Some 11 years ago Teneke Trampet set out to develop an opposing standpoint toward whatever they saw to be going wrong in the world, and they have been singing in the streets since then.

Although they haven't released an album yet, they have their own followers who have united around "an alternative perception of world" -- which makes the band hopeful and gives them strength. None of the members of the band is a professional musician and they all have separate ways of earning their livings. Academic studies and living in different countries have made it impossible to record an album until now, they explain in an interview with Today's Zaman. But they add that they are planning to release an album next year.
"I was in the same class with Oğuz [Tarihmen] in high school. We played the guitar and when we started to make songs we decided to go out and share whatever we had to say in the streets," says Teneke Trampet vocalist and guitarist Cem Pulathaneli while detailing the band's history. "We also played gigs in small bookshop cafes. After some time Barış joined us and the three of us started to make acoustic music with guitars, percussion and flutes," he explains.

Inspired by the novel "The Tin Drum" by German writer Günter Grass, they named their band Teneke Trampet (tin drum in Turkish). "The main character of this novel, Oscar Matzerath, is a mature person, even though he always stays a child physically. He has a tin drum that he furiously beats toward the things he thinks are wrong," Egemen Özaltınkol explains, stressing that the tin drum is a very disturbing type of drum. "What we are trying to do is the same as Oscar. We are in the streets because the street is the locus of action. There are no barriers or obstacles. We intervene in the world through music," the drummer says.

The band members argue that there are many advantages to playing in the streets. "Performing in the street is a more just alternative to doing it in a particular venue," says vocalist and flute and harmonica player Tarihmen. "It is more just because in the street people honor the music to the best of their ability. Some give YTL 5, some YTL 1 and others just smile and walk away," he explains, noting that another of the band's goals is to show that there is an alternative to the Turkish music industry. "You don't have to get the bar or cafe owners to appreciate your music. You have your own direct relation with the audience," Pulathaneli adds. However, he notes, they do not always perform on the streets, but sometimes play indoors, as well.

As to the political content of their lyrics and the concerts they gave for political causes, Pulathaneli says music and politics do not have to be separate concepts. "We are trying to say something through our songs. This could be about love, about daily life or directly about politics. Of course, all of us have political views, but we share a common standpoint," he says, adding that naturally this is reflected in their music.

"We don't play music to engage in politics, but we are happy to see that there are people who are sharing an alternative perception of the world through Teneke Trampet. This is what we aimed at in the beginning. ‘Is there anyone around who thinks like us?' was the question. If yes, we wanted to know these people. We thought we could contribute to establishing a platform against the problems facing Turkey and the world so we can come together," Oğuz says, adding that thoughts and hopes can be consolidated through a collective body.

The group has had to take some breaks due to their studies and travels, but these have contributed to their music. For example, when Cem and Oğuz were in Westphalia in Germany they established a band named "Rock Güzel" with some other German musicians, blending Anatolian sounds with Westphalian folk melodies. In 2005 Oğuz went to Uganda, learned Swahili, established a band of talented African musicians, wrote a song in Swahili and recorded it in a studio. After he left the country, the song was featured in the BBC Swahili song contest and became the Ugandan champion. In 2006 all three members united in İstanbul again and brought on new members: drummer Özaltınkol and Canadian bass player Caleb Lauer. Although they play music in a wide range of styles, from blues to rock and from jazz to folk, they think that most likely there will be a focus on rock in their first album due to the instrumental tendencies of the members.

Those who want to listen to Teneke Trampet's songs may visit their Web page, or request their demo by mail. For those who want to listen to them live, the band will also be performing six free concerts this month in six different locations across İstanbul's Kadıköy district. They will perform on Aug. 22 at the Kriton Curi Park in Kozyatağı; Aug. 23 on Bağdat Street in Suadiye; Aug. 24 at Özgürlük Park in Göztepe; Aug. 29 in front of the Süreyya Opera House in Bahariye; Aug. 30 at Moda Park in Kadıköy; and finally on Aug. 31 at Fenerbahçe Park, as part of an ongoing series of events sponsored by the Kadıköy Municipality. All gigs are slated to start at 7 p.m., except the last one in Fenerbahçe Park, which will begin at 10 a.m.

Apart from these street performances, the band will also be performing in the name of the struggles against war, globalization, ethnic segregation and sexism on Aug. 31 at 8 p.m. on Beyoğlu Street in Taksim as part of the Second Street Art Festival, organized by the Hangar Culture Center. They will then perform at Kadıköy Square on Sept. 6 as one of the acts in a peace festival organized by the Kadıköy Global Peace and Justice Coalition (BAK). The band will also be onstage on Sept. 28, World Individual Disarmament Day, singing their newest songs in Taksim Square. For more information visit: www.myspace.com/trampetteneke.

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