The Away Days

'The Away Days' is a Turkish dream pop band formed in Istanbul in 2012 by Can Özen (vocals, guitar) and Sezer Koç (guitar, bas guitar) but current line-up consists of Can Özen. Recently Sezer Koç announced that he decided to leave the band and said he would continue solo. The songs continue to be made by Can Özen but it wasn't revealed who would accompany him while he was on the stage yet.

The Away Days
Origin	Istanbul, Turkey
Genres	Dream pop shoegazing[1][2]
Years active	2012 (2012)–present
Labels	Unsigned
Members	Oğuz Can Özen

History

Formed in 2012 by Oğuz Can Özen and Sezer Koç, the band released their debut EP, How Did It All Start, independently in late 2012.[3] Following year, the band released their first music video, "Galaxies", and performed at South by Southwest festival, attracting international attention.[3][4][5] In addition, the band performed at The Great Escape Festival and toured United Kingdom.[6] The band also opened for artists such as Portishead, Paul Banks and Owen Pallett.[7]

In 2014, the band released the singles "Your Colour" and "Paris" with respective music videos. The music videos were premiered by Clash and Spin, respectively.[1][2]

Musical style

The band's musical style has been described as "dream pop" and "shoegazing."[1][2] Clash magazine editor Robin Murray wrote that "the band's material matches the citrus-sharp songcraft of School of Seven Bells with the whirlwind drumming of early Ride," while also noting that "there's even a bit of Swervedriver's rock edge in there."[1] Mischa Pearlman of The Guardian wrote: "Turkish shoegaze might not be a major phenomenon, but given the breadth of their [The Away Days'] talent, it soon could be."[4] Zachary Lipez of Vice described the band's style as "a solid mix of 2006 Brooklyn, forever Flying Nun, and The La’s if they were mentored by the Reid brothers."[7] The band's lyrics are sung entirely in English.[7]

On the band's name, lead vocalist Oğuz Can Özen stated: " We called the band The Away Days, not because we feel we don’t belong to Istanbul or Turkey, but because we don’t feel like belonging anywhere. And maybe Istanbul didn’t have a great deal of influence to our music, but it has been a great home for us." On the influences, Özen further stated: "We [Özen and Koç] both listened to Selda and The Strokes when we were kids. But now, as we begin our twenties, we're trying to find some rare music influences through far east and India." He also listed Joy Division, The Stooges and The Smiths as personal influences.[7]

Members

Current members

• Oğuz Can Özen – vocals, guitar

Discography

Albums

• "Dreamed at Dawn" (2017)

EPs

• How Did It All Start (2012)
• THIS (2015)

Singles

• "Your Colour" (2014)
• "Paris" (2014)
• "Best Rebellious" (2014)
• "Paris (Portecho Remix)" (2014)
• "World Horizon" (2016)
• "Places to Go" (2016)
• "You Think You're High" (2018)
• "Designed" (2019)

Music videos

• "Galaxies" (2013)
• "Your Colour" (2014)
• "Paris" (2014)
• "Sleep Well" (2014)
• "Best Rebellious" (2015)
• "Calm Your Eyes" (2015)
• "World Horizon" (2016)
• "White Whale" (2017)
• "Designed" (2019)

References

1. Murray, Robin (27 May 2014). "Premiere: The Away Days - Your Colour". Clash. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
2. Imparotore, Isabel (16 July 2014). "Watch the Away Days' Dazzling, Smoky 'Paris' Video". Spin. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
3. Aybar, Bekir (28 July 2014). "Hiçbir Yere Ait Olmayan Şarkılar: The Away Days". Milliyet. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
4. Pearlman, Mischa. "SXSW music festival: Frightened Rabbit, Charles Bradley and Big Ups". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
5. "Schedule: The Away Days". SXSW. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
6. "The Away Days - About". The Away Days. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
7. Lipez, Zachary (28 September 2014). "Listen to the Premiere of The Away Days' Sleep Well". Vice. Retrieved 30 September 2014.

External links

• The Away Days on Facebook
• The Away Days on SoundCloud