Omar Souleyman

On 27 June 2026, Omar Souleyman performs at the Casa delle Arti in Conversano — the voice that brought dabke into the international electronic scene. At its heart is Erbil, his fifth studio album, a tribute to the Iraqi city that welcomed him during a delicate moment, which here translates into eight straightforward, dance-oriented tracks. For this new chapter Souleyman returns alongside his long-standing keyboardist Hasan Jamo Alo: interlocking synths and tight rhythms where techno meets Levantine tradition, with sharp melodies and a repetitive, magnetic vocal delivery. On stage this alchemy becomes a continuous flow, moving between the new material and the pieces that have marked his journey.

Having started out as a wedding singer in northeastern Syria, Souleyman released hundreds of live recordings before moving into the studio with Wenu Wenu (2013, produced by Four Tet), followed by Bahdeni Nami (2015), To Syria, With Love (2017) and Shlon (2019). His trajectory has seen him collaborate with artists such as Björk and Modeselektor and bring his blend of dabke, Middle Eastern pop and electronic music to stages around the world. In Conversano he presents the essence of that story: a forward, commanding voice, keyboards front and center, and a rhythmic drive that propels the room without frills.