Just when you think you’ve already heard all the great versions of What’s Going On, an entirely unexpected one suddenly appears. That’s what happened to me a few years ago with Hayati Kafe’s wonderfully relaxed interpretation of the Marvin Gaye classic.

Hayati Kafe was born in Istanbul in 1941. He played accordion as a child, later took singing lessons, and learned piano. In the early ’60s, he was discovered by a Swedish manager who happened to be on a business trip in Istanbul. The manager offered the then 20-year-old Kafe a three-month tour through Sweden – a tour that, in a sense, still continues today. Sweden became his new home.

In 1973, Kafe released his debut album Ha Det Så Kul on the small Swedish label Intersound. Alongside Swedish songs and a Carole King cover (Beautiful), the B-side opens with a remarkable version of What’s Going On. 

Kafe’s velvety soft voice makes the song the perfect soundtrack for a relaxed Sunday morning – when the sun wakes you, a cup of coffee is in your hand, and you’re quietly reflecting on the world.