Sertab Erener, the Turkish diva that brought the Eurovision Song Contest to Istanbul in 2004, is busy getting ready to celebrate the 15 years of her successful career by a a very special album, Painted on water, and an autobiographical concert. On September 11, the Turkish diva will be on stage at the İstanbul Harbiye Open-air Theater to present her fans with the Sertab Erener Autobiography concert.

Major Turkish stars will join Sertab in her Autobiography Concert which she describes as the “story of the past 15 years. Together with Sezen Aksu, Levent Yüksel, Demir Demirkan, Nil Karaibrahimgil and Fahir Atakoğlu , Sertab promises her fans a unique experience : “I will invite these people (the aforementioned artists) one by one while telling a story. Then we will sing songs in between the story and tie the songs together and try to engrave in people's mind this story. We can think of this concert as a game with music. I'm also thinking of using dramatic objects for my theme. Throughout the concert, you'll be crying one minute then laughing the next. You will see Sertab and her life.” said the artist.

Sertab is currently finishing her upcoming album Painted on water. It will feature a collection of 14 folk songs from various regions of Anatolia. The album will be recorded in Los Angeles and it will be produced by Jay Newland. Al Di Meola, Alan Pasqua and Dave Weckl will be accompanying Sertab in this new project of hers which she hopes will get her a Grammy Award. “It's a project that will open our folk music to the world. The folk songs are very ethnic. We want to filter the folk songs, add the talents of the best musicians of the world and introduce our folk songs to the world. Just imagine Al Di Meola playing the Çanakkale folk song according to the way it makes him feel and me singing along. It's really going to be magical.” Sertab told Today’s Zaman.

The album will contain 14 tracks, amongst them Ha bu diyar, Madımak, Burası muştur, Zeybek havası and Kaşık havası and she considers it to be the most important project of her life. As for a Grammy Award, Sertab does not think it is impossible: “It's not a miracle; it is something that can be achieved. As long as you believe in what you can do, the rest is not a problem. You have to believe in your abilities and power. We have that energy.” she said.

Sertab also spoke about her Eurovision experience : “Eurovision brought a lot to me. It did not take anything away from me. I look at this event not from the results outside but from the results within me. It was a big jump for me with personal life. It was a success that showed me I could reach my goals without losing my individuality and beliefs. It showed me that I can overcome my fears and battle with them. It showed me my career on the world stage. It helped me to compare my achievements with the world.”

Sertab has no regrets. She claims there is nothing she wishes she has done in her 15 year long career. She admits there is a lot to be done still but is happy and content with her achievements so far. Her secret is that she sees every day as a new beginning and strives to realise her dreams without hurting or overworking herself : “You have to escape ego wars, look at yourself from a clean mirror, take risks and increase productivity. Maybe I don't have any regrets because I do this”, says Sertab.