Tuğçe Kandemir

Tuğçe Kandemir — Biography

Born on 23 February 1996 in Mersin, Tuğçe Kandemir is the younger of two children of a civil-servant father and homemaker mother, with roots in Kırıkkale on her mother's side and Samsun on her father's; she became interested in music at eight and went on to complete a literature-teaching degree at Mersin University.

While waiting for a teaching assignment, she wrote Bu Benim Öyküm about a breakup, and the song's rapid spread online brought her fame; after signing with a music label it passed 100 million views and was named the year's top breakout song. Her following singles Gülü Soldurmam, Yanlış and the Bilal Sonses duet İçimdeki Sen each also crossed 100 million views, while her 2019 single Yelkovan gathered 50 million. Known for songs of love and heartbreak, she also made a guest appearance in the series Üniversiteli on the tabii streaming platform.

She married Abdullah Karatay in 2023, and the couple had a son, Demir, in 2024. She released the single Yalnızlık Korosu at the end of 2025, and in the summer of 2026 continued performing at concerts and festivals in cities such as Bilecik, Bartın, Şırnak and Sincan.