Han Eryılmaz, the Istanbul-based songwriter behind Barista, takes a reflective approach to alternative rock with 29 Summers Later, his sixth album released on September 3, 2026. Featuring 16 tracks, the record brings together personal storytelling, social commentary and a varied musical arrangement that moves between powerful rock passages and more intimate moments.
The album was co-produced by Simon Phillips and Jesse Siebenberg, longtime collaborators of Eryılmaz, with bassist Ernest Tibbs also contributing. Together, the musicians helped shape a sound built around live drums, driving bass, analog keyboards and performances designed to preserve the energy of musicians playing together.
Sixteen Tracks, Multiple Perspectives
Rather than following a single emotional direction, 29 Summers Later moves through different aspects of human experience. Urgent full-band rock sits alongside love songs, acoustic reflections and melodic passages that provide moments of release.
Different singers carry different songs, giving the album a range of voices and perspectives. The production keeps the words central, supporting the record’s emphasis on conversation, emotion and personal connection.
The album’s themes extend beyond individual relationships. Eryılmaz draws on personal memory while confronting the suffering in Gaza and the broader turmoil of contemporary life. His songwriting considers the risk of becoming accustomed to distressing events and the importance of maintaining a sense of responsibility toward others.
An Album Made Without AI
One of the project’s defining characteristics is its entirely human-made production. According to Eryılmaz, the music was written, played, sung and recorded by people, without the use of artificial intelligence.
This approach complements the album’s focus on emotional expression and the connections formed through music. Its performances are intended to feel immediate and tangible, with the musicians’ contributions remaining central to the final sound.
Barista’s wider catalogue includes Open Sesame, a five-volume project, alongside Justice Now and Goodbye Heaven. Across six albums, Eryılmaz has developed a musical identity that combines alternative rock with reflection on personal and social themes.
With 29 Summers Later, Barista presents a record that acknowledges grief, fear and uncertainty while leaving room for affection, playfulness and hope. Rather than offering an easy resolution to the issues it explores, the album encourages listeners to engage with its songs through their own memories and experiences.
The result is a release that connects a collaborative rock sound with a clear creative purpose: to keep human stories, emotions and relationships at the centre of the listening experience.
Listen here.