Mehmet Polat was born in Turkey.

Mehmet Polat is an accomplished oud player, composer, ensemble leader and soloist who tours internationally. Fromn Africa to India, Persia to the Balkans, from contenmporary to jazz music, he has been combining various musical genres with his Alevi Spiritual, Anatolian Folk and Ottoman classical music background.

Through his improvisations, compositions and his own take on a variety of styles, Mehmet is constantly searching for new musical paths and inspiration. After many years of research, he invented his own technique to advance beyond the limitations of his traditional instrument.

With his new left hand technique, he can play more advanced and modern pieces. He has also designed an oud with two extra strings to broaden the range and function of his instrument. Mehmet has been based in Amsterdam since 2007.