Today we’d like to introduce you to Noyan Karakas.
Hi Noyan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am a singer-songwriter, musician, and an entrepreneur. I was born in Bartın, a small town on the Black Sea coast of Türkiye, and spent my childhood between Bartın and Adana, where my mother is originally from. Growing up in a family deeply connected to music and art shaped my creative identity. My mother’s passion for the arts, my father’s love for guitar despite his business life, and my older brother’s musical energy all played a major role in inspiring me.
I started playing guitar at 14, and later learned piano. Learning both instruments helped me write my own songs and express myself more deeply. Music was always part of my life — I studied Business Administration in university while performing with bands and writing music.
In 2004, I moved to Istanbul to pursue music more seriously. With my brother’s encouragement, I connected with respected names in the industry and began building my career. After his unexpected passing, I took a step back. His loss left a big gap in my life, and I chose to focus on a quieter lifestyle.
For years, I worked in the corporate world while continuing to perform on weekends. I shared my songs, honored my brother’s memory through his compositions, and kept my passion alive. Balancing these two identities gave me valuable experience. I never limited myself to one genre — I followed emotion. Whether it was pop, rock, jazz, or Turkish classical, I always brought my own interpretation to the stage.
In 2017, after meeting my wife, I made one of the biggest decisions of my life and moved to San Diego. That shift brought music back to center stage. I started posting videos of my street performances online, and one day someone who heard me invited me to an open mic night. That’s when I met my friend Kimo — and my music journey in the U.S. began.
Over time, I naturally took on a unifying role in the local Turkish community, while also introducing Turkish music to American audiences. I began blending Turkish songs with global sounds, building a multilingual repertoire in Turkish, English, Spanish, and Italian. For over seven years, I’ve been performing for diverse audiences — reconnecting people with their roots and offering a rich, cross-cultural musical experience.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all. One of the most difficult times in my life was losing my brother — my biggest supporter and creative partner. At the time, I was actively pursuing a music career in Istanbul, and his loss changed everything. Instead of continuing the journey we started together, I chose a different path — one that brought me peace and led me to focus more on corporate life.
Later on, I decided to move to San Diego after falling in love with my wife. Leaving behind a 17-year corporate career and starting fresh in a new country wasn’t easy. Then came the pandemic, creating distance between musicians and their audiences. Like many, I had to adapt and find new ways to create and connect.
But this journey also brought something truly beautiful — in 2020, I became a father. That moment changed my world and gave me a new sense of purpose. I also started my own business, blending creativity and entrepreneurship.
Through all the struggles, I’ve grown stronger. These experiences have deepened my music and allowed me to connect more meaningfully with people — both on and off the stage.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
In my music journey in San Diego, I have brought together many American and international musicians. In the bands I formed, I blended Turkish melodies with songs in different languages, demonstrating that music is not limited to one language but becomes a unique experience through the fusion of diverse languages and cultures. We created compositions that combine Western and Eastern instruments with various melodies.
Many listeners have told me, “I don’t understand the language, but the passion and energy you convey are very strong.” This feedback shows that I succeeded in communicating through the universal language of music.
Over time, whether as Noyan Karakas, with the Pacific Beats POP Jazz Band, or more recently with the Miles Apart Turkish Rock band I founded, I’ve realized how much joy it brings me to make music driven solely by passion, regardless of genre.
Alongside my music career, I am also an entrepreneur. I have built my own business focused on artistic products and creative ventures. My artistic work continues alongside my music, allowing me to explore and express creativity in multiple ways. Balancing both worlds enriches my life and fuels my passion for innovation and connection.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Meeting my wife marked the beginning of a whole new chapter in my life. It gave me the courage to move to San Diego and start fresh in a completely different place. And when my daughter was born, it was truly life-changing — she brought a whole new sense of purpose and joy into my world.
But luck hasn’t always come wrapped in happiness. Losing my brother was the hardest moment of my life. He wasn’t just my sibling — he was my guide, someone I deeply looked up to. He was far more gifted than me when it came to creativity and poetry, and singing his songs always gave me a deeper kind of inspiration. His loss pulled me away from music for a long time, and I turned toward corporate life as a way to cope.
Over time, that pain transformed into something more powerful — a quiet strength that eventually led me back to music, this time with even more depth, meaning, and honesty.
I’ve come to believe that luck isn’t just about what happens to us — it’s about how we carry it. The joy and the heartbreak have both shaped me. And through it all, I’ve kept creating, growing, and finding new ways to share something real with others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jasmindecorart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noyan_karakas/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/noyankarakass/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NoyanKarakas
Image Credits
Alex R. Castro second photo is credited to him
