Laser lights sharply illuminate the darkness on the rooftop of a popular nightlife hot spot in Damascus as eager ravers converge for a glimpse of a growing musical phenomenon.
The audience grooves to the captivating hybrid electro-Arab beats of DJ Phillipe Boshoco, 38, with the rising artist taking the spotlight as a regular draw for the country’s revitalised and flourishing electronic scene.
Led by Aleppo-born Boshoco, Syria’s electronic scene is gaining traction as the chilled, cap-wearing artist looks to export a fusion of tarab (classical Arabic folk music of verse-repeating poems that trigger a trance-like state) and techno.
The artist tells The National: “I started producing hip-hop tracks and electronica when I came back from Canada to Aleppo between 2011 and 2013. But it was in Istanbul that I started Boshoco as part of a collective group with other artists from Syria. In Istanbul, I held a residency at a club called Temple and then toured Europe.”
Boshoco frequently plays to hundreds of followers at Syrian raves and farther afield his rhythmic beats can be heard on dancefloors across Germany, France, and the UK, as he exports his amalgam Arabic takes on classics.
During the decade-long conflict, the dance scene in Syria was scattered and reeling, yet several groups and an electro-zealous community kept the scene alive. Boshoco returned to Syria, where he flourished.
“I was a lawyer in Canada pre-2011 and humanitarian work is close to my heart, my father needed me closer, so I returned to Damascus in 2017, where I played at a club called Tunnel in the capital. This experience changed my life.”
The genre is a combination of twitchy electronic beats and older Arab pop songs, which combines retro music with contemporary electronic rhythms. Boshoco's unique music is inextricably intertwined with his keen interest in traditional songs.
“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 control of their narratives.”
Boshoco’s music is not just a hit in Syria, he has received global acclaim. Samer Saem Eldahr, better known as Hello Psychaleppo – a successful and ground-breaking Syrian electronic artist who opened the musical door for many – holds his fellow Aleppine in high regard.
Speaking to The National, Hello Psychaleppo said, “Boshoco's music holds a special place in my heart, not just as a collaborator or a listener but as an old friend too. Witnessing his artistic journey and growth has been truly inspiring. Having Boshoco as a strong force in the Syrian electronic music scene is incredibly enriching.
“Having more Syrian artists, especially those making waves in this genre, is of utmost importance. It's not only about the music sometimes; it’s a testament to our resilience, creativity and the richness of our culture.”
Hello Psychaleppo himself paved the way for many from the country, his first album Gool Lʼah, released in 2013, forged the music genre of electro-tarab with a truly new take on songs merging the fields, combining traditional rhythms with electronic music tools that are now sweeping the region.
Boshoco is an artist trying to bridge the gap between the East and West, a musical nomad navigating the myriad constellations in electronic, techno and Syrian traditional music.
“Boshoco is your friend, in everything I do, I end up acting as a bridge between different people, cultures, and mindsets. I like music to be interesting but also accessible. When I introduce a new sound, I try to coat it with familiar sounds to give it a wider audience, especially in Syria where the scene is young,” he says.
While he spends time in Europe touring you may see him at a range of retro electronic clubs on the continent, such as Paradiso in Amsterdam or La Bellevilloise in Paris, yet Syria is his home and his natural habitat.
Michael Atallah, 30, is a growing figure in Syria’s nightlife scene after co-founding the entertainment venture Siin Experience, which organises western-style raves for the country’s devoted clubbers, Boshoco is a regular feature at these events.
Atallah told The National: “You can understand him [Boshoco] more when you stand in front of him, the way he monitors the crowd, the way he smiles and the vibes he delivers. I’ve seen him looking at people he doesn’t know and asking them to dance or to smile.
“At his first gig with Siin Experience, he opened the set with a mowal (traditional genre of vocal music) for popular singer George Wassouf. Boshoco is a pioneer when it comes to Arabic electronic music.”
From the embers of a tumultuous decade of instability and chaos, a passionate and devoted community has grown tenfold to herald the increasing draw of techno, the creative sees this as a sign that worlds can be united by music.
Boshoco views the musical resurrection happening in Syria as game-changing.
“No place felt as right as playing home. Following these experiences, we founded the Siin Experience with friends to spread the positive energy the dancefloor can bring to as many young people in Syria as possible. Today my main focus is on Syria and the region with residencies at Ballroom Blitz in Beirut and Siin Experience in Syria,” he says.
On where the pathway takes him in the future the artist was tight lipped, but adamant that to continue his rise to the top he has to stay true to himself.
“I do not know where the road will lead, all I know is that I try to stay authentic and it seems the message comes across, maybe that’s why I am known in Syria as Boshoco Al Asli ([the original], but also the authentic, real.”
The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, semi-final result:
Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona
Liverpool win 4-3 on aggregate
Champions Legaue final: June 1, Madrid
UAE squad to face Ireland
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri (vice-captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmad, Zawar Farid, CP Rizwaan, Aryan Lakra, Karthik Meiyappan, Alishan Sharafu, Basil Hameed, Kashif Daud, Adithya Shetty, Vriitya Aravind
The Way It Was: My Life with Frank Sinatra by Eliot Weisman and Jennifer Valoppi
Hachette Books
