Having recently released their second album, Aylar, we’ve had a chat with Şatellites about the album, their musical influences, their eclectic sound, and plenty more.

The band is made up of Rotem Bahar on vocals, Itamar Kluger playing the baglama, Tsuf Mishali handling keys and synths, Ariel Harrosh on bass, Lotan Yaish on drums, and Tal Eyal working the percussion.

Heavily influenced by the wave of psychedelic rock fused with traditional folk music that swept across Turkey in the 60s and 70s, Şatellites’ self-titled debut album received international acclaim.Since their debut, Şatellites have evolved from a studio project into a full-fledged touring band. After two years of touring, this cohesive and reinvigorated lineup entered the studio with renewed purpose and closer musical bonds. Aylar (Turkish for “moons” or “months”) showcases more ambitious arrangements, extended compositions, intricate harmonies, and unexpected twists, reflecting the band’s commitment to innovation and their passion for the original wave ofTurkish psychedelic music. Aylar marks their transformation into a fully realised musical force. With this album, Şatellites step confidently out of the shadows of their Anatolian psych heroes to craft a modern yet timeless record, expanding their influences while deepening their connection to their roots.

Album opener ‘Tisladi Mehmet Emmi’, a standout track, reimagines a traditional Türküler as a psychedelic funk masterpiece. Additionally, ‘Midnight Sweat’, ‘Hot Jazz’, and ‘Yok Yok’ are undeniable highlights that exemplify the band’s diverse styles.

Aylar, is ripe for fans of Altin Gün or Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek, but don’t get it twisted—this group has crafted an album that rides in its own lane.

As they continue to explore new sonic territories, we can only anticipate the exciting musical adventures that lie ahead. For now, enjoy “Aylar” below, followed by the interview.

Can you share the story of how Şatellites came to be? What led to all of you coming together?

Like all bands, it’s never a short story, but honestly it’s not such an interesting one as well… First season of Satellites was with a different drummer, and another lead singer, it was a four piece group. We have played together since 2019, we put together some Turkish Standards we liked and had an ongoing gig in a turkish restaurant in Jaffa flea market, it very much helped us to record the first album and to be tight 🙂

After recording all the band members left the Album process and only Itamar Baglama Player continued to work on it and to believe in it – recording overdubs, mixing and mastering, which ended up to be a good idea because the Album was a success eventually. This success open up a new era for the band, season two, where players were added to the core band and that is where we started sounding like a more whole, mature band, recorded the KEXP session in Transmusicales Fest. in France, which was also a big milestone for this second chapter. Everyone of us comes from different musical backgrounds, we have different tastes, but we love what everyone brings, and that is what makes it work for us.The Musical DNA of our Group is the Sum of our personalities and perspectives.

From a sound perspective, how does ‘Aylar’ differ from your self-titled debut album ?

There are so many elements that make Aylar different in sound from our first album…

One of them is the change of band members. In recent years, our band has gone through some major sound updates. The addition of our lead singer, synth and Percussion player had a major influence on this new album and to the group’s live sound in general.

Rotem’s broad ranged charismatic singing style and timber invited the rest of us to think even wilder and more out of the box than we had before. Mishali’s mastery of sound synthesis invited us to cross into new auditory terrains. Lotan’s drum style updated new aesthetics to our rhythm styles. Having Tal on in the percussion added two new hands to drive that rhythm even stronger than before.

Aylar is more mature, determined, and ripe. If the 1st album was seeking in the dark, This one is walking with a small lamp 🙂 Keys and Percussion were not added after, but Played integrally by band members, so the whole sound is a bit Fuller, and of course Rotem brings her own atmosphere which changes a lot of our sound, a bit less dreamy and more roughness.

You mix everything from psychedelic folk to funk into your music. What’s your approach for tackling such an eclectic blend of styles?

Approach is very intuitive, not planned so much, all those ingredients of fusion leave within us, in our personalities, our musical background, our mood, it’s mostly just about letting it all out in the most joyful natural way.

At TS, we recently spotlighted ‘Midnight Sweet’ what was the first track you penned for the album. What was the process for bringing it to life?

It began with a sketch by Ariel the bassist. Then Itamar, Rothem and Ari sessioned it at Itamar’s studio-Living room, melodies were added, lines, lyrics, arrangement, most of it happened this morning, we did not have much time. We feel that it has new qualities from out of the band. Everything is original, also the lyrics are in Turkish! We see it as a dark Disco lullaby, genre bending piece, we are very proud of it, if we had budget we would make it a video clip.

If you could only release one song from ‘Aylar’, which would it be?

Tal our Percussionist say’s:

Aylar is its own entity only when heard as a whole. If we had to pick only one song? we would politely say NO, leave and never answer these questions ever again… But if we really really absolutely had to only pick one…Well that would be Zuluf! Zuluf is a declaration of our current sound. Rougher than what we were before.. bolder and BIG!

Big confident rock/metal drops

Big flashy in your face disco

And whoever will stay tuned to “Zuluf Part B” in the album will be rewarded with a transition into a big ritualistic psychedelic dance moment.

Zuluf just in itself captures a musical journey that has the strength of our sound.

Which musical influences have had the most impact on the band, and how have they shaped your sound?

When we talk about inspiration we talk about six different music heads 🙂 some of the more common are: Beyaz Kelbekler, Air, King gizzard, Selda Bagcan, Led Zeppelin, Derdiyoklar Iklisi, The Zombies, Rizan Said

Do non-musical inspirations influence you when you’re composing?

Yes, always imagining our creation with images, colors, we like every song to be a story, unique identity, to create a different and speciffic vibe, scene.

We love the 70’s eastern style art of the time, 70;s Cinema… we love working with Daniela Meroz, an art director of our Video Clip and of Aylar cover – we inspire her, and she inspires us.

Who are some up-and-coming artists from Tel Aviv you’ve been listening to and would recommend?

many new good music around here, If you don’t know – you must know: Sababa 5, Romano, Riff Cohen, Radio Bagdad, Radio Luna, Sandman Project, Itamu, Eje Eje, El Khat, Uzi Navon, Uzi Remirez

Do you have any final words for the Twistedsoul community?

We love you, Keep on Digging! and enjoying the never ending excitement out of new music, See you again in Album #3 🙂