Kazım Koyuncu is an artist who reached a wide audience by blending Black Sea music with modern genres. Koyuncu made significant contributions to Turkish music through lyric writing, composition, and stage performance, and is also recognized for his sensitivity to environmental and human rights issues.

^{Kazım Koyuncu.} (Anadolu Ajansı)

Kazım Koyuncu was born on 10 November 1971 in Yeşilköy village, part of the Hopa district in Artvin. Of Laz origin, Koyuncu began engaging with music at an early age, first learning to play the tulum and guitar.

Influenced by his father Hasan Koyuncu, Kazım became familiar with Black Sea music from childhood and developed an interest in poets and writers during his youth, beginning to explore various artistic disciplines.

He enrolled at the Faculty of Political Sciences of Istanbul University to pursue undergraduate studies but left before completing his academic career due to his deep commitment to art. During this period, he actively participated in social movements and student communities, further developing his artistic and political consciousness.

Koyuncu began his professional music career in the early 1990s. Born and raised in Hopa, Artvin, he encountered rock music at a young age and, after moving to Istanbul, made music the center of his life. He abandoned his studies at Istanbul University’s Faculty of Political Sciences to devote all his energy to music. For him, music was not merely an art form but also a means of expressing cultural identity, love for nature, and social awareness.

In 1992, he co-founded the group “Dinmeyen” with Ali Elver, marking his first major step in professional music. Although the group initially pursued a protest and original music path, rock influences gradually became more prominent. However, Kazım Koyuncu’s primary musical pursuit was to fuse the local melodies of the Black Sea and Laz culture with modern musical sensibilities, leading him to shift direction shortly thereafter.

In 1993, together with Mehmedali Barış Beşli, he founded Zuğaşi Berepe (Children of the Sea), a milestone in Turkish music history. The group is recognized as one of the first to perform rock music in the Laz language. By combining traditional Black Sea instruments such as the kemençe and tulum with electric guitar, bass guitar, and davul, they created a unique musical language. This approach not only gave birth to a new musical style but also helped bring the endangered Laz language and culture to a broader audience.

The album Va Mişkunan, released by Zuğaşi Berepe in 1995, is considered one of the world’s first Laz-language rock albums. Subsequent releases such as İgzas (1998) and the Bruxel Live recordings further advanced the group’s experimental and innovative musical vision. Works such as “Didou Nana,” “Va Mişkunan,” “Ben,” and “İgzas” gained a special place among modern interpretations of Black Sea music.

After the group disbanded, Kazım Koyuncu embarked on a solo career and, with his 2001 album Viya!, deepened his musical identity in a more personal direction. Songs such as “Didou Nana,” “Koçari,” “Ben,” and “Oy Nana” from this album gradually became classics. During this period, Koyuncu performed works in Laz, Turkish, Megrelian, and Georgian, reflecting the multicultural fabric of the Black Sea region in his music.

His composition of the music for the 2002 television series Gülbeyaz brought him widespread recognition. The series’ music received great acclaim, and Koyuncu’s voice became familiar across all regions of Türkiye.

The 2004 album Hayde is regarded as one of the most important works of his career. Tracks such as “Hayde,” “Ben Seni Sevduğumi,” “Ella Ella,” and “Gelevera Deresi” presented Black Sea music with a contemporary interpretation while leaving a lasting emotional impression on listeners. This album demonstrated that Kazım Koyuncu was not only one of the most original musicians of the Black Sea region but also one of Türkiye’s most distinctive artists.

Kazım Koyuncu was diagnosed with cancer in 2004 and continued his artistic activities throughout his treatment. However, he passed away on 25 June 2005 at the young age of 33. His early death deeply saddened his fans, and the legacy he left behind has ensured his enduring memory.

^{The Grave of Kazım Koyuncu.} (Anadolu Ajansı)

Various events are held annually in memory of Kazım Koyuncu, including concerts and documentaries. He continues to serve as an inspiration for music lovers and environmentalists.

Koyuncu’s identity as a poet and the writings preserved in his archive remain subjects of academic study. Biographical books and documentaries detailing his life and musical journey continue to keep his memory alive.