Çağıl Kaya creates music where hope and resistance are closely intertwined with grief and fragility. Her voice is, at times, abstract yet highly inviting; her words are emotionally intense, at times gloomy yet equally adventurous and luminous. Her work steps beyond the borders of traditional jazz vocals, blending poetry, contemporary jazz harmonies, and a sense of abstraction that opens the door to individual freedom just at the edge of perfection.

Her repertoire mainly draws from albums — Bir Parça Ay Biraz Kuş(A Piece of Moon and Some Birds) (2014) and Şimdilik Her Şey Yolunda(So Far So Good) (2017) — as well as new compositions that continue her exploration of voice, language, and form. The first album introduced Kaya’s distinctive lyrical voice and textured arrangements, while the second offered a more minimalistic and introspective approach. Both move through literature, paying close attention to nuanced storytelling, phrasing, and the musical potential of the Turkish language.

Kaya collaborates with many creative and forward-thinking musicians from Turkey’s jazz scene. Together, they shape performances full of tension, sincerity, and spontaneity. As a rare figure in Turkish jazz with a sensitivity to both social and political memory, Kaya leads the listener through the winding paths of collective and personal memory.

The music is shaped as much by silence as by sound, with sparse textures, shifting emotional tones, and room for interpretation. Kaya’s songs often speak to uncertainty — personal, social, existential — yet without surrender. Her voice remains steady, questioning, and luminous throughout.