ENGIN

In the artist's words:

Drifting psychedelia and fuzzy guitars, intricate rhythms and a lighthearted vibe, with vocals that are urgent and full of soul. Songs in which life sometimes tastes bland, but mostly bitter, sweet, and spicy. All wrapped up in a sound that’s both meticulously detailed and highly catchy—one that can easily be described as German-Turkish indie rock. A sound that embraces pop, jazz, and psychedelia with great intelligence and flair.
Raw, hypnotic, and always danceable, the band ENGIN from Mannheim tells the story of everything life reveals: beauty and grime, madness and adventure, loneliness and euphoria.

The band’s sound draws on the friendship between Engin Devekiran (vocals & guitar), Jonas Stiegler (drums), and David Knevels (bass). And from Engin Devekiran’s family history. “In 2020, I began to explore my Turkish roots more deeply. My father had come to Germany in the 1960s as the child of a guest worker. My Turkish, on the other hand, has a German accent. I asked myself: ‘Where do I really belong?’” Together with his band, he found answers in the cultural richness that bridges worlds—such as the Anatolian rock of the ’70s and the inventive fusions of greats like Barış Manço and Cem Karaca.

But a genuine love for pop culture—ranging from Pink Floyd to Altın Gün to The War on Drugs—is also abundantly clear. As a trio that’s just as captivating live, they’re now driven by a keen curiosity to blend diverse influences into their very own style.

Frequently Asked Questions About ENGIN

1. Where does the name ENGIN come from?

The band’s name is derived from the first name of frontman Engin Devekiran. He was born and raised in Germany; his family is originally from Turkey. The question of identity and belonging—“Where do I actually belong?”—runs like a common thread through the band’s music.

2. What does “Anatolian rock” mean, and why is it important to ENGIN?

Anatolian rock emerged in Turkey in the 1960s and 1970s as a fusion of Western rock and Turkish folk music. Pioneers such as Barış Manço, Cem Karaca, and Erkin Koray created a sound that blended electric guitars with traditional Turkish melodies and rhythms. For ENGIN, this sound represents a root—not as nostalgia, but as a living legacy that is translated into the present.

3. What city is ENGIN from?

ENGIN is from Mannheim, a city in Baden-Württemberg that has been known for decades for its vibrant and diverse music scene—a scene that is a perfect musical fit for ENGIN’s culturally diverse sound.