The New York-based producer describes himself as a multi-instrumentalist. Though his main focus is the guitar which he began learning aged 12, he also performs vocals, piano and other instruments.
“Mostly I choose songs which I feel a deep connection with. Sometimes I put a different vibe/spin on them, but mostly I try to stay true to the original sound. I try to create a feeling almost like using a time machine to put myself in the same room as the artist so I can relate to their true style and channel the same energy, as if I was the one recording the song”.
Kemal’s attachment to the songs he covers is evident in his performances – they are brimming with character and vibrancy.
“I can totally feel the artist’s emotion while performing which connects me to the song as if it was a memory I had.”
He creates every cover from scratch using Cubase, performing every instrument, mixing, mastering, filming and editing everything himself. He will also keenly take on the challenge of learning new instruments and techniques if the song demands it, for example, the lap steel guitar in a Pink Floyd cover.
“As a producer, I can see the sort of struggles the original artist may have encountered creating new sounds and which particular direction they took throughout the process. It makes me a more knowledgeable artist by following in their footsteps”.
“I’ve even had the original artists reach out to me on social media and praise the job I have done, given me a follow, etc.”
He recently collaborated with Brøder, a pair of French DJ brothers known for their hits ‘Mood’ and ‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams’. Their hard-hitting dance track ‘Ocean Drive’ (originally by British DJ Duke Dumont) stands impressively with almost 3 million streams on Spotify.
‘Ocean Drive’ is available to stream on Spotify here.
To stay in touch with Kemal, you can check out his social media, or alternatively find him on all your usual streaming sites.
Bistro Fada – Stéphane Wrembel
Kemal’s most recent cover is a song from the Midnight in Paris (2011) soundtrack by Stéphane Wrembel.
“It’s a gypsy jazz, it was such a cool riff that I couldn’t help but play it”.
A fantasy comedy written and directed by Woody Allen, the movie is set in luxury-tourist Paris where a Hollywood screenwriter takes a trip with his fiancée and her parents. Screenwriter Gil falls in love with his idolized vision of bohemian Paris in the 20s and re-awakens his desire to become a novelist. One night, he comes across an antique vehicle that transports him back in time to a Jean Cocteau party to meet the likes of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Cole Porter. The movie won a Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards.
French composer Wrembel is considered one of the world’s master guitarists. His music is deeply influenced by the Sinti music of Django Reinhardt, though he is also a fan of Pink Floyd and his music incorporates hints of jazz, blues, classical, swing, flamenco and rock. His original composition ‘Bistro Fada’, a Reinhardt-influenced swinging waltz landed a place on the Midnight in Paris soundtrack in 2011 which launched him into the limelight.
Kemal’s cover is a YouTube short, a minute long but packed with dance-inducing rhythm and a chance to demonstrate his mesmerizing guitar skills, the riff certainly is irresistible.
You can catch the cover here.
High Hopes – Pink Floyd
Much like Wrembel, Kemal is also a Pink Floyd fan.
“For this one, I taught myself how to play the slide guitar just like Gilmour does”.
‘High Hopes’ is the closing track on the fourteenth album The Division Bell (1994) by the English rock band. It was composed by guitarist David Gilmour along with lyric contributions from Polly Samson.
This song has themes of nostalgia, regret and closure. It was the band’s final released song up until their final album The Endless River (2014), which was constructed by Gilmour and bandmate Nick Mason with recording sessions from 1993. It contains both musical and lyrical references to many other Pink Floyd songs, for example ending with a recording of manager Steve O’Rourke, while Astronomy Domine (the first track of their debut album) opens with a recording of then-producer Peter Jenner. The song is also one of many that references the band’s roots in Cambridge:
Along the Long Road and on down the Causeway
Do they still meet there by the Cut?
The high level of care and sentiment which Kemal has put into his cover is clear. He creates an immersive and ethereal sound with a stunning vocal and guitar performance which most definitely does justice to the original Floyd tune.
The cover is available to watch here.
Burning Heart – Survivor
Released in 1985, Burning Heart was Survivor’s second-biggest hit in the U.S., reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
It was the main theme for the movie Rocky IV (1985), a sports drama written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. In the movie, Soviet boxer Ivan Drago challenges reigning World Champion Rocky Balboa (Stallone) to a match, though he’s retired former enemy Apollo Creed decides to take his place and is unsuccessful, leaving Rocky to avenge both his best friend and his country.
Survivor’s biggest hit Eye of the Tiger was also featured in the Rocky franchise, appearing in the 3rd film and winning a Grammy for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal.
Personally commissioned by Stallone, Burning Heart tells the story of an epic battle with obvious links to the Cold War:
Is it East versus West or man against man?
Can any nation stand alone?
Once again, Kemal smashes it out of the park with this cover, gaining an impressive 76k views on YouTube. He effortlessly recreates the inspirational classic rock sound with an added feel-good modern polish.
You can check out the cover here.
Looking to the Future?
Kemal has no plans to stop, and is hoping to add many more well-loved tunes to his collection of covers. He also has some original songs in the works, with plans to film and release music videos alongside them.
To keep up with Kemal’s new releases, whether it be his killer guitar skills or captivating vocals, give him a follow on his social media or find his music on all your usual streaming sites.
Follow Kemal Uruk on Instagram, watch YouTube, and listen on Spotify.
References
- Chris Rand (2020). Pink Floyd: our very own Queen Edith’s rock legends. Queen Edith’s Community Forum. Available at: https://queen-ediths.info/pink-floyd-queen-ediths-rock-legends/
- Genius (n.d.) High Hopes Lyrics. Available at: https://genius.com/Pink-floyd-high-hopes-lyrics
- Genius (n.d.) Burning Heart Lyrics. Available at: https://genius.com/Survivor-burning-heart-lyrics
- Last FM (n.d.). Survivor Biography. Available at: https://www.last.fm/music/Survivor/+wiki
- Mike Mettler (2014). Louder Than Words: Producer Andy Jackson Takes Us Exclusively Inside the Making of the Final Pink Floyd Album, The Endless River. Soundbard. Available at: http://www.soundbard.com/soundbard/louder-than-words-producer-andy-jackson-takes-us-exclusively-inside-the-making-of-the-final-pink-floyd-album-the-endless-river/
- Peter Bradshaw (2011). Midnight in Paris – review. The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/oct/06/midnight-in-paris-film-review
- Stephane Wrembel (n.d.). Biography. stephanewrembel.com. Available at: https://www.stephanewrembel.com/bio
- Terri White (2021). Rocky IV: Rocky Vs. Drago – The Ultimate Director’s Cut Review. Empire Online. Available at: https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/rocky-iv-rocky-vs-drago-the-ultimate-director-cut/
- Woody Allen Pages (2013). Midnight in Paris Soundtrack Wins Grammy. Available at: https://www.woodyallenpages.com/2013/02/midnight-in-paris-soundtrack-wins-grammy/
