Live recording of my opening set for Monkey Safari at Sunday Love @ Flash Club in Washington, DC. Sunday Love is the top day party in the DC area in the spring and summer starting with a wellness session and hosts top artists from all over the globe. It was such an honor to play the opening set for one of my favorite producers, Monkey Safari and incorporate an unreleased original track Beast of the Middle East (time stamp). This set starts slow and vibey in the low 100 bpm range and slowly brings the energy up to 122 bpm with many twists and turns along the way showcasing many languages, cultures, and energies but always weaving in my Middle Eastern and Indian heritage for the ancestors. Enjoy! xo

Opening Set for Monkey Safari, Live @ Sunday Love, Flash, Washington DC 3.30.25

Paper Title:
Redefining Civic Boundaries: Exploring New Regulations and Challenges for NGO Registration in Post-Assad Syria

Date:
08 April 2025

Publisher: 
LUGARIT

Authors: 
Omar Abdulaziz Hallaj, Hassan Masri

Summary:
LUGARIT’s policy paper - developed with the support of SwissPeace - examines how, in post-Assad Syria, NGOs are navigating a fragile civic opening marked by regulatory uncertainty, legacy constraints, and an urgent need for inclusive, trust-based legal reform.

Link:
https://link.lugarit.com/h1rb


Redefining Civic Boundaries: Exploring New Regulations and Challenges for NGO Registration in Post-Assad Syria

العنوان 
إعادة تعريف الحيز المدني : استكشاف الأنظمة الجديدة والتحديات المتعلقة بتسجيل المنظمات غير الحكومية في سوريا بعد الأسد

تاريخ النشر
٨ نيسان ٢٠٢٥

الناشر 
لوغاريت 

المؤلفون
عمر عبد العزيز الحلاج ، حسان مصري

الخلاصة
تتناول هذه الورقة تطور البيئة التنظيمية للمجتمع المدني في سوريا بعد سقوط نظام الأسد، وتسلّط الضوء على التحديات والفرص الجديدة للمنظمات غير الحكومية. أُعدّت هذه الورقة بدعم من منظمة سويس بيس (SwissPeace).

الرابط
https://link.lugarit.com/h1rb


إعادة تعريف الحيز المدني : استكشاف الأنظمة الجديدة والتحديات المتعلقة بتسجيل المنظمات غير الحكومية في سوريا بعد الأسد

In many families, especially across the Middle East, physical punishment isn’t seen as abuse. It’s seen as discipline.
You’re told to stay quiet. To be grateful. To remember they did it out of love.

But what happens when the love still hurts?
When does silence become a ritual?
When do you grow up carrying fear disguised as respect?

In this episode, Donya reflects on the unspoken reality of physical violence within families and the cultural scripts that keep us from calling it what it is.
This isn’t a story of blame. It’s one of naming.
Of pausing.
Of asking what gets protected and what gets passed down when we refuse to talk about it.

We Don’t Talk About That

My humble perception of the sound of Arab countries in bass music. Bass & breaks with middle east percussions & phrygian modes with a focus on producers from arab countries & diaspora. Large up Arabisens for letting me play this selection at Hafla closing at ENS. 

TRACKLIST : 
Yazz Ahmed - Ruby Bridges (DJ Plead remix)
Azu Tiwaline - Omok
Deena Abdelwaheed - The Key to the Exit
3Phaz - Red Strobe
Toumba - Isibtan
Rizan Said - High Tension Zamer
3Phaz - Shlomo strut
Leila Samir - Beginnings
Azu Tiwaline - Berbeka
TSVI - Paradise 660
DJ Haram - Gemini Rising
Pekodjinn - Ch3eb
Pekodjinn - Tekhteb
Muskila - Karpuz
Hassan Abou Alam - Hanshoof
DJ Plead - STP
Celt Islam - Fakir
Ourman - Sahara (Gnischrew Remix)
Noise Diva and Kramphaft - To be is Palestine
Celt Islam - Haq Ui Aqin
3Phaz - Phlutes
Hassan Abou Alam - Basha
DJ Plead - Battiekh 3 
Yazz Ahmed - Dancing Barefoot

Rewind : Hafla closing (ENS Arab culture week)

Oriental song with a traditional oriental instrument tambur played by Giovanni D'Ancicco

Sibyl_Spirit_Magic Camel

"WAR ZONE" mixtape

Paper Title:
Syria’s Constitutional Declarations and the Remaking of National Identity

Date:
15 April 2025

Publishers: 
LUGARIT + Syrian Anonymous Journalists

Authors: 
Author: Zedoun Alzoubi.  Editor (EN): Nihad Alamiri

Summary:
This article examines how Syria’s post-regime constitutional declarations reshape national identity. It highlights a shift from pan-Arabism to territorial nationalism, the re-emergence of Islamic jurisprudence, and the constitutional recognition of diversity. While offering a new vision, the paper stresses that true identity will emerge through inclusive practice and implementation.

Link:
https://link.lugarit.com/kAQ4


Syria’s Constitutional Declarations and the Remaking of National Identity

Paper Title:
Sanctions and the Prospects for Stability and Recovery in Post-Conflict Syria

Date:
17 April 2025

Publishers: 
SwissPeace + LUGARIT

Author: 
Omar Abdulaziz Hallaj

Summary:
Multilayered sanctions and widespread overcompliance risk entrenching Syria’s economic fragility and obstructing its post-conflict recovery. This brief – developed by LUGARIT for SwissPeace - calls for a pragmatic shift in international policy—enabling essential services, local governance, and institutional reform—through a phased, risk-managed approach that balances accountability with the urgent need for stabilization and inclusive reconstruction.

Link:
https://link.lugarit.com/DdEb


Sanctions and the Prospects for Stability and Recovery in Post-Conflict Syria

العنوان 
العقوبات وآفاق الاستقرار والتعافي في سوريا بعد النزاع

تاريخ النشر
١٧ نيسان ٢٠٢٥

الناشر 
SwissPeace + LUGARIT

المؤلف
عمر عبد العزيز الحلاج 

الخلاصة
تُهدد العقوبات - والإفراط في الامتثال لها - الاقتصاد السوري وتعرقل تعافيه بعد سقوط نظام الأسد. يدعو هذا الموجز، الذي أعدته لوغاريت لصالح SwissPeace، إلى تحول عملي في السياسة الدولية، يُمكّن من توفير الخدمات الأساسية، والحوكمة المحلية، والإصلاح المؤسسي، من خلال نهج تدريجي ، يُوازن بين المساءلة والحاجة المُلحة لتحقيق الاستقرار وإعادة الإعمار الشاملة.

الرابط
https://link.lugarit.com/DdEb


العقوبات وآفاق الاستقرار والتعافي في سوريا بعد النزاع

FR:
“Amoureux de la musique dès le plus jeune âge, Frances a grandi en cultivant un goût musical résolument éclectique. Adolescent, il poursuit son éveil artistique en explorant l’univers de la musique électronique.

Il investit d'abord dans des platines pour s’initier aux techniques de mix, avant de se former à la production (SAE Institute Paris).

Son ambition est de créer une connexion avec le public en lui offrant une expérience musicale unique.

Aujourd'hui, Frances mixe dans divers lieux parisiens ainsi qu'à l'international. 

Il joue principalement afro + deep tech."

ENG:
"In love with music from a very young age, Frances grew up cultivating an eclectic sound. As a teenager, he pursued his artistic awakening by exploring the universe of electronic music.

He first purchased turntables to learn the techniques of mixing, before getting his certification in electronic music production (SAE Institute Paris).

His ambition is to create a connection with people by offering them a unique musical experience.

Today, Frances plays in various Parisian venues in addition to other international locations.

He mainly plays afro + deep tech."

Inquiries & bookings: franceslector@gmail.com

LUGARIT is a small think tank active in international development.

Ari Ketayun Azizkhan-Gould ★ DJ/Producer. ★ Soul Fire Experiences. ★ Founder of Ecstatic Dance Arlington ★ Conscious Event Curator ★   Sisters in Sound ★ Collective BAE ★ Brooklyn, NY> Denver, CO > Washington, D.C. ★ Proud Persian ★ Free Iran ★ Global. Afro. Deep. Tribal. Organic. Minimal. Melodic. Funky. House. ★

#ecstaticdance #housemusic #femaleDJ #persian #organichouse #tribalhouse #melodichouse #consciousdance

Soon there will be new tracks and the links for download ! The first composition of this project was made in a  house near an ancient spotlight full of legends called "Antro della Sibilla" .The project is a mix between traditional persian instruments and percussions live in an electronic chill mix.

New tracks tagged #middleeast