We are excited to present our exclusive short interview with Murat İlkan, the renowned vocalist of Pentagram. After rejoining the iconic Turkish metal band in 2017 with their album “Akustik,” Murat İlkan has continued to captivate audiences with his powerful voice. In this brief interview, we discuss his experiences during the Covid-19 quarantine, its impact on his musical creativity, and his thoughts on the evolving metal scene in Turkey. Enjoy the insights shared by Murat İlkan in this concise yet engaging interview.

First of all, was the Covid-19 and quarantine period productive for you? How did you spend this time, and did it help or hinder your musical output?

We are going through a very interesting process. Everyone had to suddenly change their routines. This, of course, affected us all very negatively. I can’t say it was very productive under these conditions. I’m creating, but unfortunately, I can’t concentrate very well.

What can you say about the impact of the quarantine period on music and musicians?

Like every industry, we are trying to adapt to this unusual situation. Of course, the music industry was one of the most affected. Concerts cannot be held. Frankly, our activities have come to a halt. There’s not much we can do besides adapting to the conditions we’re in.

How did you find the experience of online concerts? Are you considering online concerts for your solo project as well?

Online concerts are the only activity we are doing to adapt to this environment. The feeling is not the same as live concerts; it feels very weak. More precisely, you don’t feel like you’re at a concert. Everything happens in an environment like a rehearsal. If the conditions remain uncertain and continue like this, I will, of course, have to consider giving online concerts for my solo project as well.

What are your thoughts on young metal musicians in Turkey? Are there any young musicians you enjoy listening to?

I greatly admire the efforts of young metal musicians in Turkey to make this music in this environment. Frankly, I support all young people trying to make music without discrimination.

Can you tell us a bit about the new Pentagram album?

We will be releasing another single in the coming days. The recordings are ongoing. We plan to release an album before the end of this year.

Was being a musician always one of your unchanging goals? Did you have to sacrifice anything to become a musician at a young age?

Being a musician was probably my destiny. My musical journey, which started with a choir at the age of seven, has brought me to this point. I’m lucky that my family always supported me. I didn’t have to make many sacrifices because of that.

How did you first step onto the stage (band, solo, music genre, etc.)? Can you describe the change in feelings between your first stages and now?

My first steps on stage go back to my early years, but my professional stage debut was probably in 1988 with my first band, Sawdust. The stage has always been a place that excites me immensely. I feel the same excitement at every concert today as I did on my first day on stage.

You are a powerful vocal presence and a beloved figure in the rock and metal music world. How does it feel that people have praised you for years and see you (and your bandmates) as masters of this genre?

Being loved and appreciated makes every person happy, of course. In this adventure that started at a young age, there has never been a distance between my listeners and me; we’ve always been close. I think this sincerity creates a bond of love between us. If we can be an example to them in the place they put us, how wonderful.

Pentagram gained a different identity after you joined (the Anatolia album is different compared to Pentagram and Trail Blazer). How did this process develop?

In bands, especially when the vocalist changes, the vocal style of the new singer reflects on the music produced. My joining the band naturally affected the music made.

What is the biggest advice you received from a musician throughout your career?

One of my first teachers, dear Şefik Şekeroğlu, advised me that I was very talented in music but should never stop working hard to maintain my success. I kept this in mind and worked hard. I still do.

Continuing with one of the most curious questions people have, does Pentagram change its mold in your opinion, or does it adapt to the requirements of the present day?

I don’t see it as changing the mold very much. An artist can sometimes be in different moods, and this reflects in their work. We are currently doing whatever we want to do.

What would be the biggest piece of advice you can give to people and musicians right now?

I would advise them to do what they believe in and enjoy doing, instead of following directions like ‘this works, you should do this,’ in their musical lives, and not to mind working hard in this direction. Because only if you do what you love and believe in, success will come with it.

Click here to read the interview in Turkish.