Omar Dahl

From the Occident to the Orient, from East to West, from tradition to modernity: Omar Dahl’s musical arc spans the whole cultural spectrum. The foursome from Belgium have dropped one outstanding EP after another in recent years, fusing organic grooves with traditional Arabic instruments from the outset, including the Ney, various violins and saxophones. Much like a soundtrack to a mystical trip through ancient Persia, releases such as “Zephyr” (2023) or “Bunkum” (2024) evoke a dense atmosphere equally at home in a hazy lounge in Ankara or at a sun-kissed festival in the Sahara. The influences are many, partly because the band has been criss-crossing the globe between Saudi Arabia and Mexico for years, soaking up cultural sounds like a sponge in a sea of musical possibilities. Altin Gün and Khruangbin serve as godfathers to their sounds, but contemporary dub and organic house also inspire Omar Dahl. With their latest EP ‘Traum’ (2025), they have continued to develop the cinematic vibes of their songwriting and refine ideas of transcultural music beyond conventions.