Sinan Armutlu

Meet Istanbul-born UK Open Mic performer Sinan Armutlu:

Sinan Armutlu

Hi Sinan Armutlu, thanks for joining us! Let’s get into it:

Do you play solo only, or also in a group?

Solo

How old are you?

Where were you born?

Istanbul

Where did you grow up?

Istanbul-London

How did that place influence your music? (if at all!)

I had influence by culture and started to playing an instrument when I was 6.

Where are you based now, and why?

Based in London cause to collaborate with musician who have different backgrounds of music.

What got you into making music in the first place?

Culture was the spark. Music is just how I translate it.

What instrument/s do you play?

Singing
Piano
Piano
Guitar
Saz, sitar, santoor

Who would be in your top 10 musical influences, and why?

1. Johann Sebastian Bach – His intricate compositions and harmonic genius laid the foundation for modern Western music. He taught me how structure and emotion can coexist beautifully.
2. Ludwig van Beethoven – His music is raw, powerful, and fearless. Beethoven inspires me to pour feeling into every note, no matter the form.
3. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – His balance of complexity and elegance reminds me that great music can be both technically brilliant and emotionally moving.
4. Django Reinhardt – A pioneer of gypsy jazz, Django’s improvisation, rhythm, and resilience (despite losing use of two fingers) is beyond inspiring.
5. Bob Dylan – A lyrical mastermind. Dylan showed me how words in a song can spark thought, reflection, and even revolution.
6. Miles Davis – Always reinventing himself. Miles reminds me never to get too comfortable, and to keep exploring new sonic territory.
7. Jimi Hendrix – His guitar was an emotional force of nature. Hendrix changed the way I see expression through sound.
8. Nina Simone – Her voice carried the weight of truth, struggle, and beauty. She showed how music can be both deeply personal and politically powerful.
9. Frédéric Chopin – His piano compositions are pure emotion—melancholy, love, longing. He made the piano sing in ways no one else had.
10. Antonio Vivaldi – His vivid use of melody and rhythm, especially in The Four Seasons, showed me how music can paint images and tell stories without words.

Do you write your own songs?

Yes

How many years have you been writing songs for?

What process, or processes, do you often find yourself using when you write songs?

My song-writing process usually starts with a feeling—a mood, a moment, or even a single line that sticks in my head. Sometimes it begins with a chord progression or melody I stumble across while playing around on an instrument. Other times, it’s just a phrase or lyric that sparks something emotionally. I like to let the music guide the words. I’ll often record voice memos, improvise melodies, and loop progressions until something resonates.

How long have you been playing open mic nights?

Why did you get into playing them in the first place?

I started playing open mics to push myself out of my comfort zone and connect with people through music—it felt like the most honest way to grow.

What advice would you give new performers who are just starting out playing their first open mics?

Because it felt natural—like the instrument was a voice I hadn’t found yet.

What’s the hardest thing, for you, about playing open mics?

The hardest part is the vulnerability—putting your music out there raw, without knowing how people will react. It’s just you, your instrument, and a room full of strangers.