The guest of this episode of With Eylül Aşkın, hosted by Eylül Aşkın and filmed at the Bohem Apartment on Lüleci Hendek Street, was composer, poet, lyricist, and vocalist Aşkın Tuna.

Master of Lyrics!

Having written lyrics for over 1,500 songs, Aşkın Tuna has infused poetic meaning into many songs, using lyrics as a reflection of poetry. We spoke with the artist, whose lyrics have produced many hit songs, about his past, present, future projects, and his son Tunacan Tuna, who is pursuing a career as a singer.

“My literature teacher didn’t believe I wrote the poems.”

“I went to a vocational school to quickly gain a profession. After that, I went to Ankara when I got accepted into a higher education program. Even while in vocational school, I was writing poetry. My literature teacher didn’t believe I wrote the poems. This actually shows the quality of the poems,” said Aşkın Tuna, sharing the story of how he began writing lyrics professionally after meeting Erol Sayan when he arrived in Ankara.

“Love is Not Giving Up.”

“If you’re doing something with love, you have to pursue it, not give up, and keep going until you succeed,” said Aşkın Tuna, describing himself as a man in love with lyric writing. He explained that he spent nine to ten years striving to become a lyricist and studied Turkish poetry to be better and different. He noted that three poets have significantly influenced his life: Nazım Hikmet, Ümit Yaşar Oğuzcan, and Orhan Veli Kanık.

“I Believe People Can Grow Through Love.”

Aşkın Tuna, who has a personal development book titled Let There Be a Great Love for You, discussed how this book came to be, bridging poetry and song lyrics. “They say every love has a lifespan. If you can take love beyond its limits, it can last a lifetime. That’s where I share some tips,” he said, adding, “All our daughters at home are princesses, and our sons are princes. Princes and princesses are used to only receiving. It’s not easy for someone who can’t give of themselves to maintain a marriage.”

“I Want My Child to Pursue a Profession He Loves.”

Expressing that, like all parents, they wish for their children’s happiness, Aşkın Tuna shared that he currently dedicates three-quarters of his time to supporting his son, Tunacan Tuna, in his music career. The renowned poet and lyricist mentioned that he is considering publishing a third book but doesn’t have the time at the moment. Speaking about his son, he said, “I hope he reaches the position he desires. He’s putting in the effort, taking vocal lessons, and has started learning musical notes. I don’t believe someone who works hard will fail. I am confident that he will eventually achieve the success he seeks.”