Turkish drummer wins Swedish music award

STOCKHOLM

A Turkish-origin jazz drummer has been named 2017’s best musician by Swedish state radio.

Sveriges Radio announced on Oct. 10 that Robert Sinan Mehmet İkiz, 38, had topped a public poll to find the country’s best musician for this year.

Speaking to state-run Anadolu Agency, İkiz, who has made music since he was a child, said he drew inspiration from other successful Turkish artists, such as Barış Manço, a late popular rock musician, composer and actor. 

“The music I started listening to was Manço while playing tin cans in Istanbul. I am very proud to win Sweden’s most prestigious music award,” he added. 

İkiz was first nominated for the award in September last year, alongside four other musicians. 

Born in Istanbul, İkiz moved to Sweden when he was a child. He studied music in Stockholm and the U.S. before beginning a career which has seen him perform all over Europe.