1 February 2026
Groove Atelier co-presents the Istanbul album launch alongside Destination Unknown and Arinni’s Art Gallery
Kuvoka is celebrating the release of his debut album with an exclusive multidisciplinary headline performance in Istanbul on February 14, Saturday.
Co-presented by Destination Unknown, Groove Atelier and Arinni’s Art Gallery, and hosted by the Istanbul tattoo studio INK Blaze with musical programming from No-Match Records, the event will unfold as a multi-layered encounter combining sound, visual art and live performance.
The programme will feature a wearable art performance by Evokicks (Evren Aktekin), a live metalwork performance by Erdinc Babat, who will create one of his works during Kuvoka’s set, and a jewellery workshop led by Mehmet Yildiz from Had Safha Jewelry, a master craftsman from Istanbul’s Eminonu district. The night will also include tattoo work by INK Blaze artists Seleina and Oguzhan Altay.
Taking place from 4pm to 8pm at INK Blaze’s historic mansion in Istanbul, located just moments from the Bosphorus, the invite-only four-hour gathering will host 100 guests.
The album launch event, titled “Destination Unknown – Edition: Lonely Space | Istanbul”, is named after Kuvoka’s debut album “Lonely Space”, set for release on the same day as the event, February 14.
Groove Atelier caught up with Kuvoka to discuss his debut album “Lonely Space” and the wider creative universe around it.
What makes this album special for you?
For the first time, this album allows me to speak as a complete whole rather than in separate pieces. Up until now, I’ve moved forward with singles and EPs, but there has always been a much larger world accumulating over the years. Some of the tracks come from my earliest period, while others are much more recent. There are also tracks I finished back then but chose not to release, because they didn’t feel like they belonged anywhere yet. When I brought them all together, it felt like tracing a journey from the very beginning of my career to the present. This album isn’t just a release for me; it’s the first time my alternative techno sound and musical identity have fully come together as a complete universe.
How would you define your genre approach on this album?
I call it alternative techno because saying “I make techno” on its own doesn’t fully capture what I do. There’s a strong electronic backbone, powerful drumming and acid elements, but I also draw on the energy of drum & bass, the groove of house and the character of other genres. For me, genre labels are secondary. What really matters is the emotion and energy a track carries. Across the album, there’s variety, but it all comes from the same source rather than repeating a fixed formula.
How did collaborations, such as with Norman Rocheleau, shape the album?
Collaboration has always played a central role in my approach. When two artists connect in the right way, a new identity can emerge that neither could create alone. Norman’s contribution added emotional depth and atmosphere to the album. While I focused on the rhythmic drive and energy of the techno framework, his touch helped expand the inner world of the tracks. I’ve collaborated extensively over the years, including with artists like Richie Hawtin, Kenan Dogulu, Dok & Martin and Ferhat Albayrak. This year, we expanded that idea further through Kuvoka+, entering multidisciplinary collaborations for the first time. One of the earliest examples was the “Lonely Space” album artwork, created together with tattoo artist Selenia. In that sense, this album represents a shared universe… Musically, visually and artistically.
What major projects are ahead for 2026 and 2027?
2025 marked an important chapter in my career. Performing at Eskisehirspor Stadium, sharing the stage with Beatport at Volkswagen Arena, and organising events across different venues through Kuvoka Express under Destination Unknown were all key moments. In 2026, the album becomes the central focus. After almost two years without releasing music, this record signals a strong return. It’s not only about new material, but about defining my alternative techno universe more clearly. Destination Unknown has evolved beyond an event project into an underground platform where DJ sets intersect with wearable art, tattoo culture and multiple creative disciplines. The first Destination Unknown event of 2026 will take place at INK Blaze Istanbul Mansion. Alongside this, there’s a premium creative studio project in Bali, expected to materialise during the summer months.
