Yasak Helva was founded by Salih Korkut Peker. The band identifies their music as “electric folk” or “progressive folk”. To create their sound, they use cümbüs (a Turkish fretless instrument, looks and sounds like a mix of oud and banjo), caglama (electric saz with high tension guitar strings), bass and drums. They set Anatolian, Balkan and Middle Eastern music culture as their foundation with a little touch from rock and jazz classics and some improvisation. 

Yasak Helva drew quick attention in the alternative & traditional music area. They played at Jazz a’ Carthage 2019 in Tunisia and performed at after winning a contest. With a jury and voting fans they were chosen to represent Turkey at Sziget Festival, Hungary in 2019. 

Yasak Helva became a part of the second compilation album of a serie which focuses on the new generation of Turkish psychedelics, called “Saz Power” with their Silifke Zeybeği cover. The album was released in majority of territories such as Japan, USA and Europe. The trio released their first album “Rektefe” in autumn 2019.

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