Syriana

Syriana is a world music group formed around London guitarist and producer Nick “Dubulah” Page and Syrian qanun player Abdullah Chhadeh. The core line-up is completed by Irish double bassist, composer and musical director Bernard O’Neill, with further contributions from Egyptian percussionist Sherif Ibrahim, Syrian accordionist Mazin Abu Sayf and Jordan-raised Palestinian singer and oud player Nizar Issa.

Formation and personnel

The project grows out of a collaboration discussed several years before work begins. Page has previous links to Dub Colossus, Trans Global Underground and Temple of Sound. Before Syriana, O’Neill works with Chhadeh, and the group later draws in musicians from London’s multicultural scene.

Recording and style

To shape the sound of the album, Page, Chhadeh, O’Neill and sound engineer Toby Mills travel to Damascus for ten days. The material is informed by the city’s atmosphere and history, and the music combines Eastern and Western elements with a focus on instrumental and vocal interplay.

Album content

The group’s album contains thirteen tracks, including the title track The Road to Damascus. Other pieces include Syriana, which references film themes, 1950s Arabia, Fairuz and Abdel Halim; Al Mazzeh, which features Chhadeh’s qanun playing; Black Zil, a piece about the Soviet-era car associated with the KGB; Checkpoint Charlie, which evokes Cold War divisions; and The Templehof File, which draws on a Greek-influenced melody and links Damascene imagery with Athens.

Musical background

Both Chhadeh and Page are Greek Orthodox, a detail reflected in the melodic material of some of the music.