Yan Lâle is one of the fast‑rising bands in the Dutch scene, weaving the Turkish roots of lead singer Tuğçe into a hypnotic blend of psychedelic rock. Their music is dreamy yet dark, mixing spacey textures with Eastern scales and raw rock energy. Over the past year, they have taken to many stages, released two EPs, and the coming year will revolve around creating their first full‑length album. We sat down with bassist Floris Kaagman and vocalist Tuğçe Kartal, and explored how their diverse backgrounds shape the band’s character, how language colors their songwriting, and what drives them when they step onto the stage.
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Introduction
What does the name ‘Yan Lâle’ mean?
It’s Turkish and literally means ‘burn, tulip.’ We were brainstorming names and wanted something with a tulip in it. Because, a tulip is such a strong Dutch symbol, but I discovered that tulips originally came from Turkey. That connection felt really cool. So, I mixed it with some other Turkish words and sent around a list of options. Marc eventually picked ‘Yan Lâle’ because of how striking it looks visually and because the meaning felt intriguing: a tulip on fire. It also inspired how we shaped our visual identity and aesthetics as a band.
How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard you before?
Usually we just say: psychedelic rock. But when you elaborate on it, it’s psychedelic rock with a Turkish or Middle Eastern touch. And you could say that it’s quite spacey or dreamy, there’s a darker edge too.
What stories do you tell with your songs?
We use a lot of metaphors, often from nature. Because it fascinates me. A tree, a falling leaf… I love writing that way because people can interpret it in their own way. For example, leaves falling can make me feel sad, while others see it as a hopeful sign of a new season.
Some songs are in English, others in Turkish. Does that change the way you write?
Definitely. In English I tend to write more metaphorically, but in Turkish I’m much more direct. For example, I’d say ‘I love you’ in Turkish much quicker than in English. It sounds more beautiful and feels personal in my native language.
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Roots
Your Turkish background clearly plays a role in your sound. How did that shape your identity as a band?
I was searching for my musical identity and was fascinated by sounds outside the Western tradition. Also, in the past I danced a lot to Turkish and Balkan traditions, that made me discover different styles. And because of my background, bringing in Turkish elements felt natural to me.
Apart from those roots, what other influences feed into Yan Lâle?
Each of us brings our own thing. Floris grew up on punk and hip‑hop. Marc, our keyboard player, is classically trained but moved into electronic production. Midas is into blues, and Tuğç ebrings in that Turkish element plus influences like trip‑hop. Everyone’s background becomes part of the mix, and we blend it into something new.
How does that fusion come together in your process?
If I have a look at our writing process, it usually starts with someone bringing an idea and then everyone adds something. Without forcing it, it naturally turns into something new. We collaborate intensively when creating new music and we’re not afraid to try new stuff. Sometimes we might be unsure about a melody or lyric, and the others help to shape it. We really build off each other’s strengths.
Are your roots reflected in the instruments and sounds you use?
Yes, definitely. Some tracks lean more into Eastern scales, others sound more progressive or trip‑hop‑like. We don’t really use traditional instruments, except Marc sometimes plays the darbuca drum, which spices up our sound. And we bring in certain textures or effects that are inspired by traditional sounds. Even scales we use, like certain Indonesian ones Midas plays, sneak in. But we don’t want to force it in, it has to grow naturally into something exciting.
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Live
When you play live, what feeling do you want to give the audience?
A sense of freedom and being swept away. We don’t tell a fixed story. It’s more like taking people somewhere else, taking people on a journey. And the destination might be different for everyone. We want people to step out of their bubble for a while, step in a dream. And when we as a band are fully in the moment on stage, the audience feels that and joins us on that journey.
Is there a live moment that stayed with you?
Recently we played Valkhof Festival, which felt huge for us. There were over a thousand people. It was one of the biggest shows we’ve ever played, and yet the intimate moments in our set still connected. That was special. I kept thinking, ‘Wow, we’re really doing this.’ Also, the sound on stage was really good, which added up to our vibes as well. Another magical one was the first Popronde show in Nijmegen, in an old squat called Extrapool. The place was packed, windows fogged up, everyone there just vibing with us. Those moments stay with you.
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Inspires
What’s next for Yan Lâle?
We’ve got a few shows lined up this summer, but our main focus is working on our next album. This time we want to spend more time on production and songwriting, really shaping a sound that feels like the next step for us. Hopefully a year from now, we’ll be ready with a new record and of course a big release show to celebrate.