Omar Souleyman in concert 

Omar Souleyman is returning to Madrid after two years on tour to play at the most important venues around the world. The concert will be taking place on March 23 in Madrid’s Sala Copérnico.

Omar Souleyman’s is a living testimony to music’s immediacy and globalization. It works equally well at a wedding in Istanbul or at a huge dance music club in Manhattan. Known as the “King of Syrian Techno,” in his music he has created a fusion of dabke (popular Arab music for celebrations) and chaabi music, with electronic sounds and synthesizers from Turkey and Iraq.  

Omar Souleyman harks from Ras al-Ayn, in the northeastern part of Syria, and he sings in both the Arabic language and Kurdish. His career began in 1994, when he worked with a group of musicians with whom he is still collaborating. The unique performer earned a great reputation singing at weddings, birthdays and other celebrations, showing up wherever he was requested. His music has become so popular that, among all his albums recorded live and in studios, and the many recordings made at his own events and various celebrations, over 500 albums have been sold in his name and get copied for sale at kiosks and local markets.

In recent years, Omar Souleyman has collaborated with major electronic music artists like Björk and Diplo. In 2011, he performed at the Glastonbury Festival and was the guest musician at the Nobel Peace Prize gala in 2013, as well as giving other performances. In 2013, he performed at Primavera Sound, thereby increasing his audience in Spain.

Part of his repertoire includes songs with lyrics full of political content in response to the war taking place in his country. However, his latest production from 2017 focuses on love and his country, creating an emotional connection with the land and its peoples, without forgetting to include the huge difficulties that his countrymen are enduring.

The concert will be taking place on Friday, March 22 at 9:00 p.m., at the Sala Copérnico (address: Calle Fernández de los Ríos, 67). Tickets now on sale here  

Further information  

Electro-chaabi music workshops
In conjunction with this concert, Casa Árabe, with the cooperation of the School of Electronic Sound Trades, has organized two Electro-chaabi Music Workshop. They will be taking place on Saturday, March 17 in the morning/ afternoon at Casa Árabe’s headquarters. Further information and registration.