As the air fills with a haze of captivating lights and shimmering lasers, the spirited ravers of Syria come alive, surrendering to the pulsating music that permeates the smoky atmosphere. The bustling Damascus nightlife mirrors vibrant scenes from Miami, Paris, and London, where the underground electronic culture has flourished despite the challenges, propelling Syria’s dance scene into the limelight.
The talk of the town is DJ Boshoco—real name, Phillipe Zarif, 38—a cap-wearing Aleppo-born musician whose spellbinding blend of twitchy electronic beats and old-school Arab
pop songs tempts in crowds from all over Syria. Playing in front of hundreds at a venue in Damascus’ Rabweh district, Boshoco’s hybrid electro-Arab sounds feature ‘Muwwals’ [colloquial form of sung poetry] and, evidently hits a note with the current generation.
“For me, playing my first set in Syria was a life-changing experience,” Zarif tells Esquire Middle East. “No place felt as right as playing at home. After touring Europe, coming back to play here was important on a personal level, but I still think dancefloors in Syria have a different vibe.”
Finding an identity as an artist has been crucial in Boshoco’s success. “I like nostalgic, happy, interesting, accessible music, and I love Arabic music, of course, so I’ve always played Arabic music in my sets. I get inspired by all the producers in the Arab World reclaiming our heritage and taking back control of the narrative.” One of Boshoco’s main influences is the electronic artist also from Aleppo, Hello Psychaleppo. “He’s so creative that I refer to him and it helps me grow my music while staying true to our shared roots.”
As Syrian music slowly moves to regain its heritage, the nightlife scene—reviving after ten years of conflict, disaster and migration—has been propelled into importance by a dedicated group of local techno and electronic lovers known as the ‘Siin Experience’. Hosting unique, western-style raves in spectacular locations ranging from Khan As’ad Pasha, the most illustrious and prominent 18th century caravanserai in ancient Damascus, and the famous crusader castle of Krak Des Chevaliers has put Syria on the music map.
Michael Atallah [30] is the founder of the group that has taken dance shows in Syria to another level. He tells Esquire how the community has suffer over the last decade, but stayed united and thrived to keep it going during the war. “Siin Experience is a community of Syrian youth who are into electronic music, a place where strangers bonded by love, respect, and positive vibes didn’t have the chance to enjoy our golden ages.”
Through conflict, economic crisis, and natural disaster, Syria’s dance scene has emerged like a phoenix in the ashes, from the edge of oblivion.
“A lot of us were raised surrounded by war and conflicts, but Syria’s wealth of stunning venues is integral to our plans. Krak Des Chevaliers stands unparalleled as my favourite venue for hosting shows. Where else can you do that in a millennium-old military castle?” Atallah adds that they can only enjoy the music now because of the struggles they endured. “I’m just a motivated guy who originally comes from a small city in the north called Hasakeh. We had a lot of ups and downs but we won’t surrender. I only know music and to quote John Lennon: ‘Imagine all the people living life in peace’.”
Aya Ajami is a 26-year-old Syrian culinary expert and socialite who is an ardent follower of the nightlife scene in Syria. She remembers periods during the war when techno events were still happening, but they were small as the country was fighting.
“The community has grown, and the nightlife has shaped its voice. I remember there were smaller events, hosted by DJ Saade (a local Syrian musician), back when people were still scared to go out. What they [Siin Experience] have done is improve events with more technology and artists, and people want to go to let go, and immerse themselves in the moment and the music. That’s something we are blessed to see now.”
Before 2011, Syria’s music scene was thriving, yet even nightlife and techno events struggled to match the levels of other countries. Today, despite the chaos and the uncertainty, music has become a central component of the social calendar.
“There is a slick vibe to the nightlife scene,” continues Ajami, “such as the 3D mapping of the silhouette of the Krek de Chevaliers castle in Homs, projected in a synchronised way with the beats played live by the DJ. Bringing people together most often has a positive impact on society, it solidifies the waves.” The diverse pool of locations adds to the mystique.
In an abandoned cement factory on the outskirts of Damascus, G the Doctor’s funky beats get the crowd going. Georges Merjaneh is a dentist by day, yet in the evening he headlines Syrian electronic shows. He tells Esquire how all that came together. “In July of 2020, me and five of my friends and decided to throw our first Siin Experience event at one of the most well-known beach clubs in Syria, and that’s when everything changed. It was a huge success. Eight hundred people danced to music and smiled until eight in the morning Today, no less than 1,000 people attend our parties. We’ve had to step up our game by focusing on improved presentation, face control, production, quality music, and better organization.”
G has played sets around the Middle East, including popular scenes in Egypt, and Dubai, but he is adamant that nothing compares to the atmosphere and energy in Syria. “Playing in my home country evokes an indescribable feeling. People come to the party solely to listen to music and dance. They appreciate music and see partying as a way to disconnect from their daily struggles and release all their pent-up energy.”
Asked about how he manages to live a double life, G smiles, “Yes, I’m currently a dentist based in Dubai, and I had a private clinic back in Syria, but I had to move during the war for security reasons. Surprisingly, people love the idea because dentistry has a big artistic vision, much like music. I found a way to make these two professions that I admire work perfectly together, and it worked.”
The bedrock of the music revival’s success has been a core group of nightlife enthusiasts driving the scene forward. Rawd Aldandashi [25], a long-time regular at the events has been witness to the change over time. “Before 2011, Syria had a vibrant nightlife scene and plenty of cultural events,” she says. “During the war, we lost so much of that, including freedom in some aspects of our lives. This adversity is exactly where the emergence of a powerful community come from.”
Aldandashi refers to the gatherings as “symbols of getaways,” yet there is more behind the story than meets the eye. For the dance devotees the gatherings are more than just a quick getaway. “Events in Syria are so much bigger than just simply going to escape reality for a few hours,” she says. “From the moment the event posters go up online the excitment builds. It’s deciding what to wear, who to go with, who we’d be seeing, and —if we’re not in the same city as the event is being held—where we will be staying.”
It’s not just local DJ that are big in Damascus. Events in the country have seen international artists performing including popular German deep house star DJ Nakkadia, Ilona Lica from Estonia and Italian musician DJ Undercat. Following his gig, Undercat posted about his experience in Syria on social: “I saw people yesterday dance like crazy and smiles everywhere. It was magic. It’s rare to see this energy.”
What is emerging from these budding events, isn’t happening just to put Syria on the music radar, it’s to feed the desire for enjoyment that was removed during the recent hard times. Rawd exclaims, “Through music, dancing, and art, we find moments of freedom and connection amid the chaos. We refuse to let conflict and turmoil define us entirely. Instead, we strive to preserve our cultural heritage and traditions, keeping the flame of our identity alive.”
“As a member of the Syrian nightlife community, I want to share a message of resilience, hope, and solidarity with the world. Despite the challenges and hardships we are still facing, we continue to celebrate life, music, and culture. Our gatherings may be smaller, our venues more hidden, but our spirits remain unbroken and full of life.”
Only just 20 years-old, Peter al-Khabout is an up-and-coming musician in the country. Still learning the tricks of the trade, he can see a future where he doesn’t have to make the choice of moving abroad or giving up on his dream.
“The electronic music scene in Syria is growing with each event. More and more people are coming together as a way to leave their problems and social bubbles, to offer an outlet amidst challenging circumstances.”
Having had the opportunity recently to play alongside stalwart DJ Boshoco, al-Khabout rejoices: “The last time I played in Damascus with Boshoco, I had the honour of closing the rave with him. The atmosphere was truly magical.”
Amidst economic turmoil, volatile currency fluctuations, natural disasters and a crippling decade-long war, Syria’s music scene has re-emerged with renewed verve, acting as a shining light for many of the younger generations in dark times and a healing mechanism through the medium of music.