A Melody Born from Tragedy: Gökhan Üçel’s “Sonsuzluk” Honors Forest Fire Martyrs
Ankara, March 26 – Renowned songwriter and composer Gökhan Üçel has unveiled his latest work, “Sonsuzluk (Children of Heaven),” a poignant tribute to Bayram Eren Arslan, an AKUT volunteer who lost his life in the devastating forest fire that swept from Eskişehir Seyitgazi to the Afyonkarahisar border, and to all other martyrs of the incident.
Üçel, whose musical journey began in childhood, shared his profound connection to music. “Music is life itself; every new day, in every moment, it is a new composition of truth,” he stated. His early inspiration came from listening to his father’s folk song cassettes during his father’s time in Libya, a way for his mother to alleviate her longing. Raised in a family deeply rooted in religious and cultural values, Üçel began composing poetry, folk songs, and lyrics around the age of 12, influenced by spiritual dreams he experienced.
His professional career took off in 2016 with the broadcast of his music video for “Sebebi Sensin” on TRT Music, a piece for which he wrote both the lyrics and music. Following this, he continued to present his works to individual vocal artists. In 2021, he began collaborating with esteemed saz artist Engin Arslan to produce musical works for the TRT 1 series “Gönül Dağı,” a collaboration that continues to this day.
Üçel expressed his concern about the appreciation of art and artists in Turkey: “Unfortunately, I believe that art and true artists in Turkey are not sufficiently valued. There are so many valuable poets, writers, lyricists, and composers who remain in the background, never coming to the forefront, or disappearing without being seen. I think this is one of the biggest unhealed wounds of our society.”
A Project Born from Personal Connection and Remembrance
The inspiration for “Sonsuzluk (Children of Heaven)” stemmed from a deeply personal request. Üçel explained, “Some songs and folk songs about lived experiences don’t just narrate; they make you feel and live through them. In the process of bringing our work ‘Sonsuzluk (Children of Heaven)’ to light, we focused on this project with the wish and encouragement of Gürsel Arslan, the esteemed father of Bayram Eren Arslan, one of our precious souls who sacrificed their lives for the homeland, humanity, and all existence in the Eskişehir forest fire. We are happy if we have been able to repay, even in a small way, the never-ending debt we owe to our martyrs.”
He concluded his sentiments with a heartfelt message: “To our countless unnamed heroes who view the homeland, humanity, nature, and all living beings as a whole, and who, with this motto, passed into immortality by sacrificing their lives, we send our sincere greetings with immense gratitude and appreciation.”
The composition serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by individuals like Bayram Eren Arslan and aims to keep their memory alive through the universal language of music.
