Omar Souleyman

Omar Souleyman is a Syrian musical icon whose fiery blend of traditional dabke music and electrifying synth-driven beats has made him a global sensation. Hailing from Raqqa, he began his career in the 1990s as a wedding singer, delivering marathon performances at countless celebrations across Syria. His raw, high-energy style—featuring rapid-fire Arabic lyrics, rollicking rhythms, and futuristic keyboard riffs—caught the attention of international audiences in the 2010s, leading to collaborations with artists like Björk and releases on labels like Sublime Frequencies. Despite fleeing Syria during the civil war, Souleyman’s music remains deeply rooted in his heritage, with recent albums like *To Syria, With Love* and *Erbil* balancing nostalgic folk melodies with club-ready remixes (shoutout to Boys Noize’s thumping take on *Layle*!). Whether he’s rocking festivals worldwide or dropping hypnotic tracks like *Shlon* and *Shi Tridin*, Souleyman’s signature red keffiyeh and sunglasses are now synonymous with Arabic dance-floor euphoria.