Between Mannheim, Istanbul, and Psychedelica – why ENGIN is one of Germany's most exciting indie bands

What exactly is German indie pop in 2026?
Perhaps it’s long been more than guitars, melancholy, and big-city romance. Perhaps it’s global, multilingual, raw – and above all: open.

A band that embodies exactly that is ENGIN from Mannheim, our Artist of the Month for May. Their sound combines indie pop with Anadolu Rock, psychedelica, and Britpop – creating something that can hardly be confined to genre boundaries.

Who is ENGIN? A band between friendship and the search for identity

ENGIN consists of Engin Devekiran (vocals, guitar), Jonas Stiegler (drums), and David Knevels (bass) – three musicians whose story is deeply rooted in friendship.

Engin and Jonas have known each other since school, making music together early on. While Jonas later studied jazz drumming, Engin initially took a different path – psychology. But music never let him go.

A decisive moment: a support gig for Robert Francis, where Engin played his own songs. After that, it was clear: a life without music is not an option.

With pop studies in Mannheim – and meeting David – a solo project eventually became a band. And a band became a shared vision.

The Sound of ENGIN: Indie Pop Meets Anadolu Rock

What makes ENGIN so special is their musical approach:
They are reimagining German indie pop – and expanding it with cultural influences that have long been underrepresented.

During the pandemic, Engin began to delve deeply into Turkish music. The psychedelic Anadolu Rock of the 70s, in particular, became an inspiration – a style that is now being reinterpreted by acts like Altin Gün or Gaye Su Akyol.

For ENGIN, this is not a stylistic gimmick, but part of a personal journey. How do you connect different cultural identities? What does music sound like that is not either-or, but both-and?

They provide the answer themselves – with a sound that is raw, danceable, and emotional all at once.

From “Merhaba Montag” to “Nacht”: The Musical Journey

The band took its first steps with the EP Merhaba Montag (2021), followed by the debut album Nacht. “Nacht” was produced by Robert Stephenson, who has worked with Mighty Oaks and Von Wegen Lisbeth, among others. The album’s sound: recorded live, unpolished, direct. Not perfection – but attitude.

Viral with Meaning: How “Gurbet” Became an Anthem

A turning point in the band’s history came almost by chance. As part of a social media project, ENGIN released weekly Turkish classics with German translations. One of these songs was Gurbet by Özdemir Erdoğan.

Then came the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria. ENGIN’s version of “Gurbet” – a song about longing, migration, and fear for one’s homeland – suddenly struck a chord. The video went viral, especially in Turkey, and became an emotional soundtrack for many people during that time.

A moment that showed: music can connect – across countries, languages, and crises.

Between Worlds: Success in Germany and Turkey

What followed was extraordinary:

• a rapidly growing international fanbase
• sold-out club shows in Turkey
• successful tours in Germany
• support shows for acts like Von Wegen Lisbeth

ENGIN thus proves that indie also works outside the mainstream – if it’s authentic.

Their audience isn’t looking for perfection, but for closeness: sweat, energy, real live moments.

“Mesafeler”: A Musical Research Project

With the EP Mesafeler (German for: “Distances”), the band went a step further.

The cover project became a kind of experimental field:

• new soundscapes
• new languages
• new perspectives on their own music

Or, as the band itself says: a way to develop their own musical language.

The Future of ENGIN: More Languages, More Courage, More Diversity

The next step is already in motion: new music, new influences – and for the first time, their own songs in Turkish. An example of this is “Kırlangıçlar” (“Swallows”), which shows how much ENGIN has artistically evolved. Their goal remains clear: to make German indie pop more international. To dissolve boundaries. To create new spaces. With their hit “Sag mir Almanya“, they once again prove, in terms of content, how important their lyrics are in times of the dissolution of the old era and the long-sealed reality of life. A colorful mix of people in the snow-white German forest. An anthem to the new Germany and a farewell to the old times.

Tell me, Germany.

Tell me, do you still know the way?

Frustration, anger, fear between Çay and champagne

No Goethe, no Schiller, no Inspector Rex.

Just old slogans and cheap jokes

Tell me, Germany

Jürgen and Tanja

Are not doing all-inclusive Alanya this year

Is this still a crisis or is it okay?

Are the oysters still fresh at the bar in KaDeWe? ENGIN, Tell me, Germany.

Conclusion: Why ENGIN is the future of German indie pop and our AotM.

ENGIN represents a new generation of artists who no longer categorize music.

They combine cultural identity, musical diversity, DIY ethos, and genuine emotion.

And that is precisely where their strength lies. While others are still trying to define genres, ENGIN has long been living what German music can be: diverse, courageous, and open to the world.

More from ENGIN on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Spotify
Once a month, recordJet presents the Artist of the Month. Chosen by the recordJet crew, a recordJet artist who we particularly like is awarded. Check out our AotM playlist – it lists all our Artists of the Month from past years to today.