On Saturday the 9 November, Omar Souleyman will be performing at The Arches in Glasgow, and I encourage you all to go to a concert that will be unlike any other.
Blog by Jack Tannock, media volunteer
With fresh horror stories from Syria in the news every day one might forgive Omar Souleyman if he was to leave all thoughts of his war-torn home country behind and embrace the glamorous lifestyle of an international music star.
But he doesn’t. Though the Syrian musician tours extensively worldwide, wherever he goes, his thoughts are never far from home.
Recently in an interview with The Guardian, he described how what should be a time of great joy for him is tinged with sadness making it difficult for him to sing and to perform with his normal vigour. One quote in particular summed up his feelings on the matter:
“The fact that no one knows what tomorrow will bring is a depressing fact in itself,” he said.
“There is no music in Syria any more, everything has stopped. Even if there is a musician who is willing to do music, he’s not doing it like he used to do it before, with joy, with a real will to do it. After all this killing and destruction, it’s really hard to make music. It’s affected everyone, especially me. But I’m not into politics, I don’t know any solution.”
A unique experience
Omar Souleyman is a rare and interesting performer. He is the first (perhaps only) global superstar of the Syrian dance music known as Dabke which he has updated by adding in an electronica beat.
He worked as a wedding singer in his native Syria for years before finding a kind of cult fame and success in The West.
He has since collaborated with the likes of Bjork and Blur/Gorillaz frontman, Damon Albarn, and has recently released an album called ‘Wenu Wenu’ that was produced in New York by Kieran Hebden of legendary underground act, Four Tet.
His music is an eclectic mix of old Arabic love songs pining for lost love crooned/chanted over the top of western influenced rave beats and mind-blowing synth solos from his right hand man Rizan Sa’id on the keys. It has (perhaps accurately) been described as Syrian Techno and is one of the few genuinely new musical experiences to have emerged in recent years.
His most recent album was released to positive reviews and his live show, which he has performed at major festivals around the world, has gained enthusiastic praise from many.
Why we should care
As this wedding singer turned world-music star brings a little bit of Syria to Glasgow it is important to remember that he is one of the few very lucky ones.
Though the war in Syria has caused visa problems for Souleyman in the past he has still been able to travel the world and perform.
We must remember that there are millions more who have had to flee into overcrowded refugee camps just across the border and further millions trapped within the country who have had their lives devastated by the conflict and are now left with nothing.
It is these people above all that me must give a helping hand to.
Omar Souleyman performs live at The Arches, Glasgow, Fri 9 Nov. Wenu Wenu is out on Ribbon Music.
