The internationally famous Syrian singer Omar Souleyman has been living in Erbil for four years. “It is a nice city,” he told Kurdistan Chronicle in an exclusive interview. 

“I feel comfortable here. The government and the people are good and kind. I have my place and often travel to Europe,” he added.

“I have sung at many hotels, events, and festivals [in Erbil]. I have even performed for and about the people of Erbil,” he added. Last year, Souleyman released an album as a tribute to Erbil, out of respect for the city that offered him a refuge during uneasy times.However, he said that most of his concerts and projects are in Europe. 

“I perform more often in Europe than in Erbil because [my] ticket prices are usually high, and many people cannot afford them. But sometimes, I perform in Erbil with lower ticket prices so that people can enjoy and see that Omar Souleyman is in Erbil. I was in Romania one week ago. I took part in a festival.

“I have visited many countries around the world including the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, China, Brazil, Argentina, Russia, and most of Europe, including the Netherlands.”

Recently, he performed at the Shingelbana Resort in Rawanduz, Kurdistan and at the Le Daff restaurant in Erbil. “I truly felt like I was in Europe. Thankfully, there is peace and security in the Kurdistan Region. I do not think it could be any better.”

From village weddings to international fame

Souleyman was born in the mixed Kurdish-Arab town of Ras al-Ayn in Western Kurdistan (northern Syria), also known as Serekaniye in Kurdish, and started his career as a wedding singer. “I am an Arab, but I have lived among the Kurds,” he said.“I started singing in Syria, specifically in Ras al-Ayn. Before I started singing, my life was not something to talk about,” he said. “I used to sing at weddings.

“I enjoyed all my concerts in Syria from 1994 until 2011, before the civil war.”

He left Syria after the outbreak of the civil war and initially lived in neighboring Turkey. In 2021, he was briefly detained on terrorism charges, after which he moved to Erbil.

Souleyman morphed from a wedding singer into an international star after he recorded the traditional song “Khatabah” (“A Wedding Proposal”) in 2006. “An American record company approached me after I recorded that song, and we reached an agreement. I have now been working with this company for 16 years,” Souleyman said.

Since then, he has performed in many concerts abroad, including “amazing concerts in London, Norway, and the United States, specifically in Los Angeles and New York.” 

He has also collaborated with international artists such as Damon Albarn, Four Tet, Gorillaz, and Bjork. In a 2013 article, the Canadian-American magazine Vice called him the “coolest man in the universe.”

A song that soared across continents

One of his most famous songs, “Warni Warni,” released in 2013, is originally a Kurdish song, and is sung by many Kurdish artists such as by the Syrian-Kurdish artist Seid Gabari. “I did not write it myself. Many Kurdish singers had sung it before. Once I performed it, it became a hit and turned into an international trend. I recorded it in New York,” Souleyman said.

Furthermore, he said that the video clip of “Warni Warni” was directed by an American based in Los Angeles. The video clip shows Souleyman performing in several international locations, including at the pyramids and alongside a giant, computer-generated eagle. “More than 140 million people have streamed it on YouTube,” he said.

Souleyman did not want to talk much about politics in Syria or the tensions between the new government in Damascus and the Kurds after the fall of the Assad regime. 

“If I were to speak about Kurds and Arabs in Syria, there could be some political comments. Therefore, I prefer not to talk about politics. I just hope that all Syrians can unite and live in peace. For me, music and politics do not go well together.”

The singer said he is busy with many performances abroad. “I also have a new album coming up. Hopefully, it will be recorded in Europe soon,” he concluded.