anything in return, do it for your soul and to have fun. When you create with a feeling of fulfillment, it will resonate!
Do you have any upcoming projects we should keep an eye out for?
I’ve got a couple of remixes in the pipeline, and I’m also exploring the idea of reworking more jazz dancefloor classics. I’m planning to bring in live musicians again, similar to what I did on my MOTF track, released last year, inspired by Mother of the Future from Norman Connors.
What album or EP will you likely have on repeat for the rest of the summer?
The "We Move As One" compilation of course !
Gilles Peterson presents International Anthem
Chaos In The CBD - A Deeper Life
fabric presents Laurent Garnier: House Odyssey
Ron Trent - Lift Off
Sentinel 793 - Izm Of Iz And Iznts
Nowhere People - Save Some
COOP Presents "One Shots" series
Any books, movies, or series you’re currently watching and would recommend, why?
I recently watched Loro by Paolo Sorrentino, I really like this director, his style, cinematography and edgy story lines.
Where can people follow you?
All links are up on my website: itscengiz.com, I also curate a club night called Bruk Therapy, you can find details on future events at bruktherapy.club
