Erdem Şimşek

Erdem Şimşek was born in Ankara, in 1984. He is one of the prominent bağlama performers of the younger generation. He started to play bağlama when he was six with the influences of his grandfather Aşık Süleyman Koçak. He graduated from Middle East Technical University, Geological Engineering Department in 2007.

He completed his ethnomusicology master degree in Istanbul Technical University, Center for Advanced Studies in Music (MIAM), where he worked as a research assistant until 2015. He continues his doctoral studies in ITU Musicology and Music Theory Program and works as a lecturer in ITU Turkish Music State Conservatory Instrument Department.

Behind the concerts with Bengi Bağlama Trio and Lal Bağlama Trio he has been performing in many different international music projects such as the ones with Dresden Sinfoniker, Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, Trickster Orchestra, Hezarfen Ensemble. He performed in many music programs on national TV (TRT), like Bergüzar, Dem Bu Dem, Katre, Yediveren, Telli Turnam. He performed in many albums, and some of his performances are published by important producers like ECM, Felmay, Kalan. Also he performed many concerts with prominent musicians like Musa Eroğlu and Zülfü Livaneli.

Behind traditional performance techniques, Şimşek also continues his experimental studies on different tuning systems with new designed bağlama types like 4-stringed bağlama and he writes new compositions for bağlama family, especially using şelpe techniques.