Artun Çekem

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Artun Çekem is a composer born in Istanbul, Turkey. His work primarily deals with the concept of the uncanny, and more particularly, the uncanniness that is latent within anthropomorphic entities. From a sonic perspective, this concept has led him to focus on and spectrally analyze the human voice, with the aim of repurposing it under new, instrumental settings. Through this instrumental resynthesis, he intends to defamiliarize the original source material and capture a liminal zone between what may be perceived as "human" and "non-human". 

Artun began his musical path as an electric guitarist, pursuing a BA degree in Music at Istanbul Bilgi University, followed by a Master's degree in Composition at Bilkent University. His works have been performed in concerts and festivals across Turkey, Europe, Japan, and the United States. He is currently living in New York City as a DMA candidate at Columbia University.

Ordered by year. Most recent works appears first

String Quartet


Human Voices for viol quartet & six vocal tract tubes (2022)
Lesser Beings for string quartet (2018)

Ensemble (Instruments or Voices) and Fixed Electronic Media


Silicone Skin and Fleshy Masses for six voices and sine waves (2021)

Chamber Ensemble (5 - 9 instruments)


Fabricated Memories, I. for six electric guitars (2021)
A Night of Music in the Uncanny Valley, Part III for ensemble (2019)
A Night of Music in the Uncanny Valley, Part II for ensemble & electronics (2019)

Solo Instrument


Consolation for amplified clarinet (2018)

Chamber Group ( 2 - 4 instruments )


Human Voices for viol quartet & six vocal tract tubes (2022)
Lesser Beings for string quartet (2018)
Leaked Tape from the Sacred Mysteries for piano trio (2018)
Silence Told Me Secretly for guitar quartet (2017)
A Night of Music in the Uncanny Valley, Part II for ensemble & electronics (2019)
A Night of Music in the Uncanny Valley, Part III for ensemble (2019)
Consolation for amplified clarinet (2018)
Fabricated Memories, I. for six electric guitars (2021)
Human Voices for viol quartet & six vocal tract tubes (2022)
Leaked Tape from the Sacred Mysteries for piano trio (2018)
Lesser Beings for string quartet (2018)
Silence Told Me Secretly for guitar quartet (2017)
Silicone Skin and Fleshy Masses for six voices and sine waves (2021)