TANJARET DAGHET translates to ‘Pressure Pot’, and there couldn’t have been a more fitting name for this group of talented musicians. It symbolizes their character as a band, their music as a sound, and unintentionally the region they are from. Their stage presence and performances are powerful, their music truly unique, and the impact they leave on the listener is undeniable.
Even though their sound can be categorized as ‘New Age Arabic Alternative Rock’ with an Electronic influence, just assuming that is all they are about as artists would be doing them an injustice. Their contribution is so much more than that - from their individual studio projects, to their creative outputs and collaborations with other artists, their influence on the Beirut music scene and support of its community. The trio moved to Beirut from Damascus in 2011, and have since established themselves as one of the most respected and in demand bands in the city.
Their musical influences range from Michael Jackson and Nirvana, to Radiohead and Pink Floyd, Arabic roots such as Um Kalthoum and Sheikh Mohamad Omran, and modern electronic rock groups such as Brazilian Girls. You can get a sense of all of it in their music, taking a bit of inspiration from everything they love, and listen to constantly, and allowing it to subconsciously come out, while pushing the boundaries of sonic frequencies in their productions. They are extremely passionate about music, and confident in what they do, yet remain deeply grounded with their authenticity. They are a band on a mission, and in a region losing the grip on its soul, their message is exactly what is needed.
Since the forming of their band in 2008, Khaled Omran (lead vocalist and bassist), Tarek Khuluki (backing vocals, lead guitar, electronics), and Dany Shukri (rhythm and drums), have written and produced two albums, with the support of Raed El Khazen (one of Beirut’s best producers), sharing his invaluable experience and advice throughout the process. This experience has seen them grow, and evolve graciously, individually and as a band. If you were to listen back to their first album “180º” and observe the evolution, you would get a sense of what’s to come. But there is no need for that now, since the present is what matters, and what you are about to listen is the fruition of years of hard work, struggle, sacrifice, and hope, all boxed into one LP.
For those that don’t know their story, you might think that their coming together was that of a chance encounter of 3 like-minded brilliant musicians. But when years after forming, two of the members find out their fathers used to be also part of the same band in the 70’s, you would be excused to think that destiny has played a part in it. And at a time when many artists from their homeland have used the Syrian struggle to relocate to greener pastures, the group instead decided to stay close to home and let their music take them to where they deserve to be.
This is TANJARET DAGHET.