Bio
Hasan Nakhleh is a Swiss musician and producer based in Bern. As a multi-instrumentalist with Syrian heritage, Hasan's work spans a diverse array of musical styles, including Arabic classical and pop, disco, funk, as well as scores for contemporary dance and art installations. His music has reached a global audience, receiving airplay on notable radio stations and shows across six continents and featuring in award-winning films.
Hasan has toured extensively with his band TootArd, performing at prestigious festivals across Japan, Korea, North and South America, Europe, and the SWANA region. His music have been recognized with several awards, including the 2022 SUISA Get-Going Award and the 2023 Kanto Bern Music Award.
Press
Der Bund «Ich habe mich nicht verändert – aber die Welt ist für mich eine andere» link
SRF 3 “Das neue Album «Migrant Birds» ist eine Retro-Offenbarung. ” link
Der Bund "Er erobert die Welt vom Eigerplatz aus” link
BBC Radio 6 Music “A great record” - Gilles Peterson link
WDR “Der Sound, zu dem man in den frühen 80ern in Kairo, Damaskus oder Beirut getanzt hat, ist auch heute noch partytauglich.” link
Le Monde “TootArd, les oiseaux musiciens du Golan ” link
RTS “Pony Music - Tootard en interview” link
FINANCIAL TIMES “A love letter to the PSR-62 Oriental, the synthesiser whose quarter tones and popping drum sounds fuelled 1980s dance floors from Beirut to the Gulf.” ★★★★” link
Morning Star “Culturally affirming songwriting that’s free from commercial imperatives, with Levantine canon modalities explored and lovingly modulated with contemporary shifting tempos and unexpected instrumental tonalities. ★★★★” link
Radio NOVA “TootArd : la disco arabe des 80's fantasmée depuis le plateau du Golan” link
BBC Radio 3 Kathryn Tickell with the best roots-based music from around the world link
PAN AFRICAN MUSIC “An album inspired by pop and quarter-tone melodic lines, triggering a disco whirlwind that pays homage to the Middle Eastern dancefloor scenes of the 80s.” link
Radio X (Basel) “Album der Woche: TootArd - Migrant Birds” link
BBC “TootArd session & interview on World on 3 on BBC Radio 3 (23 February 2018)” link
FIP RADIO “TootArd Live session & interview on Radio FIP, Paris ” link
BBC “TootArd interview on Newsday programme on the BBC World Service (5 February 2018)” link
SONGLINES “Songlines introducing TootArd ” link
RESONANCE 104.4 FM LONDON “TootArd interview on ‘A World in London’ with DJ Ritu at Resonance 104.4 FM London (31 January 2018” link
FIP RADIO “Selection FIP December 2017 ” link
BBC “Interview on Weekend program, 2 December 2017 ” link
UK VIBE “A thought-provoking record which makes you want to bob your heads and shake your hips” link
THE QUIETUS “TootArd’s first international album is a wonderfully varied listen. In both sound and subject matter it seems to be an acceptance of the fact that TootArd’s identity is inherently political. Regardless though, they find joy in their music and, borders aside, Laissez-Passer says there is always a reason to dance.” link
FOLK RADIO UK “An uplifting, eclectic, funky, highly danceable party of a record … Opener “Laissez Passer” bursts out of the speakers with a driving electro-acoustic beat that suggests an Arabian dance club as much as a party in the middle of the desert. Hasan Nakhleh‘s guitar playing shows how blues and Hendrix-inspired playing can blend perfectly with North African and Arabic melodic sensibilities (…) I dare you not to at least hum along and tap your feet to this crossover hit in the making” link
FINANCIAL TIMES “internationalist music, an engaging mixture of desert blues, dub reggae and all-out psychedelic rock” link
MOORS MAGAZINE “Energic, exciting, and crossing all boarders. TootArd made a magnificent album that you should rightfully call stateless. Beautiful” link
300+ Performances in:
Africa Egypt, Morroco
Americas Brazil, Canada, Chile, Columbia
Asia Bahrain, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Mongolia, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates.
Europe Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Member of: SUISA SWISSPERFORM SONART
