Hakkımda
Emre Yücelen – Musician and Educator
"My journey into music was shaped by academic education, stage experience, and creative production."
Life and Education
Emre Yücelen was born on July 26, 1976, in Adapazarı, Sakarya[1]. His interest in music began during middle school when his father gifted him a classical guitar, and during high school he formed his first music group, “ETWOX”, where he began composing songs[1]. After high school, he studied Opera and Vocal Performance at Dokuz Eylül University in İzmir; during the same period, he also studied Geological Engineering for two years at Kocaeli University and gained stage experience by performing solo and with rock bands at university festivals[2]. In 1996, he transferred to the Voice Training Department of the Turkish Music State Conservatory at Istanbul Technical University and graduated in 2004[3]. Having received both classical music and Turkish music training, Yücelen also learned to play several instruments during this period, including guitar, piano, bağlama, oud, and ney[3].
Beginning to produce projects in different areas of music at a young age, Emre Yücelen stepped into his voice training career immediately after graduating from the conservatory. In 2006, he launched Muzikdersi.com, a website that became a pioneer in online music education in Turkey, and in the same year it was selected as Turkey’s 2nd best educational website at the Altın Örümcek Web Awards[4]. Through MuzikDersi.com, where he shared music theory and vocal training online, and later through the Sandersi.com platform, he passed on his knowledge and experience to many young musicians[5]. During this period, he had the opportunity to work with esteemed teachers such as Prof. Alaaddin Yavaşça and Erol Uras. At the same time, starting in 2006, he also began composing music for video games and films; he created music for Turkish games such as “İstanbul Kıyamet Vakti”, “I Can Football”, and “SüperCan”, and contributed to the music of Turkey’s first animated feature film, “Kayıp Armağan”[6]. In 2006–2007, he also produced a remarkable documentary project focused on cultural heritage titled “Istanbul Mosques and Their Muezzins”. As part of this project, he interviewed around 30 muezzins in 17 historic mosques across Istanbul and documented the call to prayer within the unique acoustics of these mosques[7]. This project was appreciated for recording the sonic cultural heritage of the geography he lived in through the perspective of music education.
Music Career and Projects
''A multifaceted musical journey extending from album productions to cultural projects."
Throughout his long-running music career, Emre Yücelen has both produced his own works and participated in various artistic collaborations. His first solo album, “Kelebek”, was released in 2010 and introduced the audience to his pop-rock compositions[3]. In 2013, he founded his own production company, Yücelen Müzik, and began continuing his musical work under an independent umbrella[8]. In the same year, with the support of beloved pop artist Gülben Ergen, he released the single “Mutluluk Köyü”; by performing a duet with Gülben Ergen on this track, he created an emotional acoustic pop piece[9]. Yücelen’s music inspires listeners with warm melodies and sincere lyrics that convey hope and positive energy.
In 2015, he released two albums back to back: “İstanbul Gibidir Aşk” (2015), an album exploring different states of love and urban themes, and “Remix” (2015), featuring new arrangements of his earlier works[10]. This was followed by the album “Masallar” (2016), in which he brought storytelling and a fairy-tale atmosphere to the forefront of his music[10]. In 2017, he released “Benim Gökyüzüm Var”, an acoustic pop-jazz song with lyrics and music written by himself. Frequently expressing his love of nature, Yücelen used this song to describe the beauty of nature and freedom in a simple yet effective way; the work, included in his Doğa Sesleri album series, entered the list of “most popular albums” on iTunes[11]. With his 2019 album “Zehirli Uykular”, he demonstrated his musical diversity by bringing together alternative rock and electronic elements[12]. In the 2022 album “GAMER”, he presented a concept work featuring modern sounds and instrumental pieces that evoke the atmosphere of a video game[10]. In recent years, Yücelen introduced listeners to the project “Bir Vapur Penceresinden İstanbul” (2026), reflecting the spirit and melodies of Istanbul through different musical styles. In this concept work, he presented the same composition through multiple arrangements (for example jazz, rock, and cello solo versions), creating a multidimensional musical panorama of Istanbul[12].
As a productive composer and arranger, Emre Yücelen has worked not only on his own creations but also with other artists. He has provided arrangement and production support for the albums of many independent musicians and has composed music for various television series and advertisements. For example, he has undertaken tasks such as re-arranging the theme music of the well-known Turkish TV series Ulan İstanbul and offering musical consultancy for certain film projects. Beyond his 2013 duet Mutluluk Köyü with Gülben Ergen, he has collaborated in the studio with artists from different styles. At his own studio, Yücelen Stüdyo, he both oversees the recording of his own albums and offers production opportunities to young talents. By combining pop, rock, jazz, electronic elements, and motifs from Turkish music in his musical approach, Yücelen has developed a distinctive style and frequently states that he embraces the principle of “the universality of music.” As a result, listeners can hear both modern and traditional elements together in his works.
Vocal Coaching and YouTube Success
"An educational experience reaching millions through digital platforms."
In addition to his identity as an artist, Emre Yücelen has also reached a wide audience through his work as an educator. For more than 20 years, he has contributed to the voice training of countless students as a vocal instructor and vocal coach. In the 2010s, by focusing more heavily on digital content creation, he became a globally recognized vocal coach through his YouTube channel “Emre Yücelen Şan Dersi”. The educational and entertaining content he produces on YouTube in different and original formats appeals to millions of viewers. In particular, his Voice Analysis series attracted great interest; in this series, Yücelen examines and comments on the performances of local and international artists from a technical perspective, explaining vocal techniques and interpretive qualities in an accessible way. These vocal analysis videos—where he discusses singers’ vocal range, technical abilities, interpretation, and stylistic features—have been found both educational and enjoyable, and are regarded by many as a resource in vocal training. Thanks to analyses spanning from opera singers to pop stars, and even from traditional folk music performers to K-pop vocalists, he has brought different music cultures together.
Another important series on Yücelen’s channel, “Musical Journeys”, focuses on the cultural dimension of music. In these videos, he introduces the musical traditions of different parts of Turkey and the world, presenting instruments, local melodies, and stories to the audience. For example, he has traveled across various regions of Anatolia, singing folk songs with local musicians, and produced episodes exploring the music of different geographies ranging from Latin America to East Asia. Under the title “Studio Conversations”, he has also created interview and performance videos taking place in the studio. In this series, he sometimes interviews guest artists and at other times shares behind-the-scenes footage from live performance recordings[13]. Another major digital format through which Emre Yücelen shares his knowledge is live broadcasting. In his regularly scheduled Weekly Voice Analysis Live Broadcasts, he analyzes and comments live on vocal recordings sent by viewers, answers questions, and creates an interactive educational environment. Thanks to his warm and sincere presentation style, as well as his ability to make even complex vocal theory understandable, his channel has surpassed 1 million subscribers. This success also earned him YouTube’s Gold Play Button award in 2018 (the 1 million subscriber award).
His digital presence is not limited to YouTube; Emre Yücelen is also active on Instagram, Twitter (X), and Facebook, where he maintains continuous interaction with his followers. On Instagram in particular, he reaches a broad audience by sharing short vocal exercises, voice health tips, and glimpses from everyday studio life. He also continues his online educational initiatives by offering one-on-one consultations and comprehensive vocal training through platforms such as Superpeer and Udemy. With his online course package titled Emre Yücelen Practical Vocal Training Set, he provides a comprehensive curriculum ranging from proper breathing technique to expanding vocal range, reaching hundreds of students. This training set, prepared by Yücelen himself, has received positive feedback from users and has helped many people improve their singing abilities. By combining traditional teaching methods with modern technology, Emre Yücelen has become one of the pioneering names in the digitalization of music education in Turkey.
Projects for Children
Believing that music is a universal language that appeals to all ages, Emre Yücelen has also placed importance on developing special projects for children. In 2017, he took his first step in this field by releasing the children’s music album “Melisa’nın Şarkıları”[14]. Released as part of the Gülen Çocuk project, this album featured fun and educational songs aimed at preschool and primary school children. In addition to participating in the album as a composer and producer, Yücelen also performed some of the songs together with the young vocalist Melisa. Tracks such as “Oyun Şarkısı”, “Uyku Şarkısı”, and “Hop Hop Şarkısı” quickly won the appreciation of both children and parents, while the album reached wide audiences on digital platforms under the Yücelen Müzik label[14]. This project became a strong example of the importance Yücelen gives to children meeting music at an early age.
In later years, Emre Yücelen further enriched his work for children by preparing a children’s book series titled “Melisa’s Musical Adventures”. The e-books in this series aim to help children both enjoy themselves and learn through music-themed stories. The books, which tell the adventures of a curious little girl named Melisa, consist of three main series: Melisa and Turkey, Melisa and Nature, and Melisa and the World. In the Melisa and Turkey Series, Melisa travels across different regions of Turkey discovering musical instruments and local melodies (for example, “Melisa and the Sipsi of Pamukkale”, “Melisa and the Cheerful Saz of Cappadocia”, and “Melisa and the Secrets of Konya (In Search of the Ney)”); in the Melisa and Nature Series, she follows the sounds of nature and combines her love of the natural world with music (“Melisa and the Sounds of Nature”, etc.); and in the Melisa and the World Series, she learns the cultural melodies of different countries (“Melisa’s South Africa Adventure – Yellow Cat Mari and the Marimba”, “Melisa and the Melody of the Guzheng (China Adventure)”, etc.)[15][16]. Each e-book includes interactive sections related to the musical elements of its topic and original children’s songs. In this project, Emre Yücelen takes part both as a writer and a composer, creating an educational world for children. The Melisa’s Musical Adventures series has been appreciated as an original body of work that families can read and listen to together, presenting musical knowledge through a fairy-tale narrative. In addition, Yücelen has also produced content for children on YouTube: under Emre Yücelen Çocuk, a sub-category of his main channel, he publishes videos in which he performs fairy tales, lullabies, and children’s songs, thus reaching young listeners. In this way, he continues his mission of passing on the educational and unifying power of music to the youngest generations.
Books and Publications
Emre Yücelen has placed importance on preserving his knowledge not only through performance and videos, but also through written works. In this direction, he published his first book in 2024: “Bi’ Dünya Ses – The Journey of Voice and Soul”. Published by Eva Publishing and consisting of 160 pages, the book takes the reader on a journey into the depths of sound through the magical world of music[17]. In the book, Yücelen shares his own career journey and musical experiences in a sincere tone, while also presenting anecdotes about different music genres and publishing experiences. With the words, “I don’t have a strict line when it comes to music selection. Since childhood, I’ve listened to every kind of music... The way to understand music is to observe it and explore its roots,” he emphasizes the musical diversity in which he grew up and his perspective, while examining the relationship between voice and soul in this work[18][19]. Including behind-the-scenes stories from the albums he has released and the interviews he has conducted, Bi’ Dünya Ses can be seen as a summary and manifesto of Yücelen’s musical life[20]. In the first months after publication, the book entered bestseller lists in bookstores and was met with strong interest by music lovers. Readers find in this work inspiring analyses and practical suggestions about music, written from the perspective of Yücelen both as an artist and an educator.
In addition, Emre Yücelen has written articles on music and voice training for various magazines and publications. Especially through online blog posts and interviews, he has reached wide audiences by sharing his views on vocal technique, voice health, and the music industry. He has also appeared as a speaker on television programs and panels, giving presentations on the anatomy of the voice and its proper use. All these publishing activities can be seen as a reflection of his belief that knowledge grows when it is shared.
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Media and Other Activities
Thanks to his active role in the music world, Emre Yücelen has also frequently appeared on television and media platforms. In 2023, he served as a jury member on the traditional music-themed competition program “Sen Türkülerini Söyle”, broadcast on TRT 1[21]. In this competition, where folk music talents from all over Turkey took the stage, Yücelen evaluated contestants’ performances as an expert juror and offered them coaching. Through this program, which reached a broad television audience, he gained the opportunity to bring his knowledge of folk music and voice education to even more people. Yücelen’s sincere and constructive criticism served as meaningful guidance for young contestants. This experience stood out as a successful project in which he combined both his academic knowledge and stage experience in a way that could be shared with the public[22][21].
In addition, Emre Yücelen has appeared as a guest on many national radio and television programs. In talk shows focused on music and education, he has shared his life story, tips on vocal technique, and his vision for the future of music education in Turkey. For example, in a documentary series broadcast on TRT Müzik, he met with local artists from different regions of Anatolia and sang folk songs with them; and in some popular talk-show style YouTube content (for example Hayrettin & Chaos Show), he both created entertaining moments and informed viewers by conducting voice analyses.
Emre Yücelen is also an artist who contributes to social awareness through his art. One of the clearest examples of this is the way he reflects his love of nature and environmental awareness in his music. Through the song “Benim Gökyüzüm Var”, he has reminded listeners of the beauty of nature within urban life, creating a positive sense of awareness[11]. Likewise, the “Istanbul Mosques and Their Muezzins” project, which aims to preserve Istanbul’s cultural heritage, shows how he uses music as a tool of social responsibility[7]. Through this project, the calls to prayer recited for centuries in the same maqams and the acoustics of historic mosques were recorded, helping preserve a cultural treasure for future generations. Emre Yücelen is also sensitive to the discovery and support of young talent. By opening the doors of his studio to promising young singers and giving them the opportunity to make professional demo recordings, and by sharing videos under hashtags such as #talentisfreedom on social media, he helps provide visibility for successful children and young musicians. Through music workshops with children, volunteer performances at school events, and support for various social responsibility projects, he plays an active role in spreading music education and keeping cultural heritage alive in society.
Emre Yücelen has carved out a distinctive place for himself in the music world both as an artist (singer, composer, and arranger) and as an educator (vocal coach and content creator). Never giving up on sharing the experiences he has gained throughout his career and on continuous learning, Yücelen inspires many people with his energetic and innovative approach. The passion and discipline he shows while performing his art, combined with the patience and clarity he demonstrates while teaching, have made him an exemplary figure in his field. Today, through the digital platforms and stages he has built under his own name, he continues to share the message, “Discover your voice, become part of music,” and to bring the unifying power of music to society. What is written about Emre Yücelen shows that he is devoted to music not only with technical knowledge, but also with his heart, and that he is able to pass on this devotion to people of all ages. With his artist-educator identity, he will continue to add value to music in Turkey and on the international stage for many years to come.
Sources:
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Interview with Emre Yücelen – Önce Vatan Newspaper (2017) [11][23] -
Emre Yücelen discography – Spotify and Amazon Music data [10][12] -
Emre Yücelen Store (official) – Training sets and Melisa series product pages [24][16] -
“Bi’ Dünya Ses” book introduction – Kitapyurdu & Hepsiburada [20][18] -
Melisa’nın Şarkıları album information – Apple Music (2017) [14]
[1] [2] [3] [8] [13] [21] [22] Who is Emre Yücelen, where is he from? How old is Emre Yücelen, is he married? - Aspor
[4] [6] [7] [9] Emre Yücelen - Alya Şahin
https://alyasahin.com/emre-yucelen/
[5] [11] [23] Emre Yücelen'le Hepimizin Bir Gökyüzü Var - Önce Vatan Newspaper
https://www.oncevatan.com.tr/emre-yucelenle-hepimizin-bir-gokyuzu-var
[10] Emre Yücelen | Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/intl-tr/artist/19W7j3yh1E0ZpV3PZGPtYP
[12] Emre Yücelen on Amazon Music Unlimited
https://music.amazon.com/artists/B00ATZQKT6/emre-y%C3%BCcelen
[14] Melisa'nın Şarkıları (feat. Emre Yücelen) – Album by Gülen Çocuk – Apple Music
[15] [16] [24] Emre Yücelen Store
https://www.emreyucelenstore.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoo26wIEhSrMEJqru3gPQbCh0YFrAQoqS3l6GVjd8kFIVMiFZqot
[17] [19] [20] Bi Dünya Ses - The Journey of Voice and Soul (Emre Yücelen) Price, Reviews, Buy - Kitapyurdu.com
[18] Bi Dünya Ses - The Journey of Voice and Soul - Emre Yücelen Book
https://www.hepsiburada.com/bi-dunya-ses-sesin-ve-ruhun-yolculugu-emre-yucelen-pm-HBC000071FMTY