On the night of March 5, 2023, we had a fantastic concert organized by Surge Türkiye x Duality Productions, featuring the Norwegian artist Sylvaine, currently based in France, and our local gothic-darkwave band Kana Kana. After all the tough times we’ve been going through, this long-awaited event brought some much-needed joy and mental relief. Personally, I can say it was the best day I’ve had since February 6.

I took the train from Eskişehir to attend both the Saturnus concert on Saturday and the Sylvaine and Kana Kana concert on Sunday. I woke up with excitement on Sunday morning and headed to Kadıköy. When Sylvaine walked into the venue, I knew it was going to be a great day. Seeing friendly and smiling teams not only gets me excited about their music but also about their personalities. Sylvaine’s team was one of those genuinely friendly groups.

After the soundcheck, we went to “Çinili Taş Fırın” in Kadıköy with the band and introduced them to “lahmacun, pide, ayran, şalgam, Turkish coffee, and tea.” By the end of it, everyone at the table had that overly full look on their faces, but they said they enjoyed everything they tried. We’re proud of that…

We then returned to Kadıköysahne, completed Kana Kana’s soundcheck, and as the doors opened, the audience began to fill the venue.

When it was time for the performance and Övünç Dan appeared on stage with incredible makeup, I couldn’t stay still. In my opinion, Kana Kana is one of the bands that exceed our country’s standards and will continue to do so. Their cover of “Tarkan – Kır Zincirlerini” was particularly well done and had a unique touch. I had a feeling that many in the audience hadn’t heard Kana Kana live before, and maybe not even digitally. But I could see the satisfaction on their faces as they experienced the band for the first time. The comments and messages I saw afterward confirmed this. Kana Kana proved to be the perfect opening act before Sylvaine took the stage.

Then, Sylvaine stepped onto the stage and created a beautiful ambiance. Even as someone who hasn’t listened to Sylvaine as much as others in the audience, their performance satisfied and excited me. I’m sure they created an even better atmosphere for their dedicated fans.

In the middle of Sylvaine’s set, there was a surprising moment. Kathrine invited a couple onto the stage. At first, I didn’t understand what was happening. When the couple came up, there was a marriage proposal. The gentleman had worked hard to arrange this, messaging Kathrine and asking her to make it happen. The band didn’t want to turn him down. It’s not something you could refuse, really. You can watch the video below.

All the merchandise sold during the concert was donated to Ahbap for the earthquake-affected areas. Both Kana Kana and Sylvaine chose to donate their merch proceeds, which I thought was a wonderful gesture.

Finally, regarding the venue and other elements, I’ve been to many concerts at Kadıköysahne and never had major complaints about the sound system. It was satisfying for me again. We all know the disappointments we’ve faced at supposedly higher-quality venues after metal concerts. Here, I don’t think people felt that way. The only long-standing issue with Kadıköysahne is the columns that obstruct the view from different parts of the venue. But after recent disasters, people seem less inclined to complain about it. Maybe a solution will be found over time, but for now, let’s focus on feeling safe.

I hope I’ve provided a good summary for those who couldn’t attend, and for those who did, I hope you shared similar feelings.

Take care, and see you soon at the next Sylvaine adventure!