There’s something special to be said about must that crosses boundaries and connects cultures in the most authentic and pure way. Music made by those live through the spirit of the the sounds while delivering them to the ears and hearts of the listeners. One of the best deliverers of that spiritual experience Ilhan Ersahin, someone that we come in contract pretty frequently and with every meeting, it’s obvious that he breaths the sonic sounds of expression in every possible way. Bringing 2026 in on a high note, Ilhan Ersahin’s Istanbul Sessions returns with “Mahalle”, their sixth studio album and maybe their finest work yet.
The new work represents the band’s most cinematic offering yet, guiding listeners through a sonic exploration of Istanbul’s diverse neighborhoods where tradition meets innovation and the ancient pulse of the city merges with contemporary rhythms. Frontman Ilhan Ersahin, one of the rare moguls of the New York City underground scene through his influential club and record label Nublu, has spread his New York energy throughout the world. Whether jamming with The Red Hot Chili Peppers in São Paulo, featuring Bugge Wesseltoft at Blue Note Tokyo, or performing elegant oriental sets with Turkish gypsies in European concert halls, Ersahin continues to transcend musical boundaries with masterful eclecticism.
For this personal tribute to the city he loves, Ersahin reunites with his core Istanbul Sessions lineup: bassist and co-producer Alp Ersonmez, whose compositional voice shines on multiple tracks; drummer Turgut Alp Bekoglu, providing the rhythmic foundation; and percussionist Izzet Kizil, whose traditional textures anchor the band’s east-meets-west aesthetic. Together, the quartet has crafted an album that captures the architectural diversity of Istanbul itself.
“Mahalle” – the Turkish word for neighborhood – captures the essence of Istanbul Sessions’ genre-crossing artistry. The album was produced by Ersonmez and Ersahin, recorded at Babajim Istanbul under the engineering guidance of Cihan Baris, and features engineering assistance from Yazgulu Gurer, Altus Poyraz, and Alper Mert. The sonic vision was shaped by mixer Caio Carvalho and mastering engineer David McNair, resulting in a sound that is both intimate and expansive.