Mirror (Music Group)

Ayna is a Turkish music group that released its first album in 1996. Since the 1990s, the group has combined folkloric elements with modern musical sensibilities. By reinterpreting traditional cultural elements through contemporary musical instruments, Ayna has established itself in popular music and served as a model in cultural transmission processes.

The group was formed when Erhan Güleryüz invited Cemil Özeren as vocalist, Ayhan Öztoplu as drummer, Can Güney as guitarist on the recommendation of Gökhan Semiz, and Alper Çakır for keyboards.^【1】

At the time of the group’s formation, bands such as Moğollar and MFÖ existed, but group music was not popular.^【2】

Ayna’s album Gittiğin Yağmurla Gel was the first by a Turkish group to sell over one million copies.^【3】

On its debut album Gittiğin Yağmurla Gel, the hard rock style stood out for its time. In subsequent years, the group explored other genres but primarily continued to use drums, bass, guitar, and organ.^【4】

After the release of the Bostancı Durağı album in 2002, Cemil Özeren left the group. Since 1996, the lineup of the group has changed many times.

Ayna’s earliest recordings were made in Melih Kibar’s studio.

In 2016, Ayna composed a march for the Turkish national team.

Concert activities and streaming numbers on digital platforms demonstrate that the group still appeals to a broad audience.^【5】

The current members of the group are:

• Erhan Güleryüz: Lead vocalist (1996–)
• Orçun Ünal Çolak: Keyboards (1998–)
• Kaya Sevinç: Lead guitar (2021–)
• Arda Algan: Bass guitar (2023–)
• Umut Çılgın: Drums (2023–)

• Cemil Özeren: Vocals (1996–2002)
• Can Güney: Guitar (1996–1999/2004–2019)
• Murathan Araz: Bass guitar (1997–2002)
• Ayhan Öztoplu: Drums (1996–1998/2008–2009)
• Alper Çakır: Keyboards (1996–1998)
• Soner Doğanca: Drums (1998–1999)
• Türker Otçu: Guitar (2000–2002)
• Deniz Beydili: Bass guitar (2003–2005)
• Ferda Orçun Aca: Drums (2003–2007)
• Kerem Sedef: Drums (2005/2007–2008)
• Görkem Bozyel: Acoustic guitar (2006–2010)
• Alaattin Deniz: Keyboards (2007–2008)
• Tolga Kete: Percussion (2007–2008), Drums (2008)
• Mehmet Burak Alapan: Bass guitar (2009–2010)
• Genco Kulaksız: Guitar (2019–2021)^【6】

• Ceylan (Techno Remix)
• Ceylan (Hause Dance Remix)
• Ceylan
• Ölünce Sevemezsem Seni
• Kara Kış
• Fesleğen
• Umutsuzluk
• Gittiğin Yağmurla Gel
• Dünya Dünya
• Toz Pembe Hayaller
• Tozlandı Hayalin
• Artık Her Şey Bitti
• Mahzen

• Dön Bak Aynaya
• Kiziroğlu
• Yeniden de Sevebiliriz... Akdeniz
• Topraktan Ötesi Yok
• Arzu Gızım
• Sen Unutma Beni
• Işığa Doğru
• Yağmur
• Uyandım
• Selvicanım
• Denizi Bulana Kadar
• Kanka
• Garibim

• Zühtü
• Fosforlu Cevriye
• Allam Allam
• Kirpiklerin Ok Ok Eyle
• Yalnızım
• Evreşe Yolları
• Çiçekler Ekiliyor
• Deryalar
• Hoş Gelişler Ola
• Ayrılık
• Oy Bahçenize

• Geceler
• Leyla
• Gelincik
• Vur Patlasın Çal Oynasın
• Dilara
• Güller Açtı
• Her Şeyim Sensin
• Birlik Marşı
• Ada Vapuru
• Seni Çok Seviyorum
• Yollar Anadolu'ya
• Arkadaş

• Çayımın Şekeri
• Anlatmalıymış Meğer
• Ölsem De Kurtulsam
• Kadınım
• Bir Sen Vardın
• Sana Ne Oldu Böyle
• Ahu Gözlüm
• Ben Tutuyorum Dünyayı
• Eftalya
• Çocuğum

• Severek Ayrılanlar
• Tırtıl
• Dur Biraz
• Adı Konmuş Ayrılığın
• Bostancı Durağı
• Hamsi
• Mutlu Ol Yeter ki
• Seyyah
• Beş Parasız
• Aşkından Ölmedim Ya!
• İstanbul Senmişsin
• Keyifli Hatun

• Biz Akdenizliyiz
• Ey Sevgili
• Allegria
• İstiklaldeyim
• Şah
• Aşık Oldum Anne
• Yalnız Kumru
• Çok Fena Aşık Oldum
• Gelincik
• Denizden Geliyorum

• Nefes
• Samanyolu
• Ay Değil Mevsim Değil
• Ben Nerede Doğdum
• Ah Marmara
• Çok Yalnızız
• Tek Tabanca
• Günler Geçiyor
• Seninle Ben
• Gesi Bağları
• Kış Günü Ayrılık
• Hekimoğlu
• Doğum Günü
• Aşkın Kanunu
• Ezogelin
• Sivas Elleri

• Asmalımescit
• Gemiler Sapasağlam
• Kadıköy İskelesi
• Öyle Bir Anda
• Ne Garip
• Aklımdan Uçtu
• Ölüm ve Aşk
• Acil Para Lazım
• Yakışır Sana
• Dedi Ki Yoh Yoh
• Seherin Hüznü
• Bak Kış Geldi Yine

• Aşıklar Tepesi
• İki Yelken
• Sallana Sallana
• Ağlamadan Git
• Duydun Mu
• Züleyha
• Rende
• Böyle Mi Olacaktık
• Çökertme
• Mavileşirdi Gözlerin
• Gahve İçtim Telveli
• Hala Söyleyecek Bir Türkümüz Var
• Sallana Sallana-Remix (Tolga Sünter ile)
• İki Yelken-Remix (Tolga Sünter ile)
• Çökertme-Remix (Tolga Sünter ile)
• İki Yelken-Remix (Ozan Sarıboğa ile)
• Aşıklar Tepesi-Remix (Ozan Sarıboğa ile)

• Seni Çok Seviyorum
• Severek Ayrılanlar
• Mutlu Ol Yeter Ki
• Fesleğen
• Seyyah
• Anlatmalıymış Meğer
• Çayımın Şekeri
• Gittiğin Yağmurla Gel
• Kara Kış
• Ölsem De Kurtulsam

• Salacak Sahili
• Sonbahar
• Yeter Be Gönül Yeter
• Ey Sevgili Hüzün!
• Nereye Kadar?
• Yine Aşk
• Sen (Live)
• Nereye Kadar? (Alternatif)

• Sevmek (2015)
• Severek Ayrılanlar (2017)
• Mimoza (2018)
• Sultan (2019)
• İstanbul (2020)
• Öpsem Geçer Mi? (2017): İstanbul, Öpsem Geçer Mi, Eylül Akşamı, Ne Kadar Oldu, Elveda İstanbul.
• Salacak Sahili (2023)
• Sonbahar (2023)
• Yeter Be Gönül Yeter (2023)
• Ey Sevgili Hüzün! (2023)

Ayna received the Kral Turkey Music Awards and Golden Butterfly Awards in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000. One of these awards was presented by Cem Karaca, who said, "My greatest wish is that thirty years from now you will still be standing before people, either giving awards or receiving them."^【7】

The Ayna music group blends folk music, folk tales, and traditional narrative elements with modern musical techniques. In this way, the group has played a significant role in the reproduction and dissemination of folkloric elements within popular culture.

In its repertoire, the group employs various production methods, including reinterpreting traditional folk songs, writing new lyrics for anonymous folk melodies, and composing original pieces inspired by folk narratives.

Ayna’s debut album, Gittiğin Yağmurla Gel (1996), contains early examples of this approach. The song Ceylan on the album was created by writing new lyrics over a Caucasian folk dance tune (Lezginka / Şeyh Şamil). This piece exemplifies the reinterpretation of a traditional musical structure using modern musical instruments.^【8】

Additionally, some of the group’s songs reuse lyrics from aşık literature, while others reference folk tales such as Ezo Gelin. This demonstrates that Ayna draws not only on musical but also on narrative-based folkloric traditions.^【9】

Ayna’s musical approach is regarded as an effort to bridge tradition and modernity. The group:

• Reinterprets traditional folk songs using modern instruments such as the electric guitar,
• Rearranges anonymous folk pieces into popular music formats,
• Recreates folkloric narratives using contemporary musical language.^【10】