Korhan Erel is a computer musician, improviser, sound designer based in Istanbul, Turkey. He plays instruments he designs on a computer by employing various controllers. He also uses analog and digital electronics. He is a founding member of Islak Köpek, Turkey’s pioneer free improvisation group, which is regarded as the band that started the free improvisation scene in Turkey. He composes and designs sounds for dance, theater, installations and film. He collaborates with dancers, video artists and spoken word artists. His recent collaboration with Sydney-based video artist Fabian Astore “The Threshold” has won the Blake Prize in Australia. “Waterland”, another recent collaboration with London-based artist Burcu Yağcıoğlu was shown at the group exhibition in Kunsthaus Essen in November 2012 – January 2013.
Korhan’s computer performance system is called Omnibus. The instruments within Omnibus are a culmination of Korhan’s musical past and aesthetic choices. Omnibus instruments use concrete sounds (samples, field recordings), morphed and processed in realtime. They can be as simple as one single sample being played using a Nintendo Wii controller to a complex system that employs granular synthesis and spectral processing. The instruments are played interactively using Nintendo Wii controllers (Korhan’s choice of controller when he plays in ensembles with acoustic/electric instrument players), an iPad (used in solo/duo performances as well as ensemble concerts) and several midi controllers.
Korhan spent two residencies at STEIM (Center for research & development of instruments & tools for performers) in Amsterdam, where he studied use of sensors in music performance and instrument design. He was a guest composer at the Electronic Music Studios in Stockholm in January 2011.
He performed in Austria, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Finland, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Russia, Greece, Sweden, Turkey, UK and USA.
Some artists and musicians Korhan has played or collaborated with are:
Alexandra Reill, Christian Asplund, Dirk Stromberg, Gunnar Lettow, Han-earl Park, Islak Köpek, Karlheinz Essl, Kevin William Davis, Le Quan Ninh, Mark Alban-Lotz, Michel Doneda, Nikos Kyriazopoulos, Richard Nunns, Sumru Ağıryürüyen, Tolga Tüzün, Tom Soloveitzik, Tristan Honsinger, Wilbert de Joode, Wolter Wierbos, mecha/orga (Yiorgis Sakellariou) and many more.
