User:Geneband

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).

About Gene:
Syria is a mid-eastern society, with a rich cultural and musical heritage. Forming a rock band that plays a subversive, protest-driven art form is a difficult proposition, a challenge, and a risk. Forming an Arabic-speaking Progressive Rock band, that derives its texts from spoken Arabic, and traditional verse, and presenting them in a hi-octane musical, multi-layered textured style; is even a more ambitious and more risky challenge. Gene is a band that 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 talented ensemble of individuals that is Gene—all of whom have had the highest academic musical formation—took its decision to follow the rocky path of challenging norms and crossing boundaries, from the onset, and remaining faithful to this choice throughout.

Through challenging norms and traditions, Gene aims to become a factor of change—the “Gene” of change in the modern Arab societies which it speaks to. The band holds firm to the belief that music has a message, and it is this message that the band’s music delivers.

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).

At essence, and rock band is a group of people who just love to rock, and who holds on to a simple belief that the world can change, one song at a time. Gene is no exception. That is what it all set out to be. This is what still is. This is what it will always be.

Band Members:
Gene members all come from a long experience in music, with eclectic and diverse music styles and backgrounds.

Shadi Ali (Vocals)

 * Graduated from Damascus High-Institute of Music – Bass Baritone.
 * Performed with many musical, theatrical, and dancing groups.
 * Working as a professional singing artist, singing teacher, actor, composer, and songs writer).
 * Holding the prize of (Journee de la francophone).
 * Toured around Asia, Africa and Europe with many Musical, Operas, and Theatrical groups (Marcel Khalife, Sami Klark, Lasish, Koon, Tragedy of Carmen, Zanoubia,…)

Hazem Alani (Piano & Keyboards)

 * Graduated from the Arabic Musical Institute
 * Member of the Syrian Music ensemble Band (Kulna Sawa)
 * Owns and Manages ArtWare recording studio
 * Performed/toured with many Syrian and international musicians (Mohammad Muneer, Ziad Rahbani, Nouri Iskandar...)

Omar Harb (Bass guitar)

 * The first Syrian to graduate from the Berklee College of music with a degree in production and composition
 * Played with some of the best musicians in the world (Ryo Kawasaki, Ed Chery, Arthur Satyan…)
 * Owner & Manager of NEXTTONE Studios
 * Recorded, played and produced for many international and local artists in the region and the world

Anas Abd Almoumen (Guitars)

 * Starting the group: Anas & Friends in the early 2000’s
 * Released the first album titled (Mahjour) in 2006—considered as the 1st Arabic Syrian-speaking rock album
 * Professional guitar session artist

Maen Rajab (Guitars)

 * Founder of Rajab publishing house (Events, Media, and recording Studio)
 * Played and performed with many bands locally, in the Arab world, and Europe.

Mazen Choman (Drums)

 * Performed with many Syrian bands (ClayMaze, Anas & Friends,..)
 * Professional Drums session artist

'GENE album (Gene 2008):'
Track listing:

Live Performances and Concerts:

 * Cornwall City—UK (2006)
 * Tour of four Syrian main cities with the Syrian Youth Festival—Syria (2007)
 * Teatro Center in old Damascus—Syria (2007)
 * Debut Album Launch Concert, under the auspices of the General Secretariat of Damascus (the Arab Capital of Culture)—Syria (2008)
 * Damascus Citadel with the patronage of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent (IRCRC)—Syria (2010)
 * The Turkish Vision Festival—Denizli, Turkey (2010)
 * Two Concerts with the Arabic Voice Project—Cairo & Alexandria, Egypt (2010)