Niran Unsal
Niran Ünsal was born on August 13, 1976 to the violin and vocal artist Nursal Unsal of
TRT Izmir Radio and zither player Ahmet Canevi as their second child in Izmir. Since her
childhood she grew up with the beautiful melodies of those two instrument playing an
important role in music and music became irresistible for her. She started her musical life at
the age of 8 in TRT Children’s Choir. Continuing her education, Niran Unsal participated her
musical education at the Rakim Erkutlu Music Society where her mother was granted as the
honorary instructor. She took there Turkish Classical Music education as well as Polyphonic
Music Education at the TRT Izmir Radio Youth Choir. At that time she won the Turkish Art
Music Amateur Voice contest organized by TRT, and she performed at this choir of TRT
Izmir Radio for four months along with her mother Nursal Unsal Birtek. Since she was
also interested in popular music at that times, Unsal stepped back from th radio and started
performing at the elite places of Izmir such as Tenis Club, Atlı Spor Kulübü, Karşıyaka Grand
Müzikhol.
Again at that times, she triumphed at the Popshow 94 contest with the song “Serseri Mayin
(Vagabond Mine)” and was granted a contract for her debut album as a rule of the contest
with RAKS Music. After winning this contest she decided to continue her musical and
performing career in Istanbul. She took part at the stage shows along with the accomplished
names of the music world, started to try to do compositions and started working on her
debut album with a very known and talented team. After eight months of preparations
she released her debut album in 1996. The album consisting of 12 songs was musically
directed by Garo Mafyan and Selim Caldiran. Niran Unsal showed also her composer side by
composing 5 songs in the album. The title track “Haktan (From God)” written by Seda Akay
and arranged by Garo Mafyan was the leading track of the album and its video was made
by Deniz Akel. Other songs were wirtten by Seda Akay, Garo Mafyan, Selim Caldiran and
Sehrazat. She also covered the poem of Faruk Nafiz Calibel “Intizar(Curse)” composed by
Suat Sayin. The second video was made to “Aska Davet (Invitation to Love)” written by Seda
Akay and composed by Selim Caldiran again directed by Deniz Akel and art directed by
Oktay Keresteci, who was the head ballet of State Opera and Ballet. Third video was made
for “Helal Et(Give Your Blessings)”, written by Seda Akay and composed by Niran Unsal
herself by Mustafa Altioklar. In this video she was accompanied by Savas Ay. With her debut
album, Niran Unsal caught the attention for her composer sides, strong and different voice
and her appearance.
After her debut album and focused on performing, Niran Unsal released her follow up in 1999
with the title “Sarkilara Tutundum (Hung On The Songs)”. The album’s musical director was
the famous musician Attila Ozdemiroglu and his gentle touches were visible throughout the
whole album. On the album she worked with talented and famous musicians and lyricists
such as Aysel Gurel, Seda Akay, Gunay Coban and Mete Celik. “Gonul Hancim (the Inn
Owner of my Heart)”, “Pesinde Ahim Var (My Curse Follows You)”, “Yasak Bir Dus (A
Forbidden Dream)”, “Tovbekar (Penitent)” and “Itiraf Ediyorum (I Confess)” were her own
compositions on the album. “Tovbekar” is also the first song she penned. “Masum Gunahlar
(Innocent Sins)” and “Vurgun (The Bends)”, which were songs on the soundtrack of “Agir
roman(Hard Fiction)”, she performed on this album and was critically acclaimed for her vocal
talents. The first video was made by Kemal Basbug to the song penned by Aysel Gurel and
composed by Niran Unsal herself. Her second video was made to the cover of “Firuze”,
penned by Aysel Gurel and composed by Atilla Ozdemiroglu. This album became a favorite
among music fans for Niran’s vocal talents supported with the classical music education and
unique arrangments.
In 2003, she participated at the tribute album of Ahmet Kaya “Dinle Sevgili Ulkem (Listen
to This My Beloved Country)”. She sang “Giderim (I’ll Be Gone)” which was a last minute
addition to the album and became a huge success in 2003. This song also became the
leading track of the project by Ahmet Kaya’s wife Gulten Kaya.
Her highly anticipated and eagerly awaited album “Gocebe (Migrant)” came in 2004. The musical
director of the album was Selim Caldiran doing all the arrangements. The album consisting
of 14 songs, had also 6 compositions of Niran Unsal, had also tracks by Gunay Coban,
Seda Akay, Yildiz Tilbe, Hakki Yalcin, Murat Sagir, Alper Nerman ve Fettah Can. Niran also
performed cover versions of Orhan Gecebay’s “Tanriya Feryat (An Ode To God)” and Ahmet
Kaya’s “Soyle (Say)”. Other significant tracks on the album were “Göçebe( Migrant)”, “Hayal
Meyal (Almost Unreal)”, “Farzet (Imagine As If…)”, “Şarap Misali (Like Wine)”, “Ben Yokum
(I’m Not There)” and “Dağ Gibi (Like Mountain)”. First video was made to the title track which
was penned by Gunay Coban and composed by herself. Second video was made to the
song Sarap Misali (Like Wine)” penned by Yildiz Tilbe and composed by Niran herself again.
Both videos were directed by Altan Donmez. The third and last video was made to “Beyaz
Gul (White Rose)” written by Alper Narman and Fettah Can by Film Doktorlari.
In 2007 she founded NU Music and decided to release her albums on her own label. The
letters of NU music, a company she founded, consisted of the initial letters of her name and
surname. When asked what Nu Music meant she said “Nu Music symbolizes the whole
nudity of the voice” and adds that it is the voice that doesn’t get lost and is the only
material in the universe that cannot be covered. That same year saw also the release of
her fourth album “Iyi Niyetlerim (My Best Wishes)”. She also was the musical director of
the album and was accompanied by Gurcell Celik. The album bearing 8 songs and a remix
was composed solely by Niran herself and penned by Gunay Coban. Deniz Akel did the first
video to “Hayranim (I’m Fond Of). The videos to “Oyun Bozan (Spoiler)” and “Gectim Dunya
Hevesinden (I Gave Up Worldly Things)” were made by Tamer Aydogdu.
In 2008, she co-hosted a TV program with Bouzouki Orhan Osman on TV under the
title “Keyfekeder (Funny Moments)”. During those times she worked on her follow up
album. “Sesler ve Izler (Voices and Legacies)” was released in May 2009. On the album she
composed all the songs and worked with different talented arrangers and musicians and
lyricists such as Ismail Tuncbilek, Gurcell Celik, Yasar Cenker Sarp, Ceyhun Celikten, Gunay
Coban, Hakki Yalcin, Seda Akay, Oyku Gurman, Zeki Goren, Gokhan Sahin and Emre Kaya.
Her duet “Ask Ugruna (In the Name of Love) holds the record for most clicked song. First
video was made to “Ben Yine Kendimle, composed by herself and penned by Gunay Coban
(Me Again By Myself)” and composed by herself and penned by Seda Akay, “Sebebim ( My
Reasons)” by Cumali Cop.
During the last months she sang the theme song to the TV series Kucuk Kadinlar (Little
Women), was once again critically acclaimed. Niran Unsal has also started to produce on her
brother Haktan’s album and is working on two projects recently, one is scheduled for the 2nd
week of July and the other one scheduled fort he stage in August.
Besides her singing talent, Niran Unsal wrote more than 100 song for other performers
such as Zerrin Ozer “Deli Yaz(Crazy Summer)”, Levent Yuksel “Fasl-i Muhabbet(Funny
Talks)”, Sibel Can “Gumus Kursun(Silver Bullet)”, “Ask Yolcu(Love is the Passagner)”,
Metin Senturk “El mi Yaman?Bey mi Yaman(Who is Better)”, Hazal “Yalanci Sevda(Liar
Love), “Aska Dair(For Love)”, Ozcan Deniz “Nasip Degilmis(It Wasn’t Destined)”, “Karsiliksiz
Ask(Unconditional Love)”, "Kayboldum(I’m Lost)" , Nalan "Farzet(Imagine)" , Muazzez
Ersoy "Geldik Gidiyoruz(Came and Gone)", "Düştüm Bir Ateşe(Fell Into A Fire)"
Rober HATEMO "Gurur(Pride)" and "Ama Seni Sevdim(But I Loved You)" Demet
AKALIN “Sebebim(My Reasons)” are to name but a few…