MAUNA KEA
Mauna Kea is the name of a magnificent volcanic mountain in Hawaii, hosting one of the world's leading celestial observatories on its summit. In 2009, it gained yet another meaning for Mehmet Yaranona, Mete Yafet, Koray Erkan and Yiğit İrde; who decided to adopt it as their band name. The idea of this amazing mass of land rising out from the depths of ocean, peeking towards the infinite space, seemed almost like the ideal projection of what they felt as they made their first noises together.
Mauna Kea's music is mostly instrumental; a hybrid sound that borrows from genres such as progressive rock, post-rock, electronic music, jazz and many others, with occasional escapes to the band's hometown, Istanbul.
The band, which consists of 3 sound engineers and a visual artist, followed a DIY approach in the production of their first album “Scales” and carried out the recordings and visual production by themselves. The 6-track album was mixed by Mehmet Yaranona in Istanbul and mastered by Alan Douches in NY.
Band Members
Mehmet Yaranona Guitar, Synth
Mete Yafet Guitar, Synth
Koray Erkan Bass Guitar
Yiğit İrde Drums, Percussion
Mehmet Yaranona
Born in 1982 in Elbistan. After graduation from Deutsche Schule Istanbul and then from ITU Physics Engineering, Mehmet Yaranona met his Mauna Kean friends while studying Sound Engineering and Design at ITU MIAM. He was interested in music as a hobby during high school and it gained professional value over time, as it led him to found a music production company called Opus Produksiyon with his partner Tolga Türünz in 2012. Mehmet also plays guitar for the band Kül besides Mauna Kea and still works as a composer, sound engineer and producer for albums, commercial advertises and jingles.
Mete Yafet
Born in 1983 in Istanbul, Mete Yafet has graduated from Yeditepe University Fine Arts Faculty - Graphic Design dept. after finishing high school at Semiha Sakir. Had his graduate study at Yeditepe University / Visual Communication Design dept. and West Virginia University/ Master of Arts. Completed his thesis on audio-visual synchronization subject. Currently, working as Co-Founder and Art Director of Bench Studio Istanbul. Since his childhood he is into music therefore, he didn't only play with some of the most important international producers and Dj's, he has also became one of the top 100 Dj's in Turkey according to 2004 Turntable Pro survey.
Koray Erkan
Koray Erkan was born in 1984 in İstanbul. After graduation from Kdz. Ereğli Anatolian High School and then from Yıldız Technical Univerity - Electrical Engineering, he completed his master education at ITU MIAM Sound Engineering and Design. Koray was interested in music as a hobby during high school, and then it started to gain professional value during his university years in Istanbul. Between 2006 and 2008, he took private lessons on bass guitar and music theory from Emrah Sarıtunalılar. Koray is still working as sound engineer and producer for albums and he also plays bass guitar for individual artists, and for the bands Kül, Gulyabani and Mauna Kea.
Yiğit İrde
Born in 1982 in İstanbul, Yiğit İrde met the drum set in middle school, while studying at Lycée de Galatasaray. He studied Film & Media at Middlebury College-VT, where he took part in an acid jazz band called Audio Ergo Sum. After living in the US and Italy for a while, in 2006 he returned to Istanbul. During his sound engineering studies at ITU MIAM, he began to play drums in various bands; namely Marvin, Up Up & Away and Mauna Kea. With a special interest in Audio Branding, Yiğit is currently working as a copywriter in an ad agency and enjoys making music with his fellow Mauna Keans.