Niran Ünsal

 
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 irresistble 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 ofur 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 eigth months of preperations 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 ivdeo 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 Ficiton)”, 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 Conutry)”. 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)” 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 symbolozes the whole nudeness 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 talanted 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 Kuck Kadinlar (Little Women), was once again crtically acclaimed. Niran Unsal has also started to produce on her borther 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 Agusut.
 
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…