Swar Ahmed and the Navigators of Sound
Five track EP released 5th August
Download via BandCamp at this link
PRESS RELEASE - THE STORY
Syrian musician and a collective known as the Navigators of Sound release a five track EP recorded in Belfast City of Music
Swar Ahmed with his wife and two children arrived in Northern Ireland 2024 having left Syria due to the war. Although Swar had established a professional music career as a singer, oud and saz player, he had to begin again in a new environment whilst he and his family were coming to terms having to leave their life in Syria. Swar had little English but music was his language, and he just needed to find a music family in Northern Ireland. Members of Ballywillian Church, close to were Swar and family were staying, signposted him to Darren at Beyond Skin. Swar was able to get immediate support through a Beyond Skin programme funded by Arts Council of Northern Ireland Lottery Programme. The Northern Trust and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Good Relations also helped with support.
Swar was first introduced to Irish musician Conor Pelan and Syrian musician Haroon Sofi . As a trio they performed at various events including Feile Festival, Holywood Creative Festival and at the Mac Theatre as part of the Scholars at Risk conference hosted by Queens University Belfast and University of Ulster. (Video). Swar also performed as a duo with Conor and Italian musician Luigi Cirrilo and solo at some events including at the Soma Festival.
In the summer of 2024, the unimaginable happened. Swar was invited into the world of William Shakespeare to be part of a music collective performing a new soundtrack to Mid Summers Night Dream, a Lyric Theatre, Rogue Encounters and Beyond Skin collaboration theatre production for Belfast 2024. Learning English is one thing, understanding Shakespeare is another, but Swar was in the caring hands of a growing creative family he had wished for.
Conor Pelan and some other musicians he had met previously were involved. Alana Lucas, Amita Ravikirana, Maria Rafferty, Benham Ghazanfari Pour, Omid Asghari, Luigi Cirrilo, Henrique Franco, Val Herasymovych. The production was a great success with a series of sell out shows. It was a very significant moment for Swar recognised for his skills, being part of a prestigious theatre production. (Belfast Telegraph article)
In September 2024 Swar was invited by promotor Rob Manley at Shindig Arts to perform at Eats 'N' Beats Festival, Newcastle, Co. Down. Darren suggested rock drummer Davy Bates would provide an interesting additional energy to the performance. Conor Pelan and bass guitarist Orla Rice joined the line up under the name Navigators of Sound. It was another special performance for Swar playing on a big festival stage with his family in the audience.
Later in September through philanthropic donation towards production costs from Bernard Nevill Family Estate via Beyond Skin, Swar went into Start Together Studios at Oh Yeah Music Centre Belfast to record his songs. Producer Mark Smulian was flown over to work with audio engineer Niall Doran to produce the songs. Luigi Cirrilo joined Navigators of Sound Orla, Conor and Davy to work with Swar on his songs. Five songs were recorded. Afghan artist Alina Gawhary was commissioned to paint a portrait of Swar for the EP artwork.
Whist the songs were in post-production, in November 2024 Swar performed in a seven piece line up of musicians at a sell-out show at The Duncairn Arts Centre Belfast as part of the Belfast International Arts Festival. Musicians from Ireland and Iran joining him on stage. Nasim Heidari, Sara Fotros, Benham Ghazanfari Pour, Omid Asghari, Conor Pelan and Cormac Ó Briain. (Concert film link)
The five songs released on the 5th of August 2025 are dedicated to all those who have been part of Swar's story. The songs recorded in Belfast represent a UNESCO City of Music at its best.
The money generated from sales of the songs will go to Swar and his family and those close to his heart still in Syria.
Swar was featured in Songlines Magazine in an article about music as a platform to build communities and give the systematically marginalised a voice, both now and in the future. Future concerts featuring Swar are currently in the planning stages. Stay tuned.
"Swar is an outstanding musician and a true gentleman. Always a joy to be in his presence and witness the kindness of people willing to support him. This incredible music is a significant contribution to our intercultural heritage and creative industries." Darren (Beyond Skin)
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