Hi there! Wherever you are in the world reading this, welcome to my little corner of the internet.

I’m Bilge — a musician, interdisciplinary artist, and a perpetually curious traveler. Originally from Turkey, I’ve lived in various cities across the Atlantic, including Philadelphia, Istanbul, Oxford, and now London. I make music under the moniker Tendertwin. My practice blends music, movement, and storytelling — a lot of the time it's an inquiry into what it means to belong.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I carry home around me: in my hunch, in my shell. I think meeting you; learning your perspective on life; hearing your favorite songs; hearing about the places you've seen, your adventures; and taking your guidance are the most priceless teachings. Traveling is more than a spatial subject, and I don't see the point in it if it does not include a form of human interaction — be it with other people, or your own self.

Interests

MUSIC. Duh.

I also have a huge interest in languages, and I try to catch every opportunity to learn more.

I write. Sometimes. Here's my very outdated blog: heygodot.blogspot.com

I explore contemporary dance (especially Gaga and contact improvisation), and other somatic practices (most basically, yoga) regularly.

I'm a runner, and I'd rather be outdoors at any given chance. Preferably at sea.

I'm a novice in Zen and Buddhist meditation and psychoanalysis, but I'm eager to delve more into it at any given chance.

Food, and the study of food is a big one for me.

• poetry
• yoga
• running
• meditation
• music
• hiking
• swimming
• languages
• food
• cinema
• contemporary dance
• songwriting
• psychoanalysis

Music, Movies, and Books

Obsessions include Fiona Apple, Andrew Bird, Grizzly Bear, David Bowie, Muse, Radiohead, Slowdive, Björk, Sigur Ros, Matt Elliott, Fionn Regan, Pulp, Caroline Shaw, Mitski, Rufus Wainwright... (Ask me for more — it’s an endless list!)

For literature, there goes Vonnegut, Kundera, Rilke, Valery, Camus, J.D. Salinger, Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, Baudelaire, and so on.

Funny Games (1997) might be my favorite movie. Psycho-thrillers are cinematic gems. So, I'll just go with Haneke and Kubrick as my favorite directors. Then there's Michel Gondry, Jim Jarmusch, Wim Wenders, Xavier Dolan.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I think it's yet to come.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you how to make certain animal sounds! Well.
I can teach you how to gleek.
I can also teach some guitar, singing and piano.
Or I can give mini acoustic concerts to you and your neighbors...
Some Turkish cuisine?
Basic dance moves?
How to disappear completely and never be found again?
And of course if it's any language I know, I'll help you learn it!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'll go deep in conversation, probably too prematurely — excuse me.

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Mexico, Montenegro, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Åland Islands

Countries I’ve Lived In

Turkey, United Kingdom, United States