“How is it that music can, without words, evoke our laughter, our fears, our highest aspirations?”  - Jane Swan

Interview with Mohammad Omo, Tanbur Musician and Teacher, 18

When and how did you become interested in the tanbur and when did you begin playing it? 

I got interested in it because I saw my father playing it. I was 13 or so when I started. 

So how many years have you been playing it for? 

I was playing in Syria for 3 years and I have just started here also.

Do you know the history of the tanbur and where it comes from?

The Kurdish people who live south of Turkey - a lot of Kurdish people play it there. It is a very old instrument.

How is the tanbur different from other instruments like the guitar? What are the main differences?

The main difference would be the amount of strings; it has a different amount of strings to the guitar.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to learn the tanbur?

The most important advice is that they sing with the tanbur when they play, even if their voice isn't very good- their voice can be a way to check their tune.

Also, even if someone thinks he played the tanbur wrong he must not give up- he must just keep practicing always. If you get angry or frustrated you may go away for a little bit and then come back when you have a chance to take a break and take a breather. But you should always come back to it, come back to the tanbur and never give up. 

Can you tell us a little bit about tanbur musicians?

There is an artist called Shivan Parwer- he is the most famous one - he is from Kurdistan also. He plays a lot in Germany but he is really famous and a lot of the Kurdish people know him. 

He plays a lot and he is really famous, but for me - the tanbur artist I love is the most classic one.  I try to be like him, he is called Mohammed Shekho. He is from Al Hassakah, from a city called Ammouda.

What is it about him that you love? That makes you want to be like him? 

He makes his songs so sensitive and moving, it’s so beautiful. He just sings like I am talking and it has a lot of sensitivity - all the people love his music and the way that he sings because he just has a natural voice, and he just sings like he is talking.

And what is your favorite thing about the tanbur overall?

I love it when I am feeling bad or sad; I feel like it is a friend and that is close to me. I play sad music when I am sad. Then when I am happy, I will play something for that also and then I play something that is very close to me. Very good music makes us interested and makes us happy. 

What other things do you like best about the tanbur and sharing it with people? Why do you think that everyone should play? 

It is like a friend in some really bad times. Sometimes we have bad times, sometimes we have happy times, but it always shares with us all our moments. When you are old and you play the tanbur, it shares all your moments with you. I think that it is really important for people when they are feeling happy or sad not to just play the tanbur but to play all of the musical instruments.

For some people they favor art, for others it is music…for me I go with the tanbur.  

Interview with Dikanda, Singer, 31, Cameroon

What is it that you like about singing? 

I like the atmosphere you have when you sing, and so people have to listen- I like spending my time singing because of the atmosphere that it creates.

What type of music do you like to sing the most?  

My favorite music is jazz- salsa and makossa- that is the music of my country. 

What about makossa, could you tell me a little bit about this music?

In makossa you have pop, in makossa you have jazz, it is a mix of all of the music.

Do you know any famous musicians or singers from Cameroon? 

Yes, yes - my favourite singer from Cameroon is Richard Bona. 

What advice do you have for people who want to learn more about Cameroonian music and music from this region? What advice do you have for people?

Well, you know in my country if people want to learn something – it is mostly football. It is the favorite thing - the young people like to be sporty. Football is the favorite thing for the moment.

For me, I don’t like football, I like the music.

And why is that? Why do you like music?

When you sing, you forget everything - your mind is relaxed, you enjoy things, it is good for your mind, it’s good for your voice, it’s good for your body, it makes you happy. It’s like football; the young people play football because it makes you happy. For me, I like the music because it is my passion.

Is there anything else you’d like to say?

I’d just like to say hello to my family and my country, I miss you mom, father, brother, take care I want everyone to hear that and all my friends.  

Interview with Solve Manson, Drummer and Band Member, 25

When did you start drumming?

It was in 2006 that I first began to drum.

And you used to be part of a band?

Yeah the name of my band was Korikars. Korikar in Iran is donkey. With an "s," the name of my band is "all the donkeys."

Why did you choose this name? Why "All the donkeys?"

I have a friend from Iran but he looks so much like a Korikar [donkey], and he is in the band.

What type of music would your band play?

Music like Pink Floyd, ACDC, Marilyn Manson, Slip Knot, sometimes Miller Walker. Rock music and some country music also.

What is your favorite type of music?

My favorite music is rock.

Why is rock music your favorite music?

I also like some hip hop music too - not new hip hop but old hip hop. My favorite hip hop artist is Tupac. In rock, my favorite artist is Marilyn Manson.

And what do you think is great about their music? Why is their music your favorite?

Because it is real, it is real music. It’s not like other singers, because the style of Marilyn Manson is anti-religion.. His music videos and his style and songs. Marilyn Manson has his own unique style in rock. Tupac also has his own unique style of music.

And what advice do you have for people who want to get more involved with music?

Music needs the heart, if someone in life is not in a good situation, playing music helps to relax. For me, it helps me to relax.

Do you have anything else you would like to say?

I like rock music and I think other people should become interested in rock music. Music is good for the mind and good for relaxation. I would say this to refugees, for other refugees.