Vetor Interviews: Melis Köke

From Istanbul’s chaotic streets to Amsterdam’s glitchy nights, Melis Köke crashes through the underground scene like a punk meteor—messy, magnetic, and impossible to ignore. Her sets are a cultural reset—raucous, unapologetic, and fusing guaracha, tribal techno, Tecktonik, and the uniquely Turkish phenomenon, Apaçi. This blend, characterized by its raw energy and chaotic rhythm, reflects Melis's diverse musical journey and the cultural landscapes she has traversed.

Text and interview by Efe Çilek

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The Punk, the Pulse, and the Camp: Melis Köke’s World

Born and raised in Istanbul, she was introduced to electronic music not through clubs but on the streets. Apaçi—a raw, street-born dance movement that exploded in the 2000, rooted in hardstyle beats, flashy aesthetics, and working-class neighbourhoods—was her first taste of techno.

"It’s been there since I knew myself as a kid," she says. It wasn’t glamorous. It was never meant to be. "My first introduction to electronic music was the Apaçi music I heard on the streets and in the cars passing by." This early exposure planted a seed that’s only grown wilder. Her sets now carry traces of everything from the punk explosion of the early ’80s to the angular intensity of Tecktonik, the mid-2000s French-born dance movement known for its sharp moves and cyber aesthetics.

"It’s always been kinda messy, my sound," she admits. "But in the end, it glues together. Just like myself."

Rituals of Chaos

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Punk symbolizes more than just a genre for Melis; it embodies a mindset. It represents chaos without fear. Growing up, she was deeply influenced by the subversive ethos of DIY rebellion—an influence that remained with her even after she moved beyond the leather jackets. "I used to be a punk. Not anymore. But the Punk mindset is still infused in all aspects of my life. I see it as like living with the true nature of the cosmos. I mean, chaos."

The chaos Melis speaks of isn’t random—it’s ritualistic. Her sets are carefully crafted journeys guided by the energy of the audience. She allows the crowd to influence the direction of her music, creating an immersive experience where everyone is caught in the hypnotic euphoria of the moment.

"The audience guides me, tells me which direction to go" she says. "Then, right at that moment, I throw in a surprise. Suddenly, everyone is euphoric, and we’re all locked in, hypnotic." She doesn’t chase perfection. She celebrates failure.

"Everybody sucks! So hard!" she says, laughing. "Everything is fine once you take look at yourself and see how pathetic you are, have a good laugh, and move on. You can sew a little patch, too, even... you know. They call it fashion."

Reclaiming the Camp

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Lately, Melis has become an unlikely champion for the revival of Apaçi music, a style often dismissed in Turkey as kitsch or embarrassing. Her unexpected embrace of this genre has piqued the interest of many, and through her sets (especially her Glamcult TV one) she’s reintroduced her genre to a global audience with new meaning. Apaçi isn’t a trend. It’s a subculture. And for Melis, it’s a symbol of resilience.

"It comes from the ghetto. It is music made by people who have always had no representation or were misrepresented. They would gather, dance, and carve out safe spaces for themselves. Just as we do in our own scenes."

This isn’t just about reclaiming a genre. For Melis, it’s about redefining taste and tearing down expectations. "I don’t think there are rules in any medium of art", she explains.

"There’s a set of know-how passed down by those who came before us, and I respect that. But I don’t believe in following those truths just because they’ve been around." She thrives on pushing things to the edge, playing with absurdity, humour, and cultural tension.

"Nothing wrong with a little absurdity or humour. I love pushing things to the edge. Oh, and there’s these new- age concepts like cringe or camp. I love playing with that a lot."

"Even some friends were telling me I should not play like Apaçi Style, if I take my DJing career seriously!" she says. "But I love playing it because it sounds unique and taps into something deeply rebellious. It’s about subverting societal expectations, and that’s really what makes something stand out.”

Tecktonik, Dembow & Beyond

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Melis is always searching. She follows obsession like a compass. One week, it’s DnB; the next, it’s Dutch EDM. But right now? She’s all in on Tecktonik. "I believe Tecktonik is set for a major comeback in both fashion and music", she says.

“Tecktonik has always been futuristic and internet-driven. Now, with Harajuku influences from Asia, Vogue culture, and Latin favela music popping up worldwide, it feels like the next big thing.”

She finds echoes of Apaçi in Dembow, too—its rhythmic punch, its street-level energy. This comparison runs deeper than sound. "I think the movie La Haine is a good representation of the apaches we’re referring to", she explains.

"And, I do see parallels. I was inspired to play this music more after moving to Amsterdam and diving into genres like Dembow, Guaracha and Dutch EDM. It definitely shares a pulse with Apaçi style—especially in its energy and rebellious spirit."

The SIRÄN Collective

Melis isn’t doing this alone. As one of the resident DJs of the SIRÄN collective—a platform connecting Istanbul and Berlin through parties, resistance, and radical softness—she has found a crew that shares her journey.

"SIRÄN was founded by Nene H and Yeşim. After the first edition, I joined as the third resident DJ, and from there, our bond grew."

But it hasn’t been easy. Throwing a party in Istanbul is an act of resistance in itself. "Politically, it’s been corrupt for as long as I can remember. But these gatherings aren’t just parties— they’re a gateway for us to come together. Our passion for music, of course, the community and resistance. That was our common ground. Every edition was a hell of a challenge, damn! Only God knows what we went through. And, of course, the girls!"

As we discussed on in our interview with the mamas of Istanbul’s underground culture— Mx.Sür and Q-BRA—this kind of community building is the foundation of everything.

"But SIRÄN is so much bigger than just the three of us. For every edition, friends and family came together, volunteering their time and energy to make it happen. It’s a collective effort built on love and solidarity. I must take a moment to pay my respects to dear Nene H. She has been a guiding force in my life, and I’ve learned so much from her."

What Comes Next

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For Melis, the future is open. "Making some mula with doing what I do", she says bluntly. Whether styling for artists like Alizade, playing in fashion shows, or spinning genreless sets across Europe, she’s moving with purpose and always, always with a bit of chaos.

"I just do what I feel, play what resonates within me. And it’s really nice if somebody’s digging it, right? Because then it means I’m not alone, and they’re not alone either."