Cem Koksal

Cem Köksal was born in Istanbul on 03.07.1976. He has started his music life in primary school by playing mandolin. The days that Cem, whose childhood was passed by listening to the music of 60s due to his parents' influence, passed to guitar from mandolin were in 1987. Theoretical music courses that he took from Derya Yener in 1991 and 1992 had a significant place in his musical development. During these days he was continuing on his musical works in a basement floor in Kadýköy, Istanbul with his friend and was participating to musical events in his high school, German High School. Although he was interested in the popular rock groups of those days he began to look for something different and his musical perspective and productivity took a new path especially due to the influence of Johann Sebastian Bach's "Air". From then on, classical music was very important for Cem Köksal. He was always choosing tonal modes for his music and Johann Sebastian Bach had became one of his greatest heroes. But an album that he purchased at these days has totally directed his musical perspective towards a new synthesis. That album was Yngwie J. Malmsteen's "Odyssey". Blending the classical music elements with modern music in a harmonious way, using the guitar up to the limits, and high melodic level of songs despite of thousands of flowing notes and a very strong sound has deeply influenced him. Cem Köksal, who directed his studies for being perfect in guitar playing, began to show his surprising guitar skills not only in standard techniques but also in alternative techniques. After he became interested in the anatomy of guitars he created a new guitar (Shark) after months of studies, which is totally a product of his design (Resources: Make Your Own Electric Guitar by Melvyn Hiscock, Building Electric Guitars by Martin Koch). When he felt that he has reached his musical maturity, he began to the studies for his first album. He was not only aiming to prepare the compositions and arrangements and to write the songs of his album but also to record it. Although this was being seemed as a huge burden that cannot be overcome by one single person, Cem Köksal was thinking that this was the only way for achieving the results that he wants. He again started his studies by reading books and he trained himself for two years with the resources that he found. He drew the studio plans and schemes and established his own studio, Studio 29, in 2002. The album, records of which have been completed in 2003, has been given the name of "Set Me Free!!" and offered to the appreciation of music lovers. The album was a big surprise because it was the first time that a major label (Universal) gave it's label for a heavy-metal album, which had lyrics in English. In short time Cem Köksal was much known at music era and that brought the offers for concerts. Köksal participated many big festivals such as Rockistanbul with Queensryche, “Rock the Nations” with Manowar, and Coca- Cola Soundwave Tour 2005 - which was a total success. The band performed in 11 different cities of Turkey to 150.000 University students. Now Köksal is in the studio and recording his second album which he plans to do it with the band in opposite way of the first album. At the same time Cem Köksal is preparing for the Coca-Cola Soundwave Tour 2006, but this time with Joe Lynn Turner as the bands vocalist - former vocalist of Deep Purple, Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen etc... Köksal's performance in 2005 has lead to another offer from the company. This year he is trying to be more perfect and powerful on the stage. After the Soundwave tour, rhe finished his second studio album; Siyah BEyaz Masallar ( Black White Stories)