World’s dabke singer par excellence Omar Souleyman released his 5th studio album 'Erbil' in Spring 2024. A homage to Erbil — the city in Iraq that offered solace and embraced Souleyman during recent uneasy times. The move to Erbil came rich with new experiences and friendships best celebrated in joyous songs dedicated to a new chapter of life. Erbil’s 8 tracks see the Syrian wedding singer turned global electronic music icon again teaming up with his longtime keyboard player Hasan Jamo Alo for an ever ambitious and forward thinking techno-meets-Dabke sound.
 
Beyond his move to Erbil, Omar Souleyman received the GQ Middle East ‘Men of the Year’  award in 2022, noted massive live performances in the Middle East, returned to the USA after a long 6 year break, all while his touring continued strong throughout Europe and the rest of the world.
 
Souleyman, who has collaborated with Björk and Four Tet, began his career as a prolific wedding singer, releasing nearly 500 live albums (!) before civil war broke out in his native Syria in 2011. He then moved to Turkey and in 2013 released his Four Tet-produced debut studio album 'Wenu Wenu' via Ribbon/Domino which NPR called "...a jam so visceral, thrilling and intense as to make the mysterious matter of earthly borders seem hardly worth the time to contemplate."
His 2015 sophomore album 'Bahdeni Nami' (with various producers including Four Tet, Gilles Peterson and Modeselektor) garnered widespread critical praise as well as his two Mad Decent releases: 2017’s To Syria, With Love and 2019’s Shlon, placing Omar Souleyman firmly in the canon of global electronic music.
Souleyman has bolstered his growing status as a world and electronic music icon establishing an extensive international following after touring widely and performing at the major festivals of Europe and the UK. but above all, we agree with CG : “Omar Souleyman just wants you to have a good time”.