Omar Souleyman returns today to announce Erbil, his first album in five years. He’s also shared the album’s first single, “Rahat Al Chant Ymme.” Stream it below.
Named after the Iraqi city he now resides in, Erbil serves as Souleyman’s fifth album and his third release on Diplo’s Mad Decent label. Souleyman reprises his dabke-electronica style, bringing back his longtime keyboard player Hasan Jamo alo and keeping a celebratory, joyous mood throughout the album’s eight tracks.
Lead single “Rahat Al Chant Ymme” certainly offers joy, with a dizzying instrumental backdrop and a thumping, incessant groove. The song arrives with a music video featuring Souleyman in Erbil, Iraq and including psychedelic flourishes that ebb and flow with the song’s beat. Watch the official visualizer below.
Erbil is the Syrian singer’s first LP since 2019’s Shlon. After beginning his career as a prolific wedding singer, Souleyman’s profile rose throughout the last decade, collaborating with Björk, Four Tet, and Damon Albarn along the way. Before moving to Iraq, Souleyman was a longtime resident of Turkey and initially immigrated when war broke out in Syria. In 2021, Souleyman was arrested in Turkey over alleged ties to a local offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party. He was released two days later.
Erbil is out everywhere on March 29th.
Erbil Album Artwork:
Erbil Tracklist:
01. Yal Harak Qalbe
02. Ma Andi Gherak Mahbuub
03. Thawb Alzifah
04. Male Atab
05. Mahad Yadri
06. Rahat Al Chant Ymme
07. Maet Ala Shoftha
08. Allishiryan