Hayat by Kit Sebastian

'Hayat’, the new single from the illustrious Kit Sebastian, finds the band delving into their Turkish and Azerbaijan influences. Having spent much of the past year touring and writing, ‘Hayat’ is the first original composition the band has released since their October 2021 album, ‘Melodi’. Here we see the London-based duo (aka Kit Martin and Merve Erdem) weaving a psychedelic tapestry of Mugham melodies, organ-driven grooves and jazz-pop harmonies in classic Kit Sebastian fashion. Recorded to Fostex 1/4” tape, the essence of the production is perfectly balanced between being brand new and retro, which is a feat very hard to pull off.

‘Hayat’ is sung in Turkish and the title translates as ‘Life’ in English. The song examines our desire to find one's place in the world and the provisionality of existence. Merve's searching lyrics ask “Where are you? Where is the universe?”. Her vocal delivery perfectly reflects the lyrical focus, its texture is probing and ethereal, almost as if sung from looking above us.

Kit Sebastian is a duo formed in London by Kit Martin and Merve Erdem, spread between Turkey and France. Their music is a meeting point of different genres from Anatolian Psychedelia and Brazilian Tropicalia to 60’s European pop and American jazz.