TROMSØ WORLD: RIZAN SAID (Syria)

<!--?xml encoding="utf-8"?--> Thursday, 29. October 2026 kl.22.00 Bastard Bar

The synth master of Syrian dabke

Genres: Dabke / Electronic folk / Middle Eastern synth

Rizan Said is one of the most influential figures in contemporary Syrian music, a composer, producer and keyboard virtuoso whose sound has shaped decades of recordings, television productions and dance music across the region.

Originally from Ras Al Ain in northeastern Syria, Rizan emerged from the vibrant Syrian cassette culture of the late 1980s and 1990s, where cheap synthesizers and local recording networks created entirely new musical possibilities. Drawing from traditional dabke rhythms, shaabi music and electronic experimentation, he developed a signature sound built around soaring synth melodies, hypnotic repetition and irresistible groove.

Internationally, many first encountered his music through his long-standing collaborations with Omar Souleyman, but Rizan’s solo work has steadily established him as a singular artist in his own right. Albums like King of Keyboard and his later releases transformed regional dance music into something globally celebrated, connecting village wedding traditions with underground electronic culture and festival audiences around the world.

Live, Rizan Said creates ecstatic and deeply physical performances where ancient rhythmic traditions meet futuristic synthesizer energy. The result is music that feels communal, euphoric and impossible not to move to.

At Tromsø World 2026, Rizan Said brings the electrifying pulse of Syrian dabke north for a night built for dancing deep into the darkness.