Yalnızlığın Sesi: Gurbet ve Müzik | Maya PEREST | TEDxVan YYU

As part of TEDx Van YYU, Perest delivered a talk titled "The Voice of Loneliness: Displacement and Music." In this presentation, Maya Perest examines loneliness—one of the most prevalent shared experiences of the modern era—through the lenses of displacement, belonging, and music. Drawing from her personal narrative, Perest shares how her introverted childhood creativity evolved into music over the years, and how this medium reconnected her both to her roots and to other people. She reflects on how the sense of displacement she experienced during her university years away from home unexpectedly led her back to traditional folk songs and her own cultural memory. This talk serves as a poignant reminder that loneliness is often not about being alone, but about being misunderstood; it illustrates how music and art can bridge human connections by giving a voice to these invisible emotions. Rooted in a personal journey, it offers an intimate invitation to experience the transformative power of art, which brings us closer to ourselves and to one another. Born in Izmir in 1996, Maya Perest began her musical education with piano at the Dokuz Eylül University State Conservatory and later studied painting and art theory at Montpellier Paul-Valéry University in France. Known for her multi-instrumentalist identity and profound works such as "Yok Bana Bu Cihanda," she blends Anatolian melodies with a modern language. Within the "Invisible Ties" theme, Perest shares the ancient bridges that art, education, and multiculturalism build between people through her own professional journey. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx