Sezen Aksu (born 13 July 1954) is a pop music singer and songwriter, popular both with a mass audience in Turkey, and with world music fans internationally.

Sezen Aksu was born in Saraykoy/Denizli, Turkey and began to study at the local agricultural institute, but gave up her studies to concentrate on music full time. She released her first single, Haydi Şansım/Gel Bana (Come on My Luck/Come to Me) in 1975. However, she remained undiscovered until her 1976 single Olmaz Olsun/Vurdumduymaz (Wish It Never Happened/Insensitive) reached number one in the Turkish charts. Her first album was 1978's Serçe (Sparrow), which gave her also her nickname.

In the coming years, Aksu also acted in two movies and opened a live music club in Istanbul. Her music throughout these years remained conventional, but melodic pop, perhaps best exemplified by Gülümse (Smile) of 1991.

In 1995, Aksu branched out with the experimental album Işık Doğudan Yükselir (The Sun Rises in the East), drawing both on western classical and regional Turkish musical traditions. This album made her name outside Turkey and gave her a devoted world music following across Europe.

She has collaborated with many other musicians, such as Tarkan and Sertab Erener, resulting in continental hits like Simarik.

List of albums

Allahaısmarladık (Good Bye) 1977
Serçe (Sparrow) 1978
Sevgilerimle (With My Love) 1980
Ağlamak Güzeldir (To Cry is Beautiful) 1981
Firuze (Turquoise) 1982
Sen Ağlama (Don't Cry) 1984
Git (Go) 1986
Sezen Aksu '88 1988
Sezen Aksu Söylüyor (Sezen Aksu Sings) 1989
Gülümse (Smile) 1991
Deli Kızın Türküsü (Crazy Girl's Ballad) 1993
Işık Doğudan Yükselir (The Sun Rises from the East) 1995
Düş Bahçeleri (Dream Gardens) 1996
Düğün ve Cenaze (Wedding and Funeral) 1997
Adı Bende Saklı (His Name is Hidden In Me) 1998
Deliveren (Crazymaker) 2000
Şarkı Söylemek Lazım (Time to Sing) 2002
Yaz Bitmeden (Before The Summer Ends) 2003
Bahane (Excuse) 2005
Bahane Remixes (Excuse Remixes) 2005
Kardelen (Snowdrop) 2005
Deniz Yıldızı (Starfish) 2008

Sezen aksu is considered to be one of the best and most influential artists of contemporary Turkish pop.

She's currently preparing a new 30-year retrospective album in the US.