Istanbul-based songwriter and musician Han Eryılmaz, known for his recording project Barista, has released his sixth album, 29 Summers Later, a 16-track alternative-rock collection that explores personal memories, human connection and the difficult realities shaping the modern world. Released on September 3, 2026, the album brings together themes of loss, love, social responsibility and hope through a sound rooted in live instrumentation and expressive songwriting.
Co-produced with longtime collaborators Simon Phillips and Jesse Siebenberg, with bassist Ernest Tibbs also contributing, 29 Summers Later moves between energetic full-band rock, intimate love songs, melodic passages and quieter acoustic reflections. The album combines alternative-rock textures with a personal and socially conscious perspective, creating space for both emotional intensity and moments of tenderness.
Music Responding to the World
One of the album’s central themes is the suffering in Gaza and the wider turmoil of contemporary life. Eryılmaz draws on personal memories while reflecting on how repeated exposure to disturbing events can make people emotionally numb. The record questions how individuals can continue to recognise injustice, remember those who suffer and remain connected to their sense of humanity.
For Eryılmaz, the album’s title represents a personal milestone and a moment of reflection on loss and the lasting presence of those who are no longer here. The songs explore how memory shapes the present and how music can offer a way to process difficult experiences without turning away from them.
Despite its serious subject matter, 29 Summers Later is not defined solely by grief or anger. Love, attraction, playfulness and tenderness appear throughout the collection, reflecting the artist’s belief that these experiences are closely connected to what makes life worth protecting.
A Human Approach to Alternative Rock
The album’s production places emphasis on musicians performing and responding to one another. Live drums, driving bass lines and analog keyboards contribute to its sound, while different singers carry different songs. This approach allows the lyrics and individual perspectives to remain central to the listening experience.
Eryılmaz has also emphasised that the record is entirely AI-free, with its music written, performed, sung and recorded by people. That decision aligns with the album’s broader interest in human expression, connection and emotional authenticity.
Continuing Barista’s Musical Journey
Across six albums, Barista has developed a sound that combines melodic alternative rock with personal reflection and social awareness. The project’s wider catalogue includes the five-volume Open Sesame series, Justice Now and Goodbye Heaven. Previous collaborations have included musicians such as Nathan East, Philippe Saisse, Bob Glaub, Reggie Hamilton, Lenny Castro, Jeff Babko, David Delhomme and Jacob Scesney.
With 29 Summers Later, Han Eryılmaz invites listeners to bring their own memories, struggles and hopes to the music. The album ultimately presents hope not as an escape from difficult realities, but as a decision to keep seeing, remembering and caring even when the world feels overwhelming.
Listen here.
