Music • Culture • Transmission

About

Through MerveMelodia, she creates cultural spaces where music becomes a living archive —

a place for memory, sharing, and connection between communities.

Merve Sancak is a Montreal-based singer, percussionist, and cultural organizer whose personal journey connects the Balkans, Istanbul, and Canada.

"Today, as a Turkish-Bosnian immigrant in Canada, Merve experiences music as a space of continuity and transmission. Singing, performing, and curating cultural events allows her to keep traditions alive by sharing them and reliving them collectively."

Her musical work highlights İstanbul türküleri, alaturka songs, and traditional Turkish and Balkan repertoire, with a strong focus on vocal expression, authenticity of sound, and frame drums (bendir, daf, tef).

Alongside her artistic practice, Merve holds an academic background in Middle Eastern Studies and History. Her master's research focused on Turkish immigration in Montreal and the role of cultural spaces in community life. This lived and scholarly perspective informs her artistic and curatorial work.

Cultural Journey

Balkans

Bosnian roots and heritage.

Bosnian roots and heritage.

Istanbul

Shaped by Turkish and Balkan musical traditions.

Montreal, Canada

Creating spaces for cultural transmission and community connection.