Khruangbin Incorporates ‘Queen Of Turkish Pop’ Sezen Aksu’s ‘Geri Dön’ Into Encore In Istanbul

Khruangbin wrapped a two-night stand at the Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theatre in Istanbul, Turkey on Wednesday. The trio debuted a cover of Turkish artist Sezen Aksu‘s “Geri Dön” to kick off the encore.

Khruangbin — guitarist Mark Speer, bassist Laura Lee and drummer DJ Johnson — are a band that is heavily influenced by music from all over the world. Speer especially is a fan of Sezen Aksu, who is referred to as the “Queen of Turkish Pop.”

“Geri Dön” appears on Aksu’s 1984 album, Sen Ağlama. In Istanbul on Wednesday, Khruangbin launched their encore with an instrumental rendition of “Geri Dön,” a debut for the band according to SetlistFM stats. With Speer handling the melody on guitar Laura Lee and Johnson were locked in via bass and kick drum.

Watch Khruangbin unveil “Geri Dön” in the clips below:

Khruangbin began the concert with The Universe Smiles Upon You cut “White Gloves.” The trio would also lean heavily on their 2024 LP, A La Sala, performing six tracks: “A Love International,” “Hold Me Up (Thank You),” “Juegos y Nubes,” “May Ninth,” “Pon Pón” and “Todavía Viva.”

The band concluded their main set with the favorite “María también.” Following the Sezen Aksu cover, the band capped the concert with the Universe tracks “People Everywhere (Still Alive)” and “Dern Kala.”

Check out a clip of the “Maria tambien” performance in Istanbul on August 26:

Khruangbin returns to the U.S. with a performance at the Bourbon & Beyond Festival in Louisville, Kentucky on September 12. Scroll down for the band’s itinerary and ticket info.