# Iyad Rimawi

Iyad Rimawi (Arabic: أياد ريماوي; born 22 January 1973), is a Syrian music composer, songwriter, and producer. He is best known for his soundtracks for several TV series such as Nadam and Godfather.

## Early life and career

Rimawi was born and raised in Damascus, Syria and graduated from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Damascus University. He began playing guitar at the age of 12 and at the age of 14, he began composing his own music. While studying, he has formed more than one band which played folk, pop, rock and oriental genres.
In 1995, In association with five musicians, he formed the band “Kulna Sawa”, a Damascus-based band that signed a recording agreement in 2000 with EMI music, Kulna Sawa has toured and performed many concerts in Damascus, Aleppo, Amman, Beirut, Dubai, Kuwait, Morocco and in 20 US states during the Culture for Peace project, where the band won a Peace Prize in 2005 from the United Nations. Iyad wrote most songs’ lyrics and he was the main producer for the band albums Kulna Sawa Radio Station 2009, Musaique 2004, Shi Jdeed “New Stuff” 1999 and "Safinet Noh “Noah's arc” 1998. In 2001, Rimawi founded his recording Studio where he composes and produces Soundtrack for numerous Syrian and Arabian TV series. In 2012, Rimawi signed with Sony Music Middle East as the first Arab artist to sign a recording contract with Sony Music. His first album, Tales from Damascus was released in 2012, a compilation of his selected songs, the album took second place in Virgin megastores Middle East chart. In 2016, Rimawi released his second album, Silence in Syria which reached first place in Virgin megastores Middle East chart and remained for 3 months. In 2018, he released his third solo album, Damascus Now, the album was produced in a time of hardship and war in Syria which has been reflected in his music.

### Tours

Iyad began touring outside of his hometown, Syrian in 2004 with his band, Kulna Sawa visiting Prince George's County, Maryland through a musical friendship tour. In 2017, Rimawi toured three major Syrian cities, Damascus, Aleppo and Latakia. In 2018, he is the first Arab musician to perform in Dubai World Trade Centre Arena, the largest indoor venue in the Middle East. The concert was titled as “Love Letters from Damascus 2018”. He then came back to Dubai with "Love Letters from Damascus 2021" which was for two days and performed at the Dubai Opera.

## Discography
### Kulna Sawa Band

* 1998 – Safinet Noh (Noah's Arc)
* 1999 – Shi Jdeed (New Stuff)
* 2004 – Musaique
* 2009 – Kulna sawa Radio Station

### Soundtrack

* 2003 – Saif Bin Thee Yazan – directed by Maamoun Al Bunni
* 2006 – Maraya – directed by Hisham Sharbatji
* 2007 – Jrn Alshaweesh – directed by Hisham Sharbatji
* 2009 – Men Wanted – directed by Samer Barqawi, Hatem Ali
* 2010 – After The Fall – directed by Samer Barqawi
* 2011 – Al Ghofran (Forgiveness) – directed by Hatem Ali
* 2012 – Hawameer al sahraa – directed by Samer Barqawi
* 2013 – Death Game – directed by Al Laith Hajo and Samer Barqawi
* 2013 – Revealing silence – directed by Basem Shabo
* 2014 – Lau (If Only) – directed by Samer Barqawi
* 2014 – Debbo Alshanatee (Pack The Bags) – directed by Laith Hajo
* 2014 – Alam homra (Rouge) – directed by Hatem Ali
* 2015 – Godfather (Orient Club) – directed by Hatem Ali
* 2015 – Cello – directed by Samer Barqawi
* 2015 – 24 Carat – directed by Al Laith Hajo
* 2016 – Samra – directed by Rasha Sharbatji
* 2016 – Ya Ret – directed by Philip Asmar
* 2016 – Nadam (Regret) – directed by Al Laith Hajo
* 2017 – Orkidia – directed by Hatem Ali
* 2017 – Shaowk (Missing) – directed by Rasha Sharbatji
* 2018 – Shababik (Windows) – directed by Samer Barqawi
* 2018 – Farmers Revolution – directed by Philip Asmar
* 2019 – Ma Fiyi –directed by Rasha Sharbatji
* 2019 – Masafet Aman – directed by Al Laith Hajo
* 2019 – Haramlek – directed by Tamer Ishak
* 2020 – Awlad Adam – directed by Al Laith Hajo
* 2020 – Souq Al Harir – directed by Moumen Almalla
* 2023 - Aam Tes'al Aanni

### Albums

* 2011 – Forgiveness Soundtrack
* 2012 – Tales from Damascus
* 2015 – Godfather Soundtrack
* 2016 – Silence in Syria
* 2018 – Damascus Now
* 2021 – Sailing Nowhere EP
* 2022 – Rouge Soundtrack
* 2023 – The Syrian Rhapsody (Live)

### Singles

* 2023 – Alhelu Yamshi
* 2023 – Mashghool Alek

## Live Concerts

* 2015 – Damascus Opera House Concert, Damascus, Syria
* 2017 – Syria Tour, Damascus, Aleppo and Latakia, Syria
* 2018 – Love Letters from Damascus. Dubai, UAE
* 2021 – Love Letters from Damascus. Dubai Opera, UAE
* 2021 – Nights at Dubai Expo 2020. Dubai, UAE
* 2022 – The Syrian Rhapsody. Expo 2020 Dubai
* 2022 – One Night at Dubai Opera. Dubai, UAE
* 2024 – One Night in Berlin. Berlin, Germany