Omar Alkilani on Bianet - Different Geographies, Under the Same Sky

This Turkish-language article from Bianet tells the story of Omar Alkilani, who arrived in Istanbul at the age of 15, six years ago. Omar shares his experiences as a Syrian refugee, contrasting the harsh memories of war in Syria with the sense of belonging he has found in Istanbul. Starting his musical journey at 11 with the oud, inspired by his father, he later transitioned to the guitar. Omar began performing with his band, Mood Band, on İstiklâl Avenue and in various festivals. The pandemic forced him off the streets and into giving private guitar lessons, but he found a silver lining as his YouTube channel grew to 250,000 followers. Omar emphasizes the importance of multicultural music festivals and expresses his longing to perform live again.
In the same article, Bianet also featured one of Omar's music videos titled "Summer Nights," a collaboration with German singer Liana Georgi. This song and video likely contributed to Omar Alkilani's growing recognition and appeal, reflecting his multicultural musical influences and collaborative spirit.