Omar Souleyman
Omar Souleyman (عمر سليمان) is a Syrian musical legend. Since 1994, he and his musicians have emerged as a staple of folk-pop throughout
Syria, but until now they have remained little known outside of the country. To date, they have issued more than five-hundred studio and live-
recorded cassette albums which are easily spotted in the shops of any Syrian city.
Born in rural Northeastern Syria, he began his musical career in 1994 with a small group of local collaborators that remain with him today. The
myriad musical traditions of the region are evident in their music. Here, c ...read more
Omar Souleyman (عمر سليمان) is a Syrian musical legend. Since 1994, he and his musicians have emerged as a staple of folk-pop throughout
Syria, but until now they have remained little known outside of the country. To date, they have issued more than five-hundred studio and live-
recorded cassette albums which are easily spotted in the shops of any Syrian city.
Born in rural Northeastern Syria, he began his musical career in 1994 with a small group of local collaborators that remain with him today. The
myriad musical traditions of the region are evident in their music. Here, classical Arabic mawal-style vocalization gives way to high-octane
Syrian Dabke (the regional folkloric dance and party music), Iraqi Choubi and a host of Arabic, Kurdish and Turkish styles, among others. This
amalgamation is truly the sound of Syria. The music often has an overdriven sound consisting of phase-shifted Arabic keyboard solos and
frantic rhythms. At breakneck speeds, these shrill Syrian electronics play out like forbidden morse-code, but the moods swing from coarse and
urgent to dirgy and contemplative in the rugged anthems that comprise Souleyman’s repertoire. Oud, reeds, baglama saz, accompanying vocals
and percussion fill out the sound from track to track. « hide |
