Group Truva is a Turkish folk group based in Vancouver. After performing in dozens of venues around the Lower Mainland and Seattle, they will feature in the upcoming European Festival on May 31.

Formed in 2008 by Erdal Kun, Erman Yavuz and Safak Karaca, Group Truva was originally called Truva Trio. The group came together after the three members had already performed solo for a long time. All three have a deep musical background: Kun has played saz, a Turkish stringed instrument, for over 20 years. Yavuz also has over 20 years of experience with acoustic guitar, while Karaca has extensive experience playing bass.

Ayten Kun, Erdal Kun’s wife, is the group’s manager and coordinator, and is involved with pretty much everything behind the scenes.

“Erdal, Erman and Safak all knew each other through different festivals and performances,” said Ayten. “They were all doing stuff on their own and finally they thought, why don’t we come together and do something together?” says Ayten.

Group Truva has also recently added a couple of new members. Lisa Ronald, who has a background in Irish and Scottish music, plays the flute, clarinet and Irish whistle. Ronald met the other band members at an event that Group Truva performed at. Although she had never played Turkish folk music, she agreed to play with them and has stayed with the group.

“Lisa thought it would be difficult to learn our style of music,” explains Ayten. “But she worked very hard and has stayed, which is wonderful. She compliments us very well.”

Khashayar Mahboubian has also joined the group, and plays percussion.

The music

The members of Group Truva

Group Truva is well known in Metro Vancouver’s Turkish community, and outside of it as well. This was shown a couple years ago when an invite to the Seattle Turkfest arrived.

“The Seattle Turkfest contacted us,” says Ayten. “They told us they wanted us to play, and that there were going to be about 300–400 people there. We went and there were actually 5,000 people there. The crowd reaction was wonderful, and after the show lots of people had positive things to say about the group.”

Playing before such an unexpectedly large audience gave the band a new sense of the appeal their music had.

“That’s when we realized, oh my gosh, Turkish music is valued, people want to hear it,” adds Ayten.

Group Truva is trying to change how people see Turkish folk music.

“We’re definitely not the same as other groups,” says Ayten. “We’ve had people tell us that they’ve never heard something like our music before, and that’s what we’re trying to do. We don’t want people to think of our music as just for old people, or as something they’ve heard before. We want them to see that it’s something different, something for everyone.”

Group Truva will be performing at the upcoming European Festival, but it wants to use the opportunity to spread awareness and knowledge of Turkish folk music. After the show, anyone can come backstage, talk to the band members, see the instruments and even play them.

“If you like our music, you can come see how it’s played, and try it out for yourself. Come see what our Turkish music is like,” says Ayten.

For more information, visit Group Truva’s Facebook page.