The Turkish singer Nev, who died on Saturday at the age of 57 from liver failure in the hospital where he was receiving treatment, was given a moving farewell by his family and closest friends at a religious funeral service held yesterday at the mosque of the Faculty of Theology at Marmara University, in Üsküdar (Istanbul), following the midday prayer.
Among those attending Nev’s funeral were Süleyman Soylu, a Justice and Development Party (AKP) MP for Istanbul and chair of Parliament’s Interior Committee, as well as the writer and journalist Sunay Akın and the singer Ozan Orhon, alongside family members, friends from the arts and fans of the singer, on whose coffin a Galatasaray shirt – his favourite football team – was placed, according to the Turkish news agency DHA.
The singer had been in hospital for two months
Soylu, who was Turkey’s Minister of the Interior until 2023 and a university classmate of Nev, recalled the years when they met and studied together: “Nevzat and I studied together for four years, both at the Black Sea Technical University and at the University of Istanbul. Afterwards, our paths went their separate ways, but we always kept in touch. May God have mercy on him,” Soylu told reporters.
The artist’s manager, İlker Ercan, explained for his part that the singer had been in hospital for approximately two months. He was initially treated at Numune Hospital, where he showed some improvement, before being transferred to Çam Sakura Hospital, where he remained for around a month. However, he suffered multiple organ failure and liver failure, which ultimately led to his death.
“It was a very difficult process. Unfortunately, we have lost him. Nevzat lost his mother two years ago. After her death, he stopped looking after himself. He completely let himself go. Over the last two years, his illness gradually returned,” said Ercan, still visibly moved, as he also explained what the artist’s final hours were like and recalled a conversation they had a few days before he died.
Nev’s death came whilst he was preparing for a concert tour and a new album
“We lost him yesterday in hospital, around four o’clock in the afternoon,” he said whilst attending the funeral on Sunday. “He’d been unconscious for a week. His sister-in-law, his brother and I were with him in hospital. As he was unconscious, we couldn’t speak for four or five days, but a week earlier I’d told him that the press were paying a lot of attention to him and that his songs were getting a lot of airplay,” he added.
“He replied: ‘So, this winter is going to be a good one.’ I said: ‘Yes, brother.’ We both laughed. And then came the tragic end. We had plans to travel, to go to Bodrum and then to Ayvalık and Çeşme. We were preparing a concert tour and a new album,” he said.
Zeyyat Doğansoy, the artist’s brother, was deeply grieved by his loss and thanked everyone who had attended the funeral. “There is nothing we can do. It is God’s will. My brother is everyone’s brother. Today we will fulfil our final duty towards him. May God bless you all. Thank you,” he said.
For his part, the Turkish singer Ozan Orhon highlighted the importance Nev had for Turkish music and the lasting impression his songs have left on several generations. “Right now I cannot find the words to express myself. We have lost a very valuable artist and a very valuable friend. He made very important contributions to Turkish music. His songs have become unforgettable. A generation of young people danced and were moved by his songs. I am very sad. We have lost a very valuable person. That is why I cannot find the words. May God grant him paradise. What can we say? We will all leave, one by one,” he said.
A life dedicated to music and a legacy of hits
Born in Istanbul on 24 December 1968, Nev – whose real name was Nevzat Doğansoy – was a Turkish composer and singer who, throughout his musical career, stood out for fusing traditional melodies from Eastern Anatolia with the rhythms of modern rock. Unlike other successful artists, he always maintained a high degree of discretion regarding his private life.
Nev produced iconic albums and hits such as Zor, Mühürlü Kaderim, Sukut-ı Hayal and Susma, amongst many others. His deep, melodic voice and the emotional depth of his lyrics earned him fans across generations. He passed away on 24 October 2026 at the age of 57, whilst being treated in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Istanbul, due to liver failure. May he rest in peace.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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