An Ode To Hatay Province is a compilation album raising funds for post-earthquake relief efforts in Hatay Province, Turkey (31 used in the artwork is the provincial code number for Hatay). In February 2023 two devastating earthquakes measuring between 7.5 and 7.9 hit southeastern Turkey with the epicenter in Kahramanmaraş, followed two weeks later with another magnitude 6.9 earthquake with its epicenter in Defne, Hatay. As a result of its historic buildings and proximity to the major fault lines that became active, Hatay province was one of the worst affected areas of these earthquakes. This has been exacerbated by the politically motivated response of Turkish state officials in the aftermath of the earthquakes, as the worst-affected areas of the province were populated predominantly with ethno-religious, Indigenous minorities towards which the State has become increasingly hostile.

For instance, a lot of aid was not able to reach the provincial capital of Antakya and the historic township of Samandağ on the coast in the immediate aftermath, due to blockades set up by the Turkish government. Survivors turned to Twitter to voice their concerns and calls for help, resulting in the government suspending the network temporarily before reopening it due to international pressure. A lot of lives were lost in the first few days, as people waited helplessly in the cold and/or under the rubble of their homes to be saved. Aside from NGOs such as AHBAP and AKUT and the various international organizations that attended swiftly to work in collaboration with local actors, it was weeks before any official governmental presence was felt in the province.

As a result, many locals native to the province had to step in, organize, respond, and raise funds for Hatay province, including the likes of individuals such as Ötükotsu, Verda Kimyonok, and Erkan Affan with the support of GoFundMe campaigns, organizations like YAHA and Doria Feminist Fund, and social media pages like HatayTube. To support the continuation of this work, all funds from this compilation will be going towards Erkan Affan’s GoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/EarthquakeSupportTurkey).

As a local of Hatay province with family indigenous to the cities of Iskenderun and Antakya, Erkan has been working directly across the province alongside an international volunteer team (as well as with the generous support of the Doria Feminist Fund) to distribute funds and resources since the onset of the earthquakes to aid networks and organizations tirelessly working on the ground.

A huge thank you to all of the artists who contributed a track to this compilation

Bergsonist
2lanes
Russell E.L. Butler
Loka
Age Reform
Bored Lord
gbd
DJ Plead
Via App
Kaan
Jtamul
DJ Pitch
DJ Haram
Toumba
Organ Tapes
Zarina
8ULENTINA
Moustapha S

GoFundMe link:
www.gofundme.com/f/EarthquakeSupportTurkey