Eren Koc, who plays the keyboard, is a sculptor by profession and found himself playing on the ferries after visiting the city for one of his exhibitions."The tunes speak to my soul and rest my mind..Until recently, ferry musicians played without authorisation, but wood drying equipment Manufacturers city authorities realised they were missing an opportunity and launched a project to make them an official part of the experience."Its merging the East with the West," said Erdem."There are interesting moments on the ferries.Turkey: Its already one of the worlds most original commutes the ferry trip between Istanbuls European and Asian sides gives a daily quarter of a million passengers unforgettable views on their way to work. Istanbul is full of buskers, both Turkish and foreign, particularly on its busy shopping hub of Istiklal Avenue. "In the evenings people leave work and return to their home. Now the Turkish city is offering music to offset the seascapes, and for the amateur musicians providing it, its a chance to make some crucial money in difficult economic times. In total, 82 musicians work on the intra-city line from 9:00 am until the last ferry at 1:00 am. When applause suddenly breaks out or some people stand up and dance it is like being in a movie," he said.The musicians work hard to ensure their music reflects Istanbuls unique position as a city straddling East and West. For some commuters, it can be a truly emotional experience after a hard day at work. I see many sleeping in peace. "We travel back and forth between the two continents and we try to express emotions sparked by the two cultures: a kind of fusion, a synthesis," Oguzhan Erdem, one of the ferry musicians, told AFP.He has now been playing the ney on ferries for the past nine months.Erdem, who also plays in the streets and with his band "DoguBang", had failed to find work as an interior designer.Erdem is happy to inspire people. They empty their mind, reach a kind of serenity. It takes me back to the past," said Nimet, with tears in her eyes as she listened to the ney.Tunc Baydar, coordinator of the project for the municipality, said musicians playing in an unauthorised fashion had previously caused problems for the crew and security personnel. "The job market is so bad. This is a source of great pleasure for me," he said. Erdem plays the Turkish ney reed flute, an instrument traditionally used by Sufis, a mystical branch of Islam, while his band mate plays a Western-style keyboard. Ferry musicians rely on the tips to make their living and it has offered a lifeline for those struggling with Turkeys economic downturn. When I was brooding over what I will do, I saw a young girl singing in the ferry one day and asked myself why dont I give it a try," he said. "Like the water flowing in the Bosphorus, it is triggering a flow of emotions inside," she said, wistfully.

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