Omar Souleyman

Syrian-native Omar Souleyman became well known in his country when he first began making music in 1994, blending traditional Syrian folk with Dabke dance music, and infusing it with elements generally found in Turkish, Arabic and Kurdish music. The result is fast-paced, high-energy anthems that utilize electronics as well as both modern and traditional musical instruments. While he is a household name in Syria, it wasn't until 2006 when Seattle-based record label Sublime Frequencies stumbled upon Souleyman and decided to release a retrospective catalog of his music, that he became known in the US.