MAHMUT: “I FELT A VERY INTIMATE CONNECTION WITH MUSIC. I’VE NEVER STOPPED SINCE.”

Looking back to those early days — what do you remember about first getting into music? And when did you realize: this is it, this is what I’m meant to do?

I was a teenager in Bursa, working for a production company. I had been setting soundsystems for Djs. I started watching DJs and experimenting with sounds and I felt a very intimate connection with music. I’ve never stopped since.

You’re from Turkey, a place with a rich and distinct musical identity. What elements of your roots still show up in your sound today?

Even when I’m producing modern electronic tracks, I love weaving in textures, scales and rhythms inspired by Anatolian music which I was exposed to in my family home when I was a kid. There’s something deeply emotional and timeless in those melodies — they add a certain depth and warmth that feels like home to me.

After all these years of touring and producing, what still sparks your creativity?

Hearing the unexpected. Every city has its own heartbeat, and I try to capture that in my sets. Also, I’m always listening for unusual instruments or vocal lines that make me stop and think.

Do you feel like you’ve fully found your sound, or is it still evolving?

I think my core sound is there, that blend of deep, organic, and emotive, but it’s always evolving. The world changes, I change, and so the music does too. If it ever stopped evolving, I think I’d get bored.

What’s your creative process like in the studio? 

It’s a mix of both structure and flow. I usually start with a mood or a theme in mind, maybe even a sample that inspires me, but once I’m in the zone, I let the track lead me. Sometimes it turns into exactly what I imagined, and other times it surprises me completely — those surprises are usually the best parts.

Ibiza marks a new chapter for you. Why did now feel like the right moment to launch your first residency on the island?

The right team, the right energy. I wanted people to experience my sound and also the spirit of the island at the same time.

What can people expect from your residency at Chinois?

A journey. I want people to walk in and feel like they’ve been transported somewhere else — deep grooves, organic layers, and moments that bring people together. 


What does Ibiza have that no other place does?

It has this magical energy — wild and free. 

What do you enjoy doing outside the club while you’re on the island? Any favorite spots or rituals?

I love early mornings, hiking in the north, having a nice meal. I also try to take some time to just sit, listen to the sea, and reset before the next show.



Can you give us a little scoop — something exciting coming up soon?

You’ll have to come to Chinois to hear it.

Catch Mahmut Orhan’s residency at Chinois Ibiza, Fridays 19th September to 10th October