On Friday 11 December 2020, our finale of Celebrating Syria 2020 ended with a live DJ set from Hello Psychaleppo and Boshoco. These two extraordinarily talented DJ's with huge performances, albums and awards under their belts performed rhythms deeply rooted in Arabic music tradition but with a poignant, contemporary twist. Thank you all for tuning in. We hope you had fun and enjoyed the gig.
About the Artists:
Hailing from one of the most mystical and musically rich cities in the Levant. Hello Psychaleppo is deeply rooted in Arabic music tradition, captivating listeners with melodic strains of Tarab threaded seamlessly together with the convoluted sounds of electronic music. Hello Psychaleppoʼs compelling visual presentation is integral to the live experience that engages the soul and moves the body. Hello Psychaleppo is the brain child of Aleppian music producer and visual artist Samer Saem Eldahr.
Hello Psychaleppoʼs first album “Gool Lʼah” released in 2013 pioneered the music genre of Electro-Tarab . The album was the first of its kind, combining Arabic music theory and rhythms with electronic music tools and sounds creating a harmonious blend that is Electro-Tarab. VICE Magazine described the music as, “A pastiche of twitchy electronic sounds and golden age Arab pop music of the 1950s and 60s. It is alternately danceable and cathartic, melancholic and apocalyptic. Itʼs Massive Attack meets Abdel Halim Hafez.”
Hello Psychaleppo has released three full albums, ‘Gool Lʼahʼ (2013), ʼHA!ʼ (2014) and ‘Toyourʼ (2017) creating a journey for listeners into the world of Arabic melodies, elaborate arrangements, and cathartic dance music. Boshoco is Nihad Alabsi and Philippe Zarif – two musicians from Aleppo, Syria who produce and play various genres of house and techno, infused with Arabic sounds.
Their music draws on their upbringings in Aleppo – an ancient crossroads where people and cultures have mingled for millennia. Boshoco’s sound is made to bring joy through dance: the sublime natural high known in Arabic as "saltaneh".