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Özlem Tekin is a Turkish singer, TV host, and occasional actress, best known for her music. Initially rooted in hard rock, her sound has evolved to embrace genres like house, punk, pop, and Turkish folk.
Born in California to a Turkish-American family, Özlem's father, Talat Tekin, was a renowned Turkologist and Altaicist at UC Berkeley. The family relocated to Turkey when she was four, and she grew up in Ankara. There, she studied classical Western music at Hacettepe University Music Conservatory, focusing on clarinet.
Her musical career began as the vocalist for The Bad, an underground rock band performing club gigs and covers. In 1993, she met Şebnem Ferah and joined the all-female rock band Volvox as keyboardist, occasionally singing lead.
While with Volvox, Özlem connected with Hakan Peker and began working on her solo debut album in 1994. Released in January 1996, Kime Ne (Who Cares?) received critical acclaim. The lead single, "Aşk Her Şeyi Affeder Mi?" (Does Love Forgive Everything?), penned by Barlas Erinç, topped the charts. Other popular songs included "Duvaksız Gelin" (Bride Without a Veil) and "Herkes Şanslı Doğmuyor" (Not Everyone Is Born Lucky).
Later, Özlem left Peker's label and signed with İstanbul Plak, home to artists like Tarkan. Her second album, Öz, came out in February 1998, featuring the hit "Yol."
In 2000, she launched her own TV show, Yaz Rüzgarı (Summer Wind), on Kanal D. Airing five days a week for an hour, it garnered strong ratings. By 2003, she ventured into acting with the TV series Sil Baştan (From the Beginning), which ran for two years and was well-received.
In 2005, Özlem starred in the stage musical Mucizeler Komedisi (The Comedy of Miracles) and released the album 10987654321, showcasing a heavier sound.
She appeared in Cem Yılmaz’s film Hokkabaz (The Magician) and the TV movie Maçolar in 2006. The following year, she acted in another TV movie, Fesupanallah, and performed on stage alongside Metin Serezli in the play Kim O. She also collaborated on duets with emerging artists, including Öztürk’s "Ben Uyurken" and Badem’s "Kalpsiz."
In 2008, Özlem began hosting Hiperaktif (Hyperactive) on Kral TV, a prominent Turkish music channel. That year, she featured in Misa’s song "Dost Kalamam."
After a hiatus, she released her sixth studio album, Bana Bi’şey Olmaz, in 2010. The album included "Sil Baştan," written for the TV series of the same name, and "Sen Anla," a song she composed and previously performed by Levent Yüksel. Additionally, she reinterpreted the traditional Anatolian folk tune "Hey Onbeşli" as "Aslan Yarim" in her unique style. The album’s first video was "Yatağım Boş," followed by "Kimse Bilmez," and then "Sen Anla," which gained greater popularity than the earlier singles.
