Train Wreck Mix

DJ Yakuza

Radio Oxigen, Istanbul

Turkish native Can Utkan, also known as DJ Yakuza, began his DJing career playing jazz and Brazil in several clubs in Tokyo. Soon he started spinning at Kiss, alongside names like Jazzbrothers, U.F.O, Shuwa Tei and Silent Poets, mainly focusing on drum 'n' bass and downbeat. Moving back to Turkey in 1999, he began working at Radio Oxigen, one of the most respected radio stations in Istanbul. Equipped with a profound knowledge and diverse taste of music, he defied the musical trends of the city and managed to be known as a DJ with a very creative approach and very own flavour. Yakuza has been spinning across Europe and the USA, and soon began producing his own jams and collaborating with a bunch of well-respected jazz musicians. Following his roots and ethnic sound influences, he founded the project Orient Expressions alongside Cem Yildiz, Richard Hamer and Murat Uncuoglu. Their debut album entitled 'Divan', featured a mixture of Turkish melodies, electronic textures and jazz-infused sounds. In 2006 they released the follow up longplayer 'Kulliyat'. With regular DJ slots in Amsterdam and Istanbul and his weekly radio show Yakuza has a busy schedule. The journey continues...