This episode of the Turkey News Portal and Gülbin Vardar’s “Biz Bize Özel” program hosted the presenter Gülbin Vardar, along with her guests Civil Engineer/Businessperson Mehmet Dalmaz and his musician wife, Music Educator/Turkish Classical Music Artist Zühre Dalmaz. The program took place in the couple’s warm home environment and featured a sincere and detailed conversation covering both their individual careers and their life together.
Mehmet Dalmaz stood out as a name who has signed off on significant projects in the sector with his identity as a civil engineer and architect. Stating that he has sold apartments and villas to many famous names in the past, Dalmaz shared that the artists he has worked with include Sezen Aksu, Ajda Pekkan, İbrahim Tatlıses, Hülya Avşar, and Nesrin Topkapı. His recollections particularly stood out, such as giving two apartments to Neslihan Topkapı in exchange for three months of her work, and facilitating İbrahim Tatlıses’s purchase of a villa with flexible payment terms. Mr. Mehmet also described his intense 10-year working period with Cem Karaca between 1969-1979, stating that they held countless concerts and tours together in Turkey and abroad. Emphasizing Cem Karaca’s brave, intelligent, and fearless character, Dalmaz also sorrowfully recalled the serious traffic accident they had on their way to the İzmir Fair in 1974. He noted, as an interesting coincidence, that his wife Zühre Dalmaz was born at that very hour. Mehmet Dalmaz added that he also played a significant role in the career beginnings of names like Serdar Ortaç, Deniz Seki, and Gülşen. He expressed that he has left nightclub management and has refocused his future plans on the construction sector.
In the program, Zühre Dalmaz talked about her career as a music teacher and artist, and her passion for music. She stated that she works on studio projects, songwriting, and composition, and has also worked with the master lyricist Ahmet Selçuk İlkan. Noting that she serves as a choir conductor at the Beşiktaş Public Education Center and directs a choir composed of teachers, Mrs. Zühre highlighted that her students’ ages range from 4 to 87, drawing attention to the universality of music. She insistently emphasized the need to protect our cultural values like Turkish Classical Music and Turkish Folk Music, and touched upon the importance of the state supporting artists. She said that music is the nourishment of the soul and a source that keeps people vigorous. Announcing that she has new projects, Zühre Dalmaz shared that, alongside collaborative works with Ahmet Selçuk İlkan, she will also soon release a single, a song she wrote for her husband Mehmet Dalmaz. Furthermore, she shared her view that Turkish women should be individuals who produce, think, and stand on their own feet.
The couple sincerely shared the secrets of their 15-year togetherness and 13-year marriage. They defined the foundation of their relationship as mutual “love, respect, and support.” Mehmet Dalmaz spoke proudly of his wife’s artistic personality and beautiful voice, while Zühre Dalmaz underlined the support and belief her husband gives her in every matter. They emphasized that in their relationship, being remembered, valued, and small surprises are much more precious than material value, expressing that they have adopted the understanding of an “Endless Valentine’s Day.” They said that music is always at the center of their lives at home, that this nourishes them both spiritually and physically, and keeps them young.
The program concluded with a short and impressive song performance by Zühre Dalmaz and the couple sincerely expressing their love for each other. Gülbin Vardar expressed her happiness at hosting them, congratulated the couple for their union woven with love, respect, and music, and bid farewell to the viewers.
