Gene Band - Ya Waladi

This syrian band states that it aims to communicate the voices of young Syrians and Arabs, their frustrations, their angst, their diversity and their ambitions; in a modern, internationally-understandable language and tone. tackling such lofty and thorny issues, as ‘honor’ killings of women, pollution, and the individual and national struggle for independence, emancipation and freedom through its music. 

The band was officially founded in 2005, and first performed in 2006. Since then, the band has played many concerts inside and outside Syria. This included the Cornwall City festival (Britain, 2006), toured of four Syrian provinces with the Syrian Youth Festival (2007), a Concert in the city of Damascus (Teatro center, 2007). In 2008, came the launch of the band’s first eponymous album (Gene) in Damascus under the auspices of the General Secretariat of Damascus, the Arab Capital of Culture. In 2010, Gene performed at the Damascus Citadel (Syria), The Turkish Vision Festival (Turkey), and with the Arabic Voice Project in (Egypt).